Ready to Roof!

The heat wave isn't here quite yet, but we've heard temperatures are coming that are not preceded with a big fat minus sign .... or followed by "below" meaning how far the mercury drops below the zero line.

photo by Larry and June Taylor

It's exciting news, as we've just dealt with one of the coldest November's in Interior Alaska's history, with temperatures staying at the too cold for anyone in their right mind and despite the right cold weather gear to work on roof trusses on top of the notoriously windy Momplex hill.

Tonight is supposed to be the magical day, where 50 mph gusts blow in a Chinook, bringing weather that will have us Alaskans in our shirt sleeves ordering mai tais.

Have not seen it quite yet, but we are believers!

Momplex

Step 1 Diagram

Step 1

Or maybe we are just foolish.

Step 2 Diagram

Step 2 Instructions

Without a roof on the Momplex, not only is it freezing cold "inside"

Step 3 Diagram

Step 3 Instructions

But there are drifts growing by the wind gust that need to be hand shoveled out.

Almost 2000 square feet of Momplex to remove snow from. And we still have some work to do at the tops of the ICFs, so that means shoveling around the braces.

Maybe we are foolish to even try to take on an Alaskan Winter.

Step 4 Diagram

Step 4 Instructions

The snow piles up in the other corner while you shovel the first.

Step 5 Diagram

Step 5 Instructions

Yes, we have those thoughts ... maybe we should just wait until spring. Wouldn't it be nice to be warm. What are we doing.

Step 6 Diagram

Step 6 Instructions

We started working on trimming the tops of the ARXX blocks down to add the top plates. Remember that the tops of the ARXX blocks will be covered by treated 2x12 boards, currently used as scaffolding. We'll tie the trusses into the top plates to secure.

Step 7 Diagram

Step 7 Instructions

And we were actually getting somewhere despite the challenges

Step 8 Diagram

Step 8 Instructions

When at three o'clock in the afternoon, we are subtly reminded that the sun will be setting very soon with the moon rising.

Step 9 Diagram

Step 9 Instructions

But when you have invested so much time into shoveling snow, and you are finally warm because you have been crawling up and down ladders in three layers of down

Step 10 Diagram

Step 10 Instructions

You just plug in the lights and keep on going. Just keep on going, keep on moving.

Step 11 Diagram

Step 11

Because we know what stands between us being cold and battling snow, ice, freezing temperatures and wind on a daily basis is just this pile of trusses. And we know, with a good week of hard work, and a lot of help from friends and family, our work environment could be one not requiring boots so big you can barely walk in them.

Step 12 Diagram

Step 12

Maybe we are a little foolish. Maybe the Chinook won't bring a week worth of reasonable winter weather.

But maybe it will.

And maybe we can get those top plates anchor bolted to the concrete in the walls.
And then build the interior walls.
And hoist the trusses up with a boom truck.
Set the trusses in place.
Sheath the roof in plywood.
Staple insulation bats up on the undersides of the trusses.
Cover remaining open windows.
And turn the heat on.

Just maybe.

Are ya with me? Because in the next couple of weeks, we are putting a roof on the Momplex!