First a Garage

Egon · Oct 6, 2008

Denmansoft:

I have seen some parts of Canada but have seen very little of the world.

If you know folks on Hornby maybe asked them if they are familiar with the "House That Floated". We new the original floaters.

denmansoft · Oct 7, 2008

Egon: I'll ask next weekend when we are up there. BTW thats the hornby ferry terminal and PUB we look out on.
Friday nights is jazz night at the Pub. If we don't get over we can hear the music across the water.

denmansoft · Oct 7, 2008

Anyhow we got all the walls up and ready for the trusses. This building on weekends only takes some getting used to. Finding a good place to stop and leave things as protected as possible is not always easy.

We pack up all the tools and put them and the tractor away for the week. Some times we bring the flatdeck home to get more supplies. I hate the way it rides empty so we just cut up some of the trees that are down and bring them back for firewood. My woodpile at home and my neighbours are now about good for the winter.

denmansoft · Oct 7, 2008

Truss Day is here!
Because of the tight driveway I tried to arrange the trusses to be delivered on a 30' deck truck with hiab. We even went to a different trucking so they wouldn't have to get a semi into the driveway. After all that they showed up with a semi-trailer anyhow. He got in real close to the garage!

Since he was going to have to wait for the ferry to get off the island we managed to convince him to unload the trusses one at a time instead of just in a couple of bundles.

I had placed guide blocks all along the top plates so each truss had a slot to drop into. One friend lined up the tail as we dropped them in. We used these metal Truss Spacer Braces to quickly secure each truss as it came in. At our leasure we added some diagonals and by the time all 13 trusses were up we had a stable roof structure to play with

We started on the lower sheeting it with ply, then #15 roof felt then 2x4 strapping for the metal roof. Thats enough for one day!

denmansoft · Oct 7, 2008

With this type of roofing on a 9/12 slope the 2x4's gave a nice solid walkways. Especially important for me with my armoured knee.

It was going to be a simple garage, but hey we will want a nice spot to stay while watching the house go up next year and we might as well bring in a view. So our garage has an 18x24 attic room with 2 skylights on the south(road) side and 2 4ft wide dormers looking out on the water.

This is as far as we got on 'Truss' weekend.

denmansoft · Oct 7, 2008

Here I am getting the dormers framed and closed. Since this is the wet coast I'm more concerned with getting the roof on than the end walls or pouring the floor.

Our vehicles impatiently waiting for their new home. My tractor will problably spend the most time in it this year.

Its always nice to have helpers come along and preview the guest room.

Egon · Oct 8, 2008

Keep the pictures coming.

EddieWalker · Oct 8, 2008

Sure looks like a fun project!!!!

Is there going to be a bathroom or kithenette? Running water or sewage? I'm thinking there is a space issue, but it sure would make life allot easier. I have a sink in my shop and consider it a must have.

Where are the stairs going to be?

Eddie

Flatheadyoungin · Oct 8, 2008

that sure is a beautiful place........seems simple and quiet

pics are great

frwinks · Oct 8, 2008

gorgeous spot

I like that truss design

denmansoft · Oct 8, 2008

Thanks guys. I'm almost caught up on posting the progress. This didn't actualy all happen this past week....
We are setting up for power (100A service at least) and have provisions for running the wet lines through the floor and out. That is why the water side isn't backfilled yet. Utilities trench will go along that wall over to the house next year. Sink for sure, septic connections may be more difficult for approvals.
Stairs: Good eye Eddie... We will use an Attic ladder for this year. Once we get grade settled and can easily walk around we are thinking an outdoor staircase across the back wall to a door up top.
Our main purpose is to get some secure storage for lots of things this winter. Got to stay focused on that!

One thing I have been trying to find is a window for above the garage doors. I would like to put in something about 4ft square that I can open up completely for loading cargo or furniture to the upper level. Siding will be vertical cedar 'Channel' to match the house.
BTW this is the plan for the house:
Harvest Homes Ltd. - We Turn Beams Into Dreams
This will go on a walkout (to the beach) basement with the main floor at the same level as the garage.

It seems that none of the window manufacturers are doing anything like this anymore. I don't care if it take a few minutes to get the whole thing open.
A double casement that opens on both sides without a bar down the middle would be great. I don 't know what Peter Pan would do these days. You can't get that kind of window anymore.
Another idea was to put in some 'Garden doors' that opened inward and had a removable 'balcony rail'. I want this for functionality, not to be an architectural focus feature!

denmansoft · Oct 8, 2008

The truss design didn't end up quite how i wanted it. the top chords in the 'living space' are 14" deep (2x8 + 2x6).
The quality of the wood used in the floor joists was pretty bad. I KNOW the engineer who has his stamp on these didn't inpect the trusses before they left the plant!
Several things showed up after the trusses were placed and the truck had left. I need to sister 3 joists because of bad lumber used.
One thing about stick framing is you can excersize quality control over the peices actually being used as they are going up. Not much you can do on a site like this if you get a bad truss or 2.

denmansoft · Oct 8, 2008

Here is how we left things last time we were up.

This weekend the metal roof panels go up. They arrived here at my supplier a couple of weeks ago. When I went to pick them up with the trailer, all the flashings and other accesorrieas were there but the panels themselves had disappeared. After a little bit of drama they were found over on Saltspring island and brought back.

Since we haven't found any 'experienced' help with metal roofs any hints for getting the panels (18' long) up and in place would be appreciated.

Egon · Oct 9, 2008

Putting a little C clamp on the end of a panel may allow you to use a rope to lift it onto the roof???

EddieWalker · Oct 9, 2008

I've found metal panels pretty easy to install. It's a two person job, but otherwise, it's more about getting them lined up perfectly straight.

One person needs to be on the roof about half way up. Then the other person just slides the panel up the roof until it's a the right height, or overhang from the edge. The person on the roof screws in the panel. If you have two people on the roof, that's even better. It's easy to reach across a three foot panel, but any more and you will have to walk on the panel. With your pitch, that's just about impossible.

I've been on 5:12 pitch metal roofs and it's tough to not slide off. Anything more, and it's a slide.

Good luck,
Eddie

Tororider · Oct 9, 2008

Wow, awesome project. I look forward to seeing you finish up and start on the house.

Two things I thought of when reading. If you are looking for security when you are gone an outdoor stair may not be the best option. It may be what you go with, but it just gives thieves easier access.

With regards to a window that can open completely, could you use windowed french doors?

Keep up the good work, and keep the pictures coming, we definitely appreciate them.

denmansoft · Oct 9, 2008

On the water side we will be starting with the panel standing almost vertical. Do I need to worry about these kinking as they go over the eave?

I estimate that each panel 3x18' will weigh approx. 50lbs. Does that sound right ?

I was planning on pre-drilling the panels (mfg recommends) and screwing a wood strip on the top so I can tie on a rope for lifting. A C Clamp should work, but I am worried what would happen to the person on the bottom if it slipped. On the eave I will clamp on a spacer and a block to catch and hold the lower end at the right height.
I am 6'2" and figure the 3 foot width should be no problem.

The real fun will begin once the panels are in place. With a 9/12 slope I have been trying to find something like these available in Canada:
Amazon.com: Qual-Craft 2481 Ladder Hook with Wheel: Home Improvement
Amazon.com won't ship to Canada, and amazon.ca doesn't carry the hardgoods!
I found several other variations on this theme, but all in the UK.

I built some out of some industrial shelving angle (adjustable) and some swivel casters. They are heavy and I will have to pad them to not scratch up my new roof.

Tororider · Oct 9, 2008

Did you see if qual-craft would ship directly? Or if they have any retail stores in CA that could ship to you?

QualCraft: Portable Scaffolding, Roofing, Construction and Safety Products

denmansoft · Oct 9, 2008

Thanks but:
Qual-craft's product is 'Not recommended for use on roofs with vented ridges'
It doesn't allow for, or reach past the metal vented ridge cap I've got.
Thats why my home made 'solution' is so heavy and ugly.
I'll post some pictures if it works!