An Unexpected Turn
Just when we thought the majority of our project work was complete for the season (we had even started to protect things like building a box from scrap lumber to protect the radiant tubing), our builder finds time to start framing. We are excited to keep going, but we clearly were not very well-prepared for this stage.
Framing is the time in the building process where things take shape quickly. It’s also a lot of fun because each day there’s another wall, floor, ceiling, rafter, etc. The builder convinces us to bring in a helper and this accelerates building even more.
We do not have architectural plans, just some detailed drawings of what we envision. The builder assures us he has a clear idea of what we want and provides a massive list of materials to order. The plywood and stick lumber is delivered quickly; custom engineered joists follow as they become available.
On a clear, crisp Vermont morning, the builder prepares us for the task at hand: construct the south wall of the garage on the slab and tilt it up into place with a tractor.
Things start moving so quickly it becomes challenging to capture progress. The rest of the walls go up without the exterior sheathing, which we attach separately. At some point the custom engineered joists arrive and we lift them into place, one at a time, and then skin the area above the garage so the roof beams can be added.
The roof pitch is much steeper than it appears in images. Setting the ridge beam, getting roof rafters in place, and skinning the roof goes quickly but is very physical work. The builder has a variety of ladders, staging, platforms, and other tools to get the job done. By now the mornings are cold, cold enough to freeze the water line to the RV, and we typically start the day gathered around a fire fueled by wood scraps. As we warm our hands and sip coffee, we laugh that it looks as though we’re on Skid Row in an urban jungle, but we’re still on the back side of a little mountain in the middle of nowhere Vermont.
A powerful storm tracks through on Halloween with 65-70 mph winds and rain that causes significant flooding. Dozens of trees fall throughout the area, but the partial construction stands tall. We leave for Texas on Friday, November 1. The builder and his helper promise to finish up the sunroom to the rear and start adding primed trim along the roof edges. We select a roofer but we run out of time and good weather.
What a way to end our first construction year. So many questions were answered, projects completed, and the property profile has undergone a significant change. If only next year can go as well.
