The Ten Foot Wall

The shed design went from a place to just store tools to an alternative sleeping spot as well.  I'm not exactly sure when the idea happened, though I do know who inspired it (that would be Uncle Greg).  Anyway, without getting into the lengthy details of my convoluted design process, I have decided to add a decent sized loft to the shed.  I love the idea of heading out there on a cool spring or fall night and being "outdoors."  So, to accomplish this I needed more headroom.  With the style of roof I had settled on bringing one wall up doesn't necessarily get you the requisite headroom for a good sized loft.  So I decided to raise one wall from 8' to 10' and to create a dormer (explained well here on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dormer) for the middle of the building.  The dormer will be around 7' wide and stretch from the east wall to the west.  It will not be gabled, as many dormers are, but will be a shed roof style like the main roof (though in all actuality it will be so big that it will be the main roof!).  It will slope from the ten foot wall to a new wall extension I will build that will be 8.5' tall.  The end result will be a loft that has 3' of headroom at one end and 2.5' at the other and will be at least 56 square feet.  the plan is to install screen on the open wall studs on both sides to allow for a cross breeze.  I think in the winter I'll use plastic sheeting to weather proof it (until I have the money to buy glass for storm windows), we'll see.

I had grand plans for progress last weekend, that obviously didn't materialize, and this weekend was no different really.  I find with life and building I always assume I can do more in the time given than I actually can.  So I still have lofty expectations (after all: dream big or don't dream at all, right?) but with an understanding that finishing everything in one day generally doesn't happen!

This Saturday the forecast, or my interpretation of it, trapped me outside in a downpour with power cords, saws and nail guns scattered.  I tried to erect a temporary shelter for the tools, but the hurricane-light winds weren't having any of that.

Before the REAL rain came

So I ended up getting bracing done on the walls (one piece of OSB sheathing on each wall to stabilize it) and then getting absolutely soaked running tools back into the basement.  For anyone who has been there you spend a good 20 minutes setting up a workstation, so getting only 30 minutes of work in before having to run it all back inside was pretty frustrating.  Needless to say, after a hot shower going back out did not seem to be in the cards.  But sure enough just 20 minutes later the sun came out and after I was certain it was there to stay I headed back out with minimal tools to add the east wall extension and I finished it around 8.

Wall extension Saturday evening.

Sunday it was supposed to rain and never did, but having been bitten the day before the prospect of it did delay me.  When I finally got out there I worked on rafters.  I'm using old (~1920s) dimensional 2x6s.  I first cut them all to length and then beveled the ends.

Beveled ends

The last time I did birdsmouths (explained here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdsmouth_joint) with a hand saw I traveled in what ended up being non perpendicular fashion ending up with non satisfactory results.  So this time I decided to create a temporary jig for every cut with just a piece of 2x4 and the finish nail gun.  I would set the 2x4 a saw blades width from the marked line and nail it in place.  After making the cut these 2" finish nails pop right off with the 2x4.  Hammer the nail brads down and the 2x4 is ready for the next jig placement.  I was much happier with these results.  I've got the two North end rafters up and they fit well.

Tacking on the 2x4

Cutting along the jig

End result: Birdsmouth

Rafter seated on top plate. Notice the difference between the size of the 1920s stud (brown wood on bottom) and the new lumber top plate.  It's about a half inch difference.  I lined them up on the outside edge for siding purposes. 

First two rafters on.  Next two waiting.

I'm excited to get working on the dormer, but as I am at my buddy Ted's wedding in Arkansas this weekend and Greg and I have two fences to build in the next few weeks (we'll post progress here: durhambackyard.blogpsot.com) it could be a while.  Until next time my yard will continue to look like something out of a suburban neighbor's nightmare!  I continue to be thankful for such good and patient neighbor's in Elaine and Doug.  Doug even helped me remove nails last weekend from my most recent used-wood haul!