Welcome back to the MAD County Build series, let me take you through what's been happening this week with the construction of my barndominium. I've been working hard to get this project done, and it hasn't been without its challenges, but it's all coming together.
Getting Started: I began this week by installing the first piece of steel on my roof. It went pretty well, considering I'm doing most of this work by myself. The weather was cooperative, and I managed to get a piece of steel up.
I've been dealing with some windy conditions, but I'm determined to keep pushing forward. For the second piece, I set up a weather strip, and I even built a platform to help me hold the steel up close to the roof. It makes things a lot more manageable.
Working Solo and Staying Safe: I've been working on this project solo for most of the time, which isn't ideal, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get things done. If you're wondering how I'm doing this safely, the truth is that it's not entirely safe, but I've been taking some precautions. It's been a bit challenging, especially on a 512 pitch roof, but I'm making it work.
With a Little Help from My Dad: Then, something incredible happened. My dad showed up to lend a hand. He said he felt like God wanted him to come and help me finish this project. With a second pair of hands, things got a lot easier, and I'm truly grateful for his support.
Challenges Along the Way: I have to admit, it hasn't been a walk in the park. I've had to deal with some dirt on the roof due to recent rain, but that's just one of the minor challenges. The real challenge has been lifting those heavy 28-foot steel panels to a 30-foot high peak, especially when I was trying to do it all by myself.
The Solution: I'd like to share a little trick I came up with to help with the heavy lifting. I used a makeshift boom, made from an I-beam I had lying around. It worked pretty well for a while, but as I was lifting, I encountered some challenges. This is where
Travis, a friend, came in with a brilliant idea. He suggested hooking chains high up and then bringing them down to hook them to the boom, so when I lift the bucket, the chains do some of the heavy lifting. This made the job a lot more manageable.
I managed to get six panels installed, which leaves me with twelve more to go. I know I need to trim and level them off a bit, but that's something I can tackle once I put up the gutters. When you're up this high, the tiny imperfections won't be noticeable.
The plan now is to finish the remaining panels and then work on the soffit and trim. After that, I can begin framing the windows and wrap the house before installing the windows themselves. I'm excited about how it's all coming together.
In conclusion, this week has been a whirlwind of challenges and solutions. Working on a project like this by yourself isn't easy, and safety is a top priority. I'm thankful for the support I've received and for the creative problem-solving that's helping me inch closer to completing this project. If you're tackling a similar endeavor, remember that where there's a will, there's a way.
If you have any questions or need further clarification, don't hesitate to comment. I'm here to assist, and if there are recurring questions, I'll consider creating more in-depth posts.
Thank you for joining me on this adventure, and stay tuned for more insights in the MAD County Build Series!
Sincerely,
Mr Post Frame
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