A Subfloor

It’s like Christmas came early today.  I am so very happy with the work that was done today.   I am 19 1/2 inches away from a subfloor.  19 1/2 inches.  Even better, tomorrow I get to start working on my wall framing.  I head back to work Tuesday and will be building on weekends from here on in.  I am so glad I took the past 2 weeks off to start my build.

Friday morning , a welder came and welded on taller threaded rods onto my trailer.  He was fast, and charged me less than what he had quoted.  Yay!  I got rods.  The rest of the day was still spent working on flashing and we got held up by the rain.  I had hoped to be a little further along by the end of the day, but then the rain came.  We wrangled one of my uncles and a couple of my cousins to come over and help us move some of the sections of the subfloor about, which they did help us do, but we weren’t able to do as much as we hoped because of the rain.

Saturday was a day where a lot of work was done, but nothing really looked any different.  My uncle Phil and cousin Alex came back over and helped us move some of the subfloor sections as we needed some muscle.  We also put down some more Blueskin on the pressure treated wood on the trailer.  We got 2 sections in place, which with the new threaded rod was a bit of a challenge, figuring out where to drill holes and then having to re-drill holes when things didn’t line up quite as expected.  The third section was set up in place, raised up on blocks as we tried to line up the holes previously drilled and drill some new ones for the newly added rods. Throughout the process of this build, checking for square has been a regular part of the process.  With the 3rd section of the subfloor up on blocks, we checked for square and the previously square structure was completely out of alignment.  At the end of the day we had to leave the subfloor incomplete, unscrew the flashing on 2 sides of that section of subfloor and leave the section undone over night, while I went to a kegger at my brother & sister-in-law’s.  It was a much-needed evening of laughter, good food, good beer and friends.

When we were able to get to the construction this morning, we unscrewed a 3rd side of the flashing from that section, used  a series of clamps to get the subfloor square and then screwed the flashing back on and got back to getting the holes lined up for the subfloor to fit over the threaded rods.  My father was amazing as I found the process of getting everything lined up really frustrating.  He was able to get the subfloor in place.  Yay!

We started getting the insulation into the subfloor, a very quick and satisfying process of laying batts in the subfloor, when my neighbour Mike asked if he could lend a hand.  Mike was my favourite person today.  I did not realize that Mike used to build houses.  Mike also has amazing toys or tools, call them what you will, a contractor’s circular saw is a beautiful thing.  With Mike’s help we relevelled the trailer, and magically the subfloor was pretty much complete, if it hadn’t been for my purchasing one too few sheets of 3/4 plywood, the subfloor would be finished right now.  As it stands, a quick trip to the hardware store and a rummage through their off cuts and my subfloor will be done tomorrow and the process of starting the wall framing can begin.

Wet trailer with newly welded rods

 

The 3 sections of my subfloor leaning up against the house. They had to be taken off the trailer so that the rods could be added to the trailer

New rod!

The trailer with all the rods on and one of the last times we will see all of the frame.

Sage supervising the build

Clover’s idea of helping with the build is to bring you a ball. She is so very helpful.

Me showing my best side! Before covering up the trailer I used a grinder to remove some of the rusty metal shavings from the holes drilled to attach the boards to the trailer.

After the rust was removed, my dad spray panted the now unpainted metal to protect it.

My cousin Alex and raising the subfloor up over the rods so that the holes could be drilled for the rods to fit through.

Lining up the rods.

One section down! Now to remove some excess Blueskin

Drilling holes for the rods.

Jump to an insulated, relevelled trailer and the first piece of plywood going in place.

Look at that subfloor! It’s beauty is only enhanced by the last of the beer I brought back from PEI.

Subfloors and Hardware Stores

I made that all by myself. Isn’t it beautiful?

Construction has begun!!!!  The subfloor is currently under construction and it is   challenging, frustrating and exciting.  I started working alone, me with the dogs, music, my fancy drill, my dad’s saw and built the frame for the section of the subfloor.  I had so much fun!  It was really satisfying to put it together.

By the end of the first day of working on the subfloor (yesterday), two of the three sections of the subfloor were mostly put together with the help of my parents. Today, we continued working on those two sections of subfloor, cut the wood for the third section of the subfloor, drilled holes for the rods that are built into the trailer, bought the insulation needed for the subfloor, and I contacted Simpson Strong Ties so that I can get the strong ties that I need to help attach the house to the trailer.

The hold down ties called for in my tumbleweed plans are not available in Eastern Canada. So, I made a couple of trips to different hardware stores to try to place an order.  The customer service department and Simpson Strong Ties was pretty wonderful.  Helpful, quick and pleasant to talk to.  Much more helpful that one of the hardware chains that I contacted locally to place that special order.  I called, trying to place the order, only able to leave a message.  They called back, not leaving a message, so I had to call back without any  indication of whom to reach and their phone system goes directly to a voicemail system that is only really navigable with the extension number of the person you want to reach.  I didn’t know who to contact and when I tried to dial 0 to speak to a person, I was directed to their general voicemail, which is I left my original message.  When I did finally reach a person, and I explained what I wanted to order, they told me I had to come in.  When I did get to the store, they told me they couldn’t make the order because they don’t carry Simpson Strong Ties.  How very helpful.  To be fair, they have been wonderful otherwise, but in this particular instance, they were less than helpful.  Today included 3 trips to the hardware store.

I think I will have to include mileage for trips to hardware stores in my budget.  It’s going to add up.