Build Update (Days 20-22): Windows and Door Complete!

We've made a bunch of progress since the last update, starting with getting our door in! Subfloor, walls, sheathing, windows, even roof...nothing compares to the door when it comes to making the place feel like a house. Added bonus: we can now feel a little safer leaving tools at the site, since we can lock the door :)

Speaking of feeling more like a home: we have keys!

Here's Jeremy taking the time to finish properly flashing the door while I just tried to contain the excitement of having a door.

On a different front, here's one of the massive "60d" nails - that's 6 inches by 0.25 inches, if we're going to use actual measurements ;)

Remaining rows of Gutex went on quickly. We still need to nail in many more of the battens (one goes atop each rafter), but then the roof will be done until the metal panels arrive (which could be as soon as this next weekend!)

Roof as seen from inside shows that the house is now pretty rain-proof, minus the fascia area on either end. We've stopped putting tarps over the structure, since Gutex is rated to be weather and UV resistant for up to 4 months before needing to be covered with proper roofing.
Also, just noted that all the wane and knots in our rafters make them look pretty beat-up, or dirty or something. Oh well, they're still plenty strong (and I don't think they look as bad in person).

A nice end-of-day picture with some idea of the progress up to that point.

Starting the upper windows. These ones were a bit scary, being around 11 feet up in the air.

But eventually, we got all three in. With the Tyvek cut away and replaced with windows, we get a nice amount of light streaming in (even here on the North side).

Nice overall shot for end of the 22nd build day. I think it's starting to look pretty good with all the windows in!

Build Days 18 and 19

It seems that every time we head back to the tiny to start building, the tarp has either blown partially off, or leaked somehow, pouring water from the inevitable rain into the house. :( I can't wait to finish the roof sheathing so that our house will be closer to rain-proof.

While we waited to make a big push on the roof this weekend, we started installing the windows. This is the first one to go in: an awning style one for our bathroom. This is the only window where, due to the strange circumstances of where studs fell, we went with one header hanger and one old-school jack stud.

After taking our time very carefully measuring and marking to ensure squareness, we put the first row of Gutex boards up on the roof.

As seen from the eave, the first row complete, plus the first board on the second row.

Nailing in the batten over the second row.

We decided to swivel the other battens out of the way while we laid out the next couple of rows, since it made it easier.

After the first row was in place, the tongue and groove made subsequent rows a breeze. Three rows up here, though they are just butted into the tongues from their neighboring rows (not nailed as of yet here).

While my father-in-law and I worked on those roofing boards, Jeremy and his mother worked on putting in another one of our windows. This one on the front end of the trailer is a fixed (non-opening) window, but is very large and gives a great view.

Here the same window as above, and its two neighbors, which together wrap around what will be the booth seating dining/desk area.

We finished up the day with four of five rows of Gutex fastened down on the roof (though the fifth will take substantially longer as every one has to be trimmed lengthwise), and four of nine windows installed. I'll be sure to get some more pictures of the roof as it nears completion. Meanwhile, I've been getting quotes for the metal roof, and researching/designing our propane, water, and electrical systems. More on that to come soon!