Summer 1994: Framing the House First Level.

Last two weeks in July 1994:

After decking the basement level I employed what I called the Lego building process.  I would build all the door jacks and headers by myself evenings after work.  I would then place them about where they were going to go for each wall.  On the weekend I would line up help to assemble and standup the walls. 

The Legos in place waiting for the helpers. 

In this picture, Steve, Terry, Ted and Fred.

This is one of the heavy walls after Lego construction. It was too heavy to lift, but luckily Chris brought over his Excavator and helped lift it. 

More Legos going together. 

The first floor was framed by the end of July.

This beam weighed over 300 pounds.

With the walls up, we placed the laminated beam that supports the master bedroom floor and bay window.  

Brother Don and I put it in place by building a wall ladder and moving up each end  6 inches at a time. 

The view was getting better the higher we went. 

I modified the plan and placed the beam on top of the wall, since I did not want it protruding into the living room ceiling.  

We were done with the first floor wall framing, we decked it and were ready to move onto the second floor. 

Summer 1994: Lake Stairs by Ted and Steve

July 1994:

While working the build, the kids played in the lake. Unfortunately the access to the lake is about a 15' drop over a bank, so the kids would go down the creek bed between our property and the Felton's north of us. They were from NJ and always thinking that someone was going to sue them. One day they told the kids they could not go down the creek. As Emily put it, that man yelled at me.  I paid him a visit and sorted it out. However, it did make the stairs a priority.  So I asked Steve and Ted to build stairs, it was not a small task. 

First Stair Section and Platform

They first built a landing platform with stairs from the bank, it was still 8' to the shoreline. 

Lower Stair Section

These stairs have lasted 30 years, but they need replacing...maybe I can get a few more years out of them.  Then I will call Ted and Steve. 

Summer 1994: Framing the Basement Level

 July 6th 1994:

First load of lumber

I picked up my first load of lumber on July 6th, just after the 4th from Vergennes Building Supply. 

I used my 1984 F150 to haul the first loads of lumber, it was pretty much a rust bucket but still working. 

Emily is sweeping a spot for the lumber while Matthew supervises. 

As much as we want to do things ourselves we all need friends.  I leaned on mine pretty heavily, the very first day, Steve Tomashot and Ed Allen were there to help. 

Ed and Fred doing some serious figuring.

Steve and Matt

The basement level is nearly framed, Steve doing the high work.

 

Basement framed, decking next. 

Emily and her stick.  

Emily would use a stick to mark nail spacing, she always wanted to help. 

By mid July of 1994 the basement was framed and decked.  The real framing can now begin.