7 - Starting the Truss Install

Before installing the trusses, we needed to put up a few braces to secure the first truss to so it didn't fall backwards or forward.  Next we cut 2x4s into lengths to fashion braces we would install between each truss.  This not only helps makes sure the spacing is perfect--24 inches on center--but secures them to each other so they don't fall over.

We called Eagle Tool Rental in Waterville, Maine and rented a crane (it's probably more of a lift, but we're calling it a crane).  We got a great deal on renting the crane since it was 4th of July weekend.  We picked up the crane on Friday and kept it until Monday, and they only charged us for one day of rental because they were closed for the long weekend and no one else was going to be renting it. 

My wife was really excited to operate the crane--like SUPER EXCITED!

We picked up the crane around 4pm, and there was still plenty of daylight, so we got right to work.  My father and step-mother arrived on July 2nd to do some coastal sight seeing and help out on the project; my folks were excited to be there to see this construction and happy to be a part of the process as well.  By 6pm we had the first truss up in the air.  My wife used the crane to lift the trusses, and my brother-in-law, dad, and I used some guide ropes to help swing the trusses into place.  The first few took a little longer to get in place, but once we got the hang of it, we got a good rhythm going.

By 8pm we were ready for some food, a cold beer, a shower, and some rest.  With daylight quickly fading, we were able to install five trusses before calling it a day.

The next day was the 4th of July and we had a big day planned.

5 - Framing Walls

With the foundation walls cured, it was time to frame out the walls.  LaPointe Lumber delivered everything on time and even made a trip later to swap out some excess product that allowed us to upgrade the wall material.  The entire roof and wall boarding is 5/8-inch Advantech.  When it's all wrapped up and neatly stacked it desn't look like much does it? But that is all the materials we needed to build the first level of the barndominium.

We began assembling the 2x6 walls, starting at the rear of the structure, taking the stepped foundation into account to have 8-foot walls at the front end.

We framed up the back wall and the first and second steps of each side wall.  I will admit, calculating to be 16 inches on center is not my forte, so we did use a few extra studs because I refuse to rebuild things.  My brother-in-law kids me about my mistakes, but he is an excellant craftsman and he is truly the brains behind most of this project.  We don't build without his approval of the plan--you'll see more of that later.

With the rear wall sections framed up, we added some structural support by adding some of the wall sheathing (5/8" Advantech).  

Meanwhile, the only reason we do not have the rest of the walls assembled is because the excavator ran over schedule.  We didn't want the excavator's unprofessionalism to derail our entire plan, so we kept on doing as much work as we could.

As you can see, the excavator finally showed up days later to fill and compact the base for the garage floor.

After this visit, he didn't return for over two weeks--until after our vacation was over and we had already left.  He did about four hours of work on the day he returned and then called us to tell us he had completed his contractual obligations.  Convenient for him, since we weren't there to see what he had done.  Luckily, my brother-in-law had gone by and took a few pictures and sent them to us.  Needless to say, we were not happy with his work, or the state he left our property in.

Not only did we feel he hadn't completed the work we agreed to in contract, but he tried to squeeze us for more money.  He tried to claim that he did extra work, outside the scope of the contract, that we now owed him money for doing.  We found that to be a pretty unbelievable claim since he only showed up twice while we were on vacation, and was no where near close to having completed everything he was contracted to do, and there was no way he could have completed it in four hours.  Also, he never called us to ask permission to do "extra work," so we never agreed for him to do additional work outside the scope of the contract.  But the thing that really bothered us, was when he said that my wife and I had "good jobs" and we "could afford to pay more."  Sorry, but that's not how business works, and we will pay for the work that was actually done, not what he thinks we should be able to afford.

Moving on . . . We still had framing to complete.