Top Plates ... The Hard Way.

Coulda shoulda woulda.

I only think it's fair to share with you our mistakes - and not just our successes - as we build the Momplex. We are, after all, not perfect ... not even professionals. We are just people, with a dream and a determination to take on the ulitmate of DIY projects. And of course, along the way, we will have coulda shoulda woulda moments.

Remember when we put the foam up to cover the concrete to allow the concrete to cure? If we had to do it over again, we would have instead just put the top plates on the tops of the just poured concrete walls, sinking J bolts deep into the concrete, securing the top plates down.

But no, we are doing things the hard way.

Momplex

Step 1 Diagram

Step 1

We should be ready to roof.

But instead, we are one step backwards from roofing. We need boards secured on top of the ARXX blocks walls, wedge anchored into the heart of the concrete, called the top plates. From there, we can use truss brackets to secure the trusses to the top plates.

Step 2 Diagram

Step 2 Instructions

Wedge anchor bolts have a moving ring around the base with a tapered end. When the bolts are pounded in, the ring is pushed up where the bolt is tapered smaller. But when the anchor bolts are pulled upward, the ring is pushed down over the larger tapered end, securing the wedge anchors in the concrete.

Step 3 Diagram

Step 3 Instructions

First we roll sill seal out over the tops of the concrete to prevent drafts.

Step 4 Diagram

Step 4 Instructions

Sill seal comes in rolls sized for 2x6 walls. It's cheap, and but saves you bundles in heating costs. For framed exterior walls, you also roll it out underneath walls to prevent drafts.<div><br></div><div><img src="http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/anchor bolts top plate 14.jpg " width="470px" alt="" align="none"></div><div><br></div><div>Top plates - which in our case are 2x12 treated boards, go on top of the sill seal. Now we need to anchor the top plates to the concrete.</div>

Step 5 Diagram

Step 5 Instructions

We start by drilling holes sized for the wedge anchor bolts through the 2x12s with a wood drill bit.

Step 6 Diagram

Step 6 Instructions

Then we load up the concrete hammer drill with a very long concrete bit.

Step 7 Diagram

Step 7 Instructions

Kind of cool looking!

Step 8 Diagram

Step 8 Instructions

Then through the predrilled holes in the top plates, we drill into the concrete with the new bit and the concrete hammer drill. I found drilling concrete not so hard, but time consuming. You just have to be patient, keep holding the drill level, let it do it's work, and eventually, the stop will get there!

Step 9 Diagram

Step 9 Instructions

One down ... a hundred to go. Or more. But who's counting?

<div><br></div><div><img src="http://ana-white.com/sites/default/files/anchor bolts top plate 07.jpg " width="470px" alt="" align="none"></div><div><br></div><div>After each hole is drilled, we carefully vacuum out each hole.  Any concrete debris left in the hole is potential for the bolts to loosen over time.  Not good when you are talking about a roof being anchored to your Mom's house!</div>

Step 10 Diagram

Step 10 Instructions

Once the holes are drilled in the concrete and cleaned out, the wedge anchors are pounded in. Remember, once these guys go in, the aren't coming out.

Step 11 Diagram

Step 11

Then the nuts are tightened down ... tight.

Step 12 Diagram

Step 12

And we just keep at it. For days. We ended up creating an assembly line. I daydreamed about chocolate cake, spaghetti, and roasting marshmellows while waiting for the hammer drill to reach it's stop.

And I tried not to think about how much easier this coulda shoulda woulda been if we had just set J anchor bolts into the wet concrete.

And finally, we finished.

Step 13 Diagram