In this post I cover some of the smaller rough framing tasks I’ve been working on lately.
Last month I completed addition of arches to the tops of three of the main windows and the two transom windows over the front and back doors. (Five total arched windows.)
Since all the window openings are framed square at the top, I added plywood “ladders” to convert the openings for these particular windows to arched shape. The ladder consists of two plywood pieces cut to match the arch of the window with 2×4 ladder blocks between them to provide backing and rigidity. Although, there is (at least) one other standard way to frame an arched opening, I found this method works well and gives good results.
While I was adding the ladders for the arched windows, Dad worked on framing the platform for the bay window in the bedroom from 2×4’s and 3/4″ plywood. It’s almost ready for the window.
Working on the interior walls for the second story. Everthing is complete here now except for closets, tub alcove, and the ceiling in the bathroom. Dad was a big help with the angled partition walls above the top plates!
When I was working on the second story roof a few months back, I discovered that one of the roof supports ended up resting on a single 2×12 joist of the 2nd story floor. Because it would be overloaded with only a single joist, we cut out the old hangers holding the joist, added two more joists to either side, and then installed new hangars. While it would have been great to have discovered the issue while installing the joists originally, Dad and I were thankfully able to slip the new joists up over the top plates of the first story interior walls and into place from below. We also pre-loaded the two new joists prior to installing the hangars since the other joist was already slightly pre-loaded from the floor and roof above.
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As this post goes to print, the roof tile is on order. I am ordering from MCA Tile, a local manufacturer here in So-Cal. Back in February I was able to visit the manufacturing plant and watch the production line in operation. The tile takes about a week to process thru the kiln.
Selecting the roof tile proved to be no easy decision. I brought tile samples back with me from the plant and compared them with different stucco colors in an attempt to establish a coordinated color scheme between at least the two main elements of the house. What I thought would have been an easy task spun into a months-long process. By the end, I had studied and learned a lot about color-coordinating. Although her custom packageages are expensive, Maria Killam’s website and blog provided a lot of really helpful free information about exterior house colors and finishes, particularly her theory of undertones for lighter finishes. I also combed thru houzz.com pictures, constructed mood boards of sort, made stucco samples, requested more tile samples, and even drove around thru different neighborhoods looking at the exterior color schemes.
Eventually, I narrowed it to roughly the following color scheme:
- Tile blend: 1/3 MCA’s “Ivory Smoke” tile and 2/3’s of their Cafe Rustic in the classic “S”
- A light yellow-tan stucco color. Similar to La Habra’s El Dorado color with with more tan
- Black or oil-rubbed bronze finish for all hardware and lighting
- Bronze-colored windows & frames
- Main interior paint color: Creamy taupe (Benjaman Moore Elmira White or similar)
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
Prov. 21:30-31
