Homesteading Chicken Coop Build, Chickens, Pond, Garden & Projects

Well some severe storms moving through at the moment. Rafters lined up in the front where I want them, but no more work today. These storms are expected to continue to at least 5:30. I'll finish the rafters tomorrow, nails needed and I need to add some to the far left and right. Hopefully I will be able to add the upper straps and maybe the knee braces and some rafter support blocks.

 

I'm using hurricane ties on the upper and lower beams with 10d nails




And rafter ties on the sister'd middle rafter connection, also with 10d nails.





Something new to me are Simpson galvanized screws. I stuck with the nails. Still need to nail the highest and middle rafters to the beams.

 

It was pretty bad. Alot of heavy rain and cloud to ground lightning! No hail for once!

 

Yea, even though I had plenty of hangers, I tried to figure out the corner and used an old hanger I had when I could have easily used one of the new ones I just got. I'm happy with my work so far, but there are 3 small mistakes I made which will work out in the end. One of my footers was 2 inches to low after I added a post base, another was running a 16 foot 2x12 with a 10foot 2x12 beam doubled up and staggered, the post just an 8th" off to low, well over that span it was noticeable. Luckily that will be covered with the roof in the front once I get to that point.

 

Yea! Really have to keep looking ahead before I finish things. This build is all in my head- just keep going.

Although I may not get to the sides and back before the end of summer, I'm still trying to decide what to use. There's metal, board & batten, many different ways. Maybe plywood & batten to keep costs down, I'm just not sure yet.

 

Our chickens LOVE watermelons!

 

I'm at a complicated point trying to figure out angles on both sides of the strapping. Eating lunch for my brain to work.

 

I probably should have huh? Disappointing day, I got some stuff done today on the pb, but couldn't focus and was tired.

 

Sound advice!

I picked up another truck load of lumber early and unloaded with the kubota.






After that, decided to put a half a day in since it's the last day for vacation. Gotta relax a little eh?

I'd say the hardest part yet, attaching the side straps- 2x12x10's, four of them, first point 14 feet up. I needed to rig up a harness since I was mounting them so high and leaning out of the scaffolding I put up using 2x12's. Dawn kindly helped out, took a few hours to hang 4 of them.

 

I need to continue to finish 4 more rafters on both ends, block the rest, knee braces, then finally start on the front part of the roof which will come down roughly 4 feet finishing the salt box style im looking for. I've got nearly all the lumber waiting to get put up. Once that's all done, I'll add all the ferring strips and finally the metal roofing.

 

Dawn chop saw'd the rafter blocks and tossed em up to me, so that's done. Still need to finish the end rafters, block them, then start on the front roof section tomorrow.

Picture from today..... doesn't look to different from earlier in the week.