If you missed the first installment,
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/315277-mid-19th-century-joinery.html
A few thoughts . . . .
This is not a Historical Reconstruction/Restoration. It is an attempt to make a usable space out of an old building that was pretty well on its last legs. In fact, it is humorously called my "man cave," reloading shack, and refuge. It only faintly resembles the original structure. The roof system, except of course for the tin, is almost 100% original. It was in excellent shape. The foundation pillars are all original. Three of the four sills (large timbers the rest of the building sits on) are original. Probably 20% of the wall framing is original. Everything else is new; siding, floor framing, subfloor, finish floor, wall framing, windows, etc.
I am not a builder. I do have a little common sense, and can usually visualize what I want a finished product to look like, whether it be a garden, a fence, or in this case, a building. Much basic building is a matter of common sense, of being able to take correct measurements, and cut and join the various pieces in a way they will be stable and secure.
I had two excellent helpers. I did very little actual work. I supervised Wes and Howard. Wes is a college grad, who worked for NRA a couple of years until he couldn't stand the N. VA winters. He is currently going to tech school to become a certified radiologist. Howard has helped me on the farm and with various projects for several years. He has a lot of skill, but has trouble visualizing things. When he understands what I want, it's like a light coming on.
I paid both my helpers well in excess of minimum wage, so hired labor was by far my major expense. Before back surgery and shoulder surgery I could have gotten by with one helper.
Enough rambling . . .
The building was leaning badly. Before much of anything could be done, it had to be straightened. I decided to use two heavy nylon tie-down straps to pull it back straight, or plumb. I was afraid of actually sliding the building off the foundation pillars. I took one tractor and butted the front-loadet firmly against the front sill and locked the brakes and placed blocks under the wheel. I took my pickup and hooked the end of one strap to it. Did the same with another tractor, so I pulled from two points simultaneously. It worked! You should have heard the creaking and groaning. It took a lot of ft. lb of pressure to move all that mass. Even though it is a small building, it uses some heavy timbers.
Wes and Howard looping nylon straps over top-plate opposite pull point.
Tractor loader butted against front sill.
Somehow I didn't get any real good pictures of the process. Here you can see the tension on the straps as they hold the building in an upright, plumb position. Look close and you can see the far strap.
Once plumb, or nearly so, the building had to be secured in that state until we could get some wall framing and braces in place. We used a couple of long cedar boards that would later be siding, and they worked famously. Nailed to top plate, bottom sill, and somewhere in the middle to prevent bowing, they held the building straight. Once they were in place, we could ease the tension off and get the vehicles out of the way. One on each wall.
http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/315277-mid-19th-century-joinery.html
A few thoughts . . . .
This is not a Historical Reconstruction/Restoration. It is an attempt to make a usable space out of an old building that was pretty well on its last legs. In fact, it is humorously called my "man cave," reloading shack, and refuge. It only faintly resembles the original structure. The roof system, except of course for the tin, is almost 100% original. It was in excellent shape. The foundation pillars are all original. Three of the four sills (large timbers the rest of the building sits on) are original. Probably 20% of the wall framing is original. Everything else is new; siding, floor framing, subfloor, finish floor, wall framing, windows, etc.
I am not a builder. I do have a little common sense, and can usually visualize what I want a finished product to look like, whether it be a garden, a fence, or in this case, a building. Much basic building is a matter of common sense, of being able to take correct measurements, and cut and join the various pieces in a way they will be stable and secure.
I had two excellent helpers. I did very little actual work. I supervised Wes and Howard. Wes is a college grad, who worked for NRA a couple of years until he couldn't stand the N. VA winters. He is currently going to tech school to become a certified radiologist. Howard has helped me on the farm and with various projects for several years. He has a lot of skill, but has trouble visualizing things. When he understands what I want, it's like a light coming on.
I paid both my helpers well in excess of minimum wage, so hired labor was by far my major expense. Before back surgery and shoulder surgery I could have gotten by with one helper.
Enough rambling . . .
The building was leaning badly. Before much of anything could be done, it had to be straightened. I decided to use two heavy nylon tie-down straps to pull it back straight, or plumb. I was afraid of actually sliding the building off the foundation pillars. I took one tractor and butted the front-loadet firmly against the front sill and locked the brakes and placed blocks under the wheel. I took my pickup and hooked the end of one strap to it. Did the same with another tractor, so I pulled from two points simultaneously. It worked! You should have heard the creaking and groaning. It took a lot of ft. lb of pressure to move all that mass. Even though it is a small building, it uses some heavy timbers.
Wes and Howard looping nylon straps over top-plate opposite pull point.
Tractor loader butted against front sill.
Somehow I didn't get any real good pictures of the process. Here you can see the tension on the straps as they hold the building in an upright, plumb position. Look close and you can see the far strap.
Once plumb, or nearly so, the building had to be secured in that state until we could get some wall framing and braces in place. We used a couple of long cedar boards that would later be siding, and they worked famously. Nailed to top plate, bottom sill, and somewhere in the middle to prevent bowing, they held the building straight. Once they were in place, we could ease the tension off and get the vehicles out of the way. One on each wall.
It actually went very smoothly. Everything stayed in place, mainly because we still had those big cedar braces in place. Also, it is amazing what a few whacks with a 20 lb hammer will do to get that extra one-eighth inch of movement you need.
, but by the time I realized it, it was just not worth it to go in and tear out a day's work. Actually, no one notices it now until I point it out. Oh well.
