Here I am using my handy dandy transit level to set the point of origin for the new rooms. I used the existing rear corner of the house to set a straight line across the back. Then, I set the transit to the line, 32' and 2" from the edge of the old house, swung the transit 90º to set the second line to the house.



































After I established my point of origin (the corner nearest the camera) I began setting the blocks. I had to draw lines (with the transit level) to establish the north line and the west line. This has everything lined up with the back of the existing house, then 90º towards the existing rear. So far, so good.

Next up, I had to set the beams. They had to be leveled to the existing floor inside. I went all the way around the house with the ledger beam to keep things level with the existing floor. Guess what, it all came out level.

This is the trailer shortly after I began building the beams and the floor framing. I had to go to two different lumber yards to get the right size lumber for the project. As you can tell, it was a close fit and the trailer held its weight well.

I started building and setting the beams in place.

Next I added the floor joist.

This is the finished floor section, waiting on the subfloor. I will not add the subfloor until I know the framers are a couple of days away. This is all treated wood, so it can handle the rain.

Finished the Bead Board

This is my work area...I have more work space here than in my garage!

Above I am nailing up the final framing for the gable. There is a light fixture and flat plywood panel across the top.

Above I am framing the light fixture. I had to leeeeaaaan out a little to nail the 2x4's.

More nailing on the light fixture.

The bead board and panels are installed, ready for the trim! Thanks for lookin'.

More Gable

Framed and installed the siding for the inside porch gable. We had more high winds, gust up to 40 mph, so those plywood panels were acting like sails in the wind. It is hard to tell from this angle, but I incorporated Frank Lloyd Wright cantilever design for the gable end framing.

Framed The Porch Gable

The above photo shows all the beams are framed.

The inside porch gable is now framed. Next I have to panel the front and back gable inside, then I will put up the siding on the gable rafters.

Just another photo showing the gable. I'm pooped!

Well, I have been at the farm working at work and working on the house. I have only been able to spend about 3-4 hours a day 'cause I am also working at my real job too. I finished the bead board on the porch left side. I also ran the electrical for the two flood lights on the roof corners. I realized I forgot the right side before I put in the bead board and closed in the ceiling area. That caused me to crawl in the roof space to run the cable. Fortunately I remembered the floodlights before I finished the left side, so I ran that cable while I ran the porch lights.

In addition to the bead board, I framed in three of the beams; the left porch front and rear beam and the gable rear beam. I have two more to finish; the front gable beam and the rear right porch beam. After I finish those two I will begin to frame in the gable ceiling. The top photo is a closer shot of the left side bead board and the new beams, plus you can see the electrical wire I ran. Below is a front elevation photo of the porch at this time...you can see the two sections with bead board installed and the new beams. By the way, Tuesday afternoon, the wind kicked up to about 20 mph, so it was fun positioning those 1"X12" 12' facing boards up 10 feet. Reminded me of trying to cross Seawall Blvd. in Galveston with our rented surf boards back in the '60's.

Continued Installing the Bead Board

This table was the most significant accomplishment from this weekend. It resulted in a 300% productivity improvement. That is a pretty good continuous improvement result! (Not bad for a quality guy!) I made the table for two purposes, obviously for a work table, and most importantly to stand on so I can reach the ceiling joist. It took me less than an hour to build the table from scrap wood I had stored in the barn, which made it even better.

Last weekend I spent all day putting up 10 strips of bead board by myself, and as I said earlier, in a 20 mph wind with gust over 40 mph! With a similar wind Saturday, I installed 34 boards to finish the section, plus I roughed in the electrical (wire and boxes) for two ceiling lights. I built the table 42" high so that my spectacular bodacious 6' frame could reach the joists and nail the bead boards. Above is the finished ceiling on the right side. I installed the two ceiling light fixtures and wired them up. That 100 year old bead board will really give the porch some character!

I have the left porch ceiling ready for the bead board now. I added the 12" front beam Sunday and the laths, and then moved all the bead board to the other side of the porch to clean up the work area. But it is ready to go.

Starting the Porch Bead Board Work

This is my work area for this past weekend. I was preparing the porch ceiling joist on the left for the recycled bead board.

A couple of weekends ago, I pressure washed the bead boards and dried them. Using reclaimed lumber (these boards are about 100 years old...you'll see them later) saves money, yet it is time consuming. Removing nails (thanks Garland), cleaning grooves, pressure washing, etc.. I had to put in some 1x3 laths so I could run the bead board front to back. Hard to tell here that the house front is bowed, which would have showed if I ran the boards parallel to the front wall. Heck, it's just more wood, labor and expense, but you might as well do it right.



You can see the lath work in the picture above. Also in that picture you can see the reclaimed bead board...they are the white, green and blue boards on the ceiling. All of this work is at 10' 8" high. Saturday and Monday I got to work in winds gusting up to 40-45 mph. The wind was blowing my ladder over when I wasn't on it to weight it down. Guess I need some sand bags next time.

Now then, about that guy below. He (?) watched me Saturday, Sunday and Monday. All day he sat watching me. I guess he thought between the wind, my age and the power equipment, he just might get lucky...



...I am just glad he was patient and didn't want to make his dinner!