Framing Continues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We framed the porch, using pressure treated 2x10’s. The ledger board to the right is attached to the house using 1/2” x 6” lag bolts, 2 between each joist. The beam, shown on the left, is a bit too massive, but I had to build it out to match the building line, since the posts for the porch beam would be bearing on them. I installed aluminum flashing over the beam and then nailed a 3/8” PT plywood over that, just to ensure if water did get under the porch floor, it won’t hurt the beam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here you see the porch completed. We put Avantec 3/4” plywood over the joists. Again, I used flashing along the edges of the joists for moisture protection. This is patterned after classic porches, with a solid floor and railings. It is higher maintenance using a solid floor rather than just decking spaced with gaps (I may have to paint the floor each year), but a porch is a very important element to me and the sold floor is a nice touch to this outside room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we put together the inside walls, we put up the top plate, using 2x10’s. With this top plate, door and window bucks made out of the same material, and the interior walls going up, it became apparent that this is one grossly over-built and incredibly strong building. As I said in an earlier post, I do tend to overbuild. Still, lumber is by no means the most expensive part of building a house. So, I build to last: through winds, storm, and earthquake, and maybe the occasional nuclear event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here’s a couple of detail shots of part of the wall. It shows the double 2x4 construction with air space between the inner and outer walls. It also shows how the windows (and doors) were framed to be in the same space in both the walls. I put headers (2x12 for windows and 2x10 for doors)  only in the outer walls, since that is what’s bearing most of the weight.

 

This is a window buck completed, which further ties the inner and outer walls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here’s the completed top plates and a shot of the house as it stands now. I’ve used up almost all of the 325 2x4’s, all of the 2x12’s, most of the sheathing, and a good chunk of the 2x10’s.

Next: Trusses will be delivered Tuesday. Hope to have this dried in by end of next week.