If I Had a Hammer
Posted: Tuesday, 29 August 2006 |
We have begun to put some of the Roof on the house and although this was a daunting task, having not had any experience of truss building and erection, we set about with the tools and the wood and a lot of plans and motivation.
The first truss was built on top of the wall where it was to be sited and with a few ropes long peices of wood Paul and I managed to hoist it to the upright position. The releif of the task and the sight of the height of the roof against the barn that had looked huge before made us realise that we had a long way to go till the whole of the 24 metres was covered by the new roof. It took us the whole day of planning and building to accomplish our first truss.
Sunday came and we were confident that we could steam ahead and erect a few more. We were just coming up to lunchtime when the phone rang and a voice on the other end said 'We were wondering if you need a hand' Our nearest neighbours arrived and in no time we had two more trusses built and positioned. Then the arrival of the neighbours wife with a feast of home cooking arrived and we all tucked into the meal.
Where would you find people who are willing to give up their Sunday afternoon to help build a roof and supply the food too. Well I am glad that we have neighbours like this. It makes you realise that the world isn't such a bad place after all.
Watch this space for more developments
Update ..................... Mr Barebraes is off to the big smoke to extinguish more fires on his training course to become a fully fledged Retained Firefighter and the roof will have to take a back seat for the next week, we have been furiously rebuilding walls topping them with a concrete wall plate and have now erected a further 9 trusses and a large amount of plywood, Our goal is to reach the dividing wall where the current living accommodation meets the new living accommodation. So far the weather has been kind and we have been told by a reputable builder that we have a while yet before we should shore it all up for the winter. And there in the grace of God we leave our structure to see what Mother Nature can throw at it. I hope that she is kind!!!!!
More pictures can be found below and I am sure that more will follow........
The first truss was built on top of the wall where it was to be sited and with a few ropes long peices of wood Paul and I managed to hoist it to the upright position. The releif of the task and the sight of the height of the roof against the barn that had looked huge before made us realise that we had a long way to go till the whole of the 24 metres was covered by the new roof. It took us the whole day of planning and building to accomplish our first truss.
Sunday came and we were confident that we could steam ahead and erect a few more. We were just coming up to lunchtime when the phone rang and a voice on the other end said 'We were wondering if you need a hand' Our nearest neighbours arrived and in no time we had two more trusses built and positioned. Then the arrival of the neighbours wife with a feast of home cooking arrived and we all tucked into the meal.
Where would you find people who are willing to give up their Sunday afternoon to help build a roof and supply the food too. Well I am glad that we have neighbours like this. It makes you realise that the world isn't such a bad place after all.
Watch this space for more developments
Update ..................... Mr Barebraes is off to the big smoke to extinguish more fires on his training course to become a fully fledged Retained Firefighter and the roof will have to take a back seat for the next week, we have been furiously rebuilding walls topping them with a concrete wall plate and have now erected a further 9 trusses and a large amount of plywood, Our goal is to reach the dividing wall where the current living accommodation meets the new living accommodation. So far the weather has been kind and we have been told by a reputable builder that we have a while yet before we should shore it all up for the winter. And there in the grace of God we leave our structure to see what Mother Nature can throw at it. I hope that she is kind!!!!!
More pictures can be found below and I am sure that more will follow........
Comments
Heart warming. There are naturally good folks and friendly neighbors in the world. A community is a wonderful thing. Hope Runestone has equally good experiences in Sanday. # Barebraes, your job looks like a daunting one. Be careful. A moment of inattention, a broken arm or leg could set your construction back a while. In NM construction work can go on pretty much year round, but I suspect it is not the same in Shapinsay. Remember: patience; delays are inevitable. {I am pretty good at giving unsollicited advice, but not equally good at taking it!! One of my many defects, unfortunately..}
mjc from NM,USA
Thanks for the advice mjc. We are just realising the enormity of our task and the oncoming winter winds , We are investing in a lot of tarpaulin and rope. As for the health and safety tips if you can stand at the top of a ladder in a stiff breeze here without loosing your nerve or your hard hat then you must be made of stiff stuff, I am made of neither and only will stand at the bottom.
Barebraes from Shapinsay
Picking up speed, eh? How many do you need to put up before covering 24 meters? Yes, do show us the different stages.
mjc from NM,USA
How are things going? Has the weather been good? Did you take time off this weekend to make roast beef, yorkshire pudding and a fruit pie? Something else, even tastier? It's been a week since their departure date, and not a peep from Runestone: hope they made it to Sanday safely.
mjc from NM,USA
we have to erect 40 trusses to get to the end, yes we had a rest this weeekend. Now we got a bit more wall building to do. The weathers favourable at the moment, fingers crossed. Yes I hope Runestone gets in touch soon
Barebraes from Shapinsay
40 trusses sounds like a major medical emergency. Quick, call out Jock Strap the builder!
Flying Cat from a pharmaceutical supplier's emporium
I expect Barebraes and Paul want to do the project themselves. Hard to tell how heavy those trusses are. If the holding walls could be prepared/levelled ahead of time, a mechanical hoist could be of tremendous help (I should think) by lifting the trusses and lining them, but it probably would have to be brought from outside the island. Speed, however, may not be that important to Barebraes (and Paul).
mjc from NM,USA
A hoist would have been good but we built them flat on the wall plate and with some help from a rope and a long peice of wood they were lifted manually. All good fun.
Barebraes from Shapinsay ( from the truss hospital)
Roof's coming along nicely mum! I'm writing from work at the moment and have been showing my colleagues your site as they are always asking how you and Paul are getting along. Some think you're mad doing all the work on your own (me included!) but we're glad it's going well. Janice say's her dogs would love your garden! Any chance of posting a map of the islands on here so we can see which one you're on? Best go I suppose - I should be working! Love Abbs xx
The Daughter from Sunny Southend
Dear Daughter just for you I am posting a new blog just for you .... with a map I am glad that your colleagues are following our progress and YES we are MAD!!!!!!!
Barebraes from Shapinsay
We moved here in September 05 and have met many good friends. What more could you want from life.
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