Framing
Putting on a Skirt and Heels ... er, Risers and Treads
But before we start putting our Sunday's best on these stairs, let's take a second to remember where these stair boards have been.
We originally spent $400 on 2x12 boards,
Yep, at one point, they were new, not gray and old looking at all.
Until we poured concrete in them. That's where the gray staining comes from.
Bracing the Walls
Framing Upstairs Walls
Anchoring the Floor
Getting Started on the Momplex
And boy, what a winter it was for us up in Alaska. This winter, more than once, I asked myself why we live here. It was a tough one.
And I was most thankful to not be battling snow, wind, and deathly cold temperatures trying to work on the Momplex. Or say we had got the roof on - thank for cheering us on! - it would have been dreadful to pay for temporary heat just to get the Moms moved in a few months ea
Prepping for the Pour
The First Wall Pour
The Longest Day
But it was quite a long, long day for us working up at the Momplex.
After we got the first truss up at the Momplex, we wanted to have the next 22 trusses set by the end of the day. Certainly you can set a good chunk of trusses, hope the wind doesn't blow, and come back in the morning and finish up.
But with a boom truck on site, we were hoping to keep cost down and just finish up in one very lo
What's Next?
Easy Overhangs
Support Walls
Plywood on the Roof
Building a house is like a giant relay race.
When you hand the baton off to the next stage, you are either giving them an advantage or a disadvantage. But when you DIY it all yourself, you are running the entire race yourself. And you are always thinking about the next step, and how decision you make in this step are going to affect later steps.
Let me give you an example.
Let's say we framed up the walls, and the studs are randomly placed, not 24" o
New Hair
Today, the Momplex is going to the salon.
This Momplex we are building ... it is a big box.In defense of big boxes, they are the most efficient to build, the most efficient to heat and maintain.
But we don't want the Momplex to look like a big box.
No. We want the Momplex to look like this:
We want the Moms to drive up and be excited about their home because it does not look like a giant b