Framing the Walls–December 2011

Task – Framing Walls

The Process – Measure & Cut lumber for each wall one at a time.  Carry lumber needed for the wall into the house from the garage.  We had to put the pieces together with the airnailer and then glue the whole wall to the floor (because we didn’t want to puncture any in floor heat lines).  We had to nail them to the rafters to secure the tops.

What I Thought About It – It was interesting when we were dealing with rafters that were uneven and stuff.  We had to pull apart some of the walls and pull them apart, re-measure, cut them down and re nail them.  It is something that I like doing.  It was something that I could do with my dad that involved woodworking and air tools… all three things I enjoy doing.

Passing the Plumbing Inspection & Boiler Installation–December 2011

Task – install boiler & pressure test sewer lines.

The Process – Hook up manifolds to floor heat lines.  Hire plumber to install boiler and commission it.  We had to cap off all the plumbing lines and keep air pressure for 20 minutes to pass our final plumbing inspection. 

What I Thought About It – It was exciting to have heat running after all our work. 

The Day of the Concrete Floor Pour–December 2011

Task – Interior Flooring

The Process – Hire someone to come and pour the concrete floors.  Sit back and relax for the day.

What I Thought About It – I like having concrete floors.  They are nice because if you get fuzzy socks on you can slide on the floors.  I would not want to do I for a living.

Vapor Barrier, Interior Ground Prep, Insulation & Heat Lines–November 2011

Task – Vapor Barrier & Prepping floor for concrete

The Process – We had to take and roll out the vapor barrier in long strips and then staple it to the rafters.  We had to tape the edges & seams with tuck tape once it was up.  We did the same for the floor after we leveled it with gravel.  Then we put down Styrofoam on the ground followed by wire mesh to make the concrete stronger.   We took heat lines and laid them down in certain patterns on the ground above the mesh.  We zip tied the lines down to the mesh so they wouldn’t float to the surface of the concrete.

What I Thought About It – Definitely not something I would want to do for a living because it was boring.  It was kind of like a giant mind puzzle because you had to figure out where the lines went. 

Plumbing underground–November 2011

Task – Putting in the underground plumbing

The Process – We had to dig a trench one foot deep.  We had to place the pipes and make sure that everything fit.  Each of the lines had to be placed at a 2 degree angle down towards the sewer tank. 

What I Thought About It – It was hard work digging the trenches because we had to thaw out the ground before we could dig it because it was frozen.  We had fun having a snowball fight with the snow that was on the ground in the house. 

Keeping Warm & Bracing Rafters–November 2011

Task – Bracing rafters

The Process – We had to screw 2x4’s along the rafters (shown in bottom left picture).  This was to prevent the rafters from moving side to side.

What I Thought About It – It was a lot of fun being up in the rafters.  You would look down and almost puke.  The rafters that were not braced yet would sway back and forth as you were sitting on them.  I took a piece of plywood up there and lied down on it… I thought that was cool. 

Sheeting the Roof–November 2011

Task – Sheeting the Roof

The Process – First we needed to load the sheeting onto the forklift, then raise it up onto the roof.  Then carry the sheets over to where we needed them.  Then we nailed them down with an air nailer. 

What I Thought About It – It wasn’t too bad.  I never got a forklift ride… I always used the ladder.