BIG DAY

Today the framing on the trailer, that looks suspiciously like a house, hit the road! At first, anxiousness, and feelings of being out of control, reigned. But once down the driveway, realizing the solidity of the framing and seeing it handle motion flawlessly, I was able to ease up and enjoy the spectacle.

We drove up the hill where there lay a pressure washer.

That cleaned the chicken coop right out. Then we drove down, over, and up the hill to the dump, where we weighed in on the truck scale.

Bare trailer began at: 1400 lbs

Today with the framing: 2320 lbs

Making the added framing: 920 lbs

(My estimate for the framing weight was 1000 lbs, based on the fact that 1' of the lumber I'm framing with weighs about 1.5 lbs. There's a bit more framing to do: the window box and the loft side of the roof, which will open)

Nov 10th, just like Nov 9th

Except, today, I finally bought an impact driver. Seven years ago I almost dropped out of college when the construction crew I worked for said they'd give me an impact driver if I stayed. They almost won me over! Why has it taken me so long to buy one? It's a big purchase. There was a sale on the Makita combo kit, with the impact driver and drill, lithium-ion batteries, 18 volt. And so, finally.

And you'll notice a diagonal brace going across the rafters. It has a 18 gauge strap nailed the whole length, as well as wrapping down the sides, nailing into the other rafters near the ridge beam and to the corner toward the eaves.

Greg!

I am solely responsible for all mistakes on this monstrosity. Greg is responsible for smiling in the morning, putting up some good battles, having a truck with a strong engine, & making this home better than it would have been if we'd never met in front of the tire shop where we learned, as we waited, we were both working on building a house on a trailer. Small town.

A Door

Not this one...

at least not after I found This one at the dump, double paned, brass hardware...

My Jungle Gym

It'll be a bit of a pitty to put in walls.

Invaluable Friends

Some mornings begin with bad attitudes. Bad attitudes do little to help a home's construction. Get rid of the bad attitude!

Once that was done, & it took a little while, bracing ensued.

Sometimes Slow

Not much of any progress today. Many braces to put in. It's hard to imagine my timeline, especially when my body's energy is low. Will I be finished by the end of tax season? Finished enough for someone else to move in?

Tonight I've gone through and tried to articulate the priorities. Here they are in a few chunks.

• Diagonal bracing
• Horizontal blocking
• Interior framing
• Extract rusty nails
• Hose down

Put rigid foam insulation in walls (do before housewrap where bracing is on interior walls)

Housewrap (before or after welding on corner pieces?)

• Drill vent holes in rafters
• Metal diagonals on long side of roof, wrapping down to rafters
• (Put rigid foam insulation up into spaces between rafters, put temporary ceiling piece to hold it up--before roof goes on?)
• Cut rafters to length
• Tar paper
• Flashing?
• Corrugated roof on

• Decide structure for opening roof
• Build interior box frame
• Drill vent holes
• Metal diagonals on short side/interior box
• Attach hinges
• Tar paper
• Corrugated roof on

• Grind down 2" x 2" angle iron
• (get 1 gallon Rustoleum)
• Weld to sufficient lengths
• Paint each length and remaining ribs
• Weld corners in place
• Bolt to wood corners
• Weld cross-members (need to get, 2 pieces @ 8')

Sometimes house-building must be set aside for boat-building, no?

And meeting people like Adlai Karim in the BART.

And purchasing a used Bosch Jigaw.

Workshop Level

Working on the joists for the workshop area to the right when you walk in the door. Trying to decide where/if to have a step going up, how to frame that in given the no-floor and that it will be directly on top of the old refrigerator walls. Standing up 3 feet in the work space and looking around, into the loft, the kitchen, out the windows; it feels nice. Hard to quite grasp how much more there is to do.

Half a Half

Couldn't resist putting one of the corrugated sheets temporarily up top to see where the previous screw holes lined up with my layout. Cheap thrills.

Four Rafters Up

An interesting day. Began thinking, "I need help." Got help. Was sufficiently stubborn enough to alienate help. Continued on my own. Did a little inverse tangent equationing. Finished the day somewhat proud. The arcs. The arcs. Hopefully not in the rafters.




{AND the license arrived today in the mail. $20 for a five year permit through the DMV. Permanent trailer plates.}

RIGID FOAM, how nasty?

I'm going in circles. Rigid foam insulation, nasty. How nasty?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

what goes between the studs... what goes between the studs... what goes between the studs...

FOUR WALLS!

Precious, I think they're great.

Living in Santa Rosa

Not Bad.

NOW HERE, an animation from the Great Handcar Regatta 2009.

PART II

Work Day with dad & a TERMITE

He has incredible patience, and I bow to him: thanks for working with me today dad, for sticking those mortises in the top plate of the north wall. (The highlight of his day was uncovering his absolutely glorious-looking 1 7/8" chisel, sharp and shiny after all these years.)

Re: a TERMITE

The wood I have does not seem to be infested. Nevertheless, it came from an old chicken coop barn with a few small locations that had termite damage. Seeing one termite today was alarming. I killed it. I am wondering with what measures I should proceed. Please add suggestions as comments if anyone reading this has tips. I do not want to fumigate with a heavily toxic medley. The wood I am using seems to all be solid and good. But this one termite--what a little bugger! Are there more? Greg suggested I pressure wash the whole thing once I finish framing, let it all dry out, and then go ahead with siding and all. Any other suggestions?

A few photos from the day showing how it's coming along.

Featured Link

Click Here

(Thanks to Hana Permillerkins and tremendous family, in New Zealand, Indo, France, Oregon, or where is she next?)

Another Day

A bit more progress.

Really, just need to decide Decide how I want the wall in the kitchen to take form in order to form it. Did a lot of sitting on top of the ladder as the sun set, imagining that hitch-side wall.

Working on this project brings up some core issues: 1) trusting myself, 2) the gender spectrum, 3) my stubbornness, 4) the abundance in this country I have access to, my selfishness coupled with my desire to see my friends around the world unafflicted by the greed for natural resources by the richest in the world, 5) where do I fit in? / what do I want to do with my life [next]?

One place some of these issues collide is regarding the nastiness of some of the building materials I have scavenged (see entry ALL THE BAD CHOICES I'VE CHOSEN: Killing the Planet, Killing Myself: Why I'd rather

be building with straw and mud, period..). Though on the one hand I feel good about keeping them out of the dump, on the other hand I am (slightly) killing myself as I work with them and aware of how toxic some of the materials are to all the workers involved in the process of making whatever material I'm using.

Thoughts.

Closer to Two Walls

Not plumb, yet. The rain cleared, allowing fine time to work. Isn't the tarp wrapping around what will be the northwest corner nicely?

Before Typhoon Melor

A wall and a half came up. Great heightened joy!

The first growth fir from the barn is delicious to frame with, and it's face will be left exposed on the inside. The north wall now stands 10' from the base of the sill plate with room inside for 3' of storage beneath the workshop. The tippy top of the roof will (as per DMV regulations) be just under 13'6" from the ground.

(the 2"x6" coming through the center is a temporary mast for the tarp, though it's hardly the rain protection I'd envisioned)

ALL THE BAD CHOICES I'VE CHOSEN: Killing the Planet, Killing Myself: Why I'd rather be building with straw and mud, period.

? but the rot...

I used this on the 2"x6" redwood decking that I ripped down to 2" x 3 5/8" to be the base sill plate. The decking was salvaged from someone in Santa Rosa and has places with dry rot. I don't like the decision I made, nevertheless, I do not want the rot to transfer from the redwood to the fir framing the rest of the house. If anyone has any alternative options to the nasty wood preserve, please leave a comment here!

? but the rust...

Another decision I don't like. The paint seems like it will do a superior job at keeping rust from eating away at my foundation, but the stuff is nasty. If anyone has any hot ways to keep rust off steel that are less nasty, please comment here.

? rigid foam insulation

sure, yes, by all means, insulate your house, insulate the heck out of it, depending on the climate you live in, that is probably a good idea. nevertheless, this rigid foam is nasty. i know i've got to get more articulate with these things, i'm just giving a first stab at articulation here. the hanging shiny particulates when you cut this stuff is not good for babies, other humans, plants, soil, water systems and so on.

Can he sail?

Can I weld?

Don't know. But that appears to be what's going on. And the angle iron is all attached around the trailer, ready for sill plates!
Attached: liquefying metal, the white hot seam barely stirred, electrifying tools if you're not careful, omnipowerful, and confusing to the muscles because they couldn't smush metal together, yet (with their doing?) right in front of the body, metal was just squished in a deciding come-together even if 1/4" out of place. White hot. Hindsight rocks.

Don't forget gloves when you're grinding.

(Heck of a picnic Greg and Janelle! Beware of "Metal Fume Fever" I've been nauseous a week.)

An Extra Here: Photos from the mock laying out

Featured are 6" thick 3'6" x 9' rigid foam industrial refrigeration walls spotted by the illustrious Shantytown outside of a northern California winery by the side of the road. They will become a good portion of my floor.

Above: Imagining the bathroom.

Pictures can be deceiving, it's actually HUGE.

Headaches & Heartthrobs

Simply: HEADACHES (driving me nuts) & HEARTTHROBS (oh I do love)

Above: And that wasn't even my posting. That was a headache.

Above: Drawing in Boxes, Drawings of Rectangles (for the most part), Where is the Circle-Graph Paper? What would that look like?

Jackpot Rigid Foam Insulation Bonzana

The fact is: LOOK!


From yet another northern California remodel gone... gone with tons of waste. Enter, some perplexed scavenger who doesn't even like the stuff, but now has a mountain to build her home with. Strange indeed. Thanks to the fellow in Sebastopol for posting this on Craigslist rather than putting it in the dump. And to my mom for letting me borrow her truck at 6:30am this morning to be the first to pick it up.

Barn is Down, THE Trailer in Background

p.s. The doors in the truck are from an auspicious trip to the Petaluma regional dump and will be added to the materials Greg is collected for his small house on wheels.

This Barn, Down

We're taking this barn down. The last two days in the sun and wind. The roof is all up and off, except the rafters and one side still with runners. Siding off from two sides, two to go. The nails are getting pulled out as we go, and soon the lumber will be ready for constructing my small house, and many of Greg's projects. Thanks to Sergio & Steve & Shanty for working alongside us in their free time.

It began like this:

FREE OLD REDWOOD BARN (petaluma)
Date: 2009-08-30, 11:20AM PDT

FREE OLD REDWOOD BARN. Come dismantle, take, and build your own ! 46'x20', board and baton 1"x10", collar 1"x6", tongue and groove 1"x3", 4"x4" and 2"x4" supports.

Chop Saw / Miter Saw

Does anyone have one I can borrow for a few weeks?


I've spent the morning making new window frames, for double pane glass found at the dump, out of some of the smaller pieces of redwood decking pulled from the Santa Rosa bro who wanted more space in his backyard for his dog.

I can hear a neighbor sanding something. The person has been doing it all day so far. Power tools.

[RE: CHOP SAW, THANKS ERIC!]

Deposit Down, Thanks David (at Reed's Trailers)

The main news is that I went to Reed's Trailers and ordered the trailer that I will (as I see it at this point!) plan to build my house on.

I can't express enough how much I appreciate the advice of builders in this area who are sharing their knowledge from years of experience with me. My parents neighbor Eric, and Ken & Micah Sawyer have stood and provided invaluable feedback. BIG THANKS all around. I also am very grateful to meet Greg, another skilled builder, who is also building a house on a trailer. We're close on the map, so going over plans together is fruitful. I also want to mention here how lucky I've been to meet up with other small house builders: Dee Williams and KT Anderson in Portland showed me the latest on the office on a trailer they're building and were completely awesome people. Just great, open, the best kind of builders. I'd also like to thank Jay Shafer from Tumbleweed houses for looking over my plans and sharing his input. I'm so grateful for all the work he's done which has laid the track for others (like me, Greg, maybe you?) to come to a solution of sorts in regards to affordable housing. And every other conversation I have with anyone open to listening never fails to tip me in some sneaky way.

I ended up choosing to get the trailer with fenders, for weather protection when I'm on the road. I'll build around them. The tires are fine. 7-prong fine. Things seem fine and good. Can't quite swallow that after all my time considering and buying a used trailer I've decided to go with a new one. Nevertheless, that's the decision I've now decided upon. I must say the mark down in price for solid used trailers was surprisingly low in my experience over the last few months. So new ball bearings we go!

After putting a deposit on the trailer, I went over with another Greg to a redwood barn I saw posted on Craigslist freestuff. The landowner has had 25 people respond, but perhaps we made an impact on her (by the end of the conversation she was bringing up her role in the Vagina Monologues), in which case, I'll have a full few weeks dismantling this pretty big barn. Greg knows what he's doing, I don't. He's taken apart a whole barn on his own. Lots of redwood, beautiful old siding. We'll see if we "get the gig."

My parents return from their hike in Yosemite tonight. I plan on moving back in with them in the middle of September to focus on building this house. Still can't decide what to do for insulation, nothing sits quite right yet between the head and the heart.

Lots of research remains on off-grid systems.
I tested the oven/stove out tonight with propane. Tea will be made!

(another) New Trailer

As Eric knows, last night I sold the trailer I just bought (for the same price). Now I'm planning to buy a new one. And get the order in asap so I can get cracking. Here are the specs:

• IRON PANTHER 7X16 TANDEM AXLE CAR HAULER 7000 GVW
• 7x16 Carhauler
• 10000 lb A-frame 2 5/16" coupler
• A-frame tongue
• 2000 lb tongue jack (bolted on)
• DOT approved safety chains w/hooks
• DOT approved lighting system
• 7-way RV plug with loom
• Breakaway kit
• 5"X3" angle frame
• 6" high front bump bar
• 4' angle ramps
• Stake pockets
• 83" wide inside deck
• 2" treated wood flooring
• 3500 lb easy-lube axles w/brake flange
• 1 electric brake axle
• 5 lug 15" wheels
• 205/75 15" tires
• 7000 GVW
• 5600 lb payload

I will ask for it withOUT:

• 6" high front bump bar
• 4' angle ramps
• Stake pockets

I'm also considering asking for it withOUT the fenders (since I can the wood framing will go around the wheels and I can line it with an aluminum flashing---although building over the fenders might be better?), and withOUT the treated wood deck since I'd rather use untreated wood, and each thing I leave off the list, the cheaper the price becomes.

Remaining questions:

• Is a bolted (rather than welded) on jack ok?
• "7-way RV plug with loom" Is this the round plug that links the truck's electric with the trailers?
• "3500 lb easy-lube axles w/brake flange" Good?
  
• "5 lug 15" wheels" Good? What ply are these?
  
• "205/75 15" tires" Good? Sufficient max load?
  

Just an update.
Thanks!
Jenine

Iron Panther

wow, I can't quite believe it:
http://ironpanther.com/
I don't know if that has any connection to the Iron Panther I will mention...

Tonight I sold the trailer I bought for the same amount, though I'm keeping few items from Mr. G. Erausquin, such as two propane tanks. Yes, a fast turn-around, you better believe it!

These are big decisions, and I don't expect myself to have everything all down pat. Moving forward, making decisions as best I can as they come up.

Tomorrow I will go purchase a brand new one, the brand: iron panther. This guy makes a great trailer for a great price, and what with all the work I'd have to do on the other (replacing brake line, perhaps switching hitch out, getting all the rust off, repainting, perhaps getting new tires I realized after the purchase due to max load specifications), I've decided the costs come out even, and this way I'll have new ball bearings and axles.

So that's the update for today.

Work Time.

Call me if you want to help. 707.535-9109
In exchange, I'll keep my eyes open for what you're looking for during my thorough scans of Craigslist freestuff. And feed you watermelons?
Till the next call, I'll be happy sweating over the falling away rust and soon to come joists.

Thanks to a Mr. G. Erausquin, that trailer belongs to this one, starting today!

Come to the Imaginists! The Last Two Weekends This August!

We've remixed our street show to fill out your favorite theatre venue on 461 Sebastopol Ave., in the ..art of downtown Santa Rosa. COME JOIN US THIS WEEKEND OR NEXT! BRING YOUR FRIENDS! SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL THEATRE!! Details Here.

My tiny small house: "Not Iaşi"

This project has been my stream.
Thanks to all the input from all the builders I get to be around.
Sincerely.
I'm ready to buy the flatbed trailer now, I think, almost.
At least a lot closer.