We've Been Framed!

Time to start giving the set posts a real supporting role in this structure!

Double top plates were leveled and nailed to the posts. We started building roof trusses in the garage where we could lay them out flat and then bringing them out to set on the plates. Trusses were set at 16" centers on the top plate and 3/8" plywood sheeting was secured on top. One truss had to be “custom fitted” to go around the oven chimney stack.










The finished structure was not absolutely solid, so we added chunks of 4x4 at each post truss junction for bracing. That worked great and now we couldn’t budge the frame at all. Door frames were built and placed for the two entry door openings (front–French Doors set and back–wood cart access).

Horizontal boards and base plates were set between posts for attaching plywood skirting around the outside of the den. I borrowed a friend’s pickup and got some exterior plywood from the local Home Depot. Putting four full sheets of plywood on the outside corner of the den behind the oven, making it seem more like an enclosure for an entertaining place (instead of a car port for extremely small vehicles).

Next, we cut and placed pieces of plywood along the bottom and top of the den framing. Our intent was to have screened windows all around, so we could enjoy the great out of doors without the great out of doors residents (mosquitoes, yellow jackets, flies, etc.) enjoying us and our meals. 

Roofing felt and metal roofing sheets were put in place. Of course, a storm was predicted before I got the metal roof, so it was "throw all the scrap wood you can find up onto the roofing felt" so it doesn't blow off. Cutting and positioning the roofing metal around the chimney was a real adventure...I just don’t have the words to describe it...let me just say that the word kludge is now something with deep, personal relevance.

Kludge - A kludge or kluge (/klʌdʒ, kluːdʒ/) is a workaround or quick-and-dirty solution that is clumsy, inelegant, inefficient, difficult to extend and hard to maintain. This term is used in diverse fields such as computer science, aerospace engineering, Internet slang, evolutionary neuroscience, and government.
(Source: Wikipedia - not because I trust Wikipedia, far from it, but because it fits my definition of the word at this moment.)

With the roof on, the next job was addition of the window and door screening. Bob, our neighbor, is a fabulous wood worker and had some extra cedar molding pieces from their house build. We talked about the screen framing I envisioned and then we ripped the pieces needed for the job. Susan and I cut the metal window screening to length for each section. I wanted each section to be easy to replace (since I’d had a lot of experience going through screened doors as a kid). Each screen section was stretched tight and stapled in place.

Next, we put the cedar molding around each section to give it a finished look and to provide extra support for the staples (since I’d had extensive experience with staples pulling out when you least expected it). We did the same for the French Doors and back door. At last we had refuge from the elements and established for the critters in the area a "no flying or feeding zone".