Time has sort of flown with the holidays and everything. We worked on the deluxe shed around Christmas vacation, again on New Year’s vacation and then again this weekend. It’s been pretty warm as Januaries go so we plan to just keep on working until the caulking won’t stick any longer or until we freeze our hind-ends off (which is a real danger as we rough it in the woods if you catch my drift). Anyhow, the last time we reported in, we were still working on getting house wrap up to protect the cabin in case we finally do get into winter.
Just this weekend we finished the last of the housewrap. The peak at the back of the cabin is around 30 feet in the air. I have a 24 foot ladder so I have a problem that requires creative bending of the laws of gravity. It’s done now so, honestly, I am relieved. We also got 4 windows and a door installed which leaves 2 windows and a door left to go. The best part about having a door installed is that we can leave a few things in the cabin. But shhhhh…don’t tell anyone. I don’t expect any trouble and there really isn’t anything of value there but I am glad to not having to load and unload goofy stuff each trip.
There is a good tale of danger and daring that I need to tell you for my ego’s sake. Last weekend we had 40 mph wind gusts so it seemed like the perfect time to install the window in the high peak in the back of the cabin. The real problem was the window was open and unprotected from the weather so we felt like we had to get that area weathered in since the wind clearly blows against that area. Honest to goodness, the gusts would blow us back a few steps (luckily into the house, not out) which made installation interesting. The wind rattled everything and sounded like a freight train rolling through the uninsulated house. At one point, we thought the roof was going to come off. We went out to look and it was, in fact, about to come off. The guys I hired to install the roof had forgotten to install one screw (I really have no complaints…it was an easy thing to miss). The wind got under that spot and was wreaking havoc. That leaves my butt holding on to the ladder for dear life to add one screw. I got about half way up on the first attempt and it started to blow me and the ladder over. Emily caught the ladder in motion and prevented its continued slide but without her I would have been in a bad way. Huh…when I write it out, it seems much less dramatic that when we were doing the work. Trust me, it was nuts!
We found pretty quickly that the slowest part about installing the windows is installing the adhesive-backed flashing that should water-proof the window/door opening and further prevent water from entering the building. It is slow and tedious but super important so we have been taking our time to do it right. I know, it seems like a pretty big change for us, but we do try to do the important stuff right.
I think the best part about going up to our place is that we are always greeted by something beautiful. Sometimes it is rosy cheeks and sometimes it is a beautiful full moon on the horizon…that’s the important stuff and it always seems to be done right!
See all of the progress on the cabin
Glad you got the cabin all sealed up. As for getting that one screw in–there’s a reason they say men die sooner than women! Glad Emily was there to hold the ladder!
Question (not answered when I asked it before 🙁 )
How will you keep warm up there in the winter when there’s SO much space under the floor? The cold breezes blowing right under your house will make the floor frigid. BBbrrrrrr!
Ceecee – sorry I didn’t reply before. I always read everyone’s comments but forget to say anything back. Anyhow, the plan is to lay up block or otherwise enclose underneath. Originally I wasn’t going to worry about it but the wind is incredible up there so adding in the cold too and we would be out of luck. I’ll probably do the block pretty early in the spring so that I can get a porch on the place too. I’d rather not have to work around a porch!
You wrapped your house over Christmas and didn’t even put a bow on it?
Perhaps you mentioned this before and I missed it, but I have noticed that there is a little bit of air space between the floor of your deluxe shed and the ground, something that I don’t see too often that far inland from the ocean?
Hey Ed! With the melting of the polar ice caps and glaciers, we may end up with beach-front property! Actually, I had been looking around a bunch and the post and pier foundation seemed like the simplest thing for a DIYer to build. It required less concrete and had a degree of flexibility that I didn’t see with block. Now that it is built, I have to say that it still takes a lot of concrete and was not simple to line up and level with the other piers. It still will have to be enclosed to shield us from the cold and wind so I will probably still block it. The block just won’t be load-bearing. Anyhow, that’s the gist of it.
Really beautiful view. Look forward to visiting the delux shed in the spring. Really looks great.
You must have forgotten to install a sky hook before climbing that ladder. Oh, well the job is done now. You must have had your mojo working for you that day. So how did it feel to have nothing between you and a bad fall except air and opportunity? I have a great fear of falling, that is heights don’t bother me as long as I have firm footing. However it seems like whenever a job such as that came up at work I was always the one that got stuck doing it.
I’m glad Emily was there looking after your backside! Sheesh!!
It’s looking homey!
You are FAR braver than I…40mph winds means no ladder for me.
I know myself well enough to say I would have had an Unfortunate Accident.
The cabin looks fantastic.
You’ve always been a dare devil. I remember you repelling out the kitchen window and off the roof and out the dorm room, and the list goest on and on.
Wow-it looks great! This has been a good winter for your project-so far-except the wind : )
A “full moon” and “rosey cheeks”… you really DO need to get that port-a-potty workin!
Looks great!
All that space underneath would make good storage eh?
caprilis – It didn’t even occur to me what I was writing! HA!!!
GW – I had no real safety equipment and didn’t even really know what to look for. It was def easier to hire that roof install. I am like you…heights don’t bother me at all if I am attached to something!