Got a late start because of the Monday morning water run falling on Tuesday this week. Also I questioned the wisdom of starting at all because it looked as if I’d be racing storm clouds. But the clouds held off and the project actually went reasonably well. I was nervous about this one, because it was really too big and heavy for me. But Clark Kent didn’t happen by to help, and I got to thinking…
The top of the window is higher than I can reach but the bottom is quite a lot lower than the last window. And Landlady’s got this stepstool in her barn, so I ought to be able to stand at about the midpoint which will help a lot.
I had to adjust the size of the frame on this one, but…
I finished that before the trip to town.
Then I trimmed the OSB away – you definitely want goggles for this…
Slapped up the tarpaper…
…and then the fight started. They always get ten times heavier and more awkward after you’ve laid down a line of caulk and mustn’t muss it up – so I always end up with caulk frickin’ everywhere. It looks like a 3-year-old got hold of my caulking gun.
But the window did go in the hole and the flange did actually line up with solid lumber and the screws did cooperate with me, and two of three bedroom windows are in place. The caulk will clean off.
I need to bake bread this afternoon and anyway it will start to rain any minute so no more construction today. Tomorrow is the big day.
I’ve been afraid to look and see if the smart guys who did the big-boy framing got the dimension for the final window opening right. That’s the big one, because I have to take it out of the original cabin wall and transfer it to the new bedroom wall, and if I screw that up the cabin is open to the elements till I can fix things. There are worse times in the year for that to happen, obviously, but there are no good times – especially since LB must remain confined or bad things could happen to nice dogs and calves and people.
But once I move this last window, I open up the hole into a doorway and the Secret Lair becomes a two-room cabin!
Ya know, if you knock back a few beers, that caulk job won’t look half bad!
}:-]
If the caulk job is horrible looking but is covered by trim or siding, then it is fine.
You would not believe what the ‘professionals’ cover up with trim and siding and paint.
I prefer excess caulking in all my applications, as long as the excess can be covered up or trimmed afterwards.
For me, cleaning it up is more mess and fuss than it’s worth. Think of it as adding that hand crafted look to your project.
By golly Joel that is really looking wonderful. Congratulations on your planning and work. You done good.
Nine years ago you nearly froze to death in the winter cold in an inadequately insulated metal trailer, and now this elegant two room cabin is home. Wow.
“Spackle and paint makes it what it aint.”
Or yo can always go the stucco route again…
}:-]
I agree. One of a builder’s main jobs is to cover a multitude of sins. 🙂
You are doing a fantastic (and fast!) job and I’m having more fun watching you do construction than I am actually doing construction (or reconstruction) on my own place.
NEW construction. So clean. So lacking in rot and termites! And you have come a long, long way in your skills, despite the whole three-year-old-with-a-caulk-gun aspect.
Looks great to me! All that extra caulk adds character to the project and seals up the holes that let cold air in in the winter.
As Heinlein said in A Door Into Summer, “…bash to fit, paint to hide.” Or something close to that. 🙂 Looking good, Joel.