Micro Shelter Constuction Spring 2021

6/7/21:  Interior caulking was completed.

All plywood joints have been caulked.  Some caulking is needed on the casing around the window yet.

6/3/21:  Roof sheathing completed, roof underlayment completed, 3 of 4 sides of drip edge installed, interior casing installed on the door, the window jamb installed.

All roof sheathing was installed with 3" screws.  1/8" spacing was allowed between all panel edges.  Screws were placed on 6 in centers on the edges, and 12" in the field.

The drip edge on the lower edge of the roof was installed and nailed to the roof sheathing.  Corners were cut so that it could be bent up about 6" at each rake.  The framing nailer and 8D siding nails were used to secure the drip edge to the sheathing.

15# asphalt roofing paper was installed (four courses) so that at least 6" of overlap were achieved.  The first course was on the low side of the roof.

Drip edge was then cut and installed on top of the roofing paper along each rake edge.  This piece was simply cut the length of the rake edge and is not bent around either corner.  The framing nailer and 8D siding nails were used to secure the drip edge to the sheathing.

The interior casing was installed around the door.

The window jamb was shimmed in place and then nailed with 2.5" long 15Ga finish nails.

Interior casing was started on the window.  When the first piece was cut long but then nailed in place, the Fein multitool needed to be used to trim it to its proper length.

Much of the caulking of all seams and joints were completed on the outside of the house.

5/28/21:  Exterior trim finished.  Brick molding installed on door.

All exterior trim, primarily on the rear wall, was installed, including window trim.  Trim around the heat pump will be installed at the house's final destination -- the heat pump is not here yet so final fit-up would not be possible.

The brick molding, which was left off the door by the manufacturer, was installed.  The 15Ga nail gun was used with electrogalvanized finish nails.

A window was discovered broken this morning with a pin-hole chip in it.  The sealed argon space has been compromised.  Smith Glass will be out on Tuesday to provide an estimate to replace the stationary half of the window.  It is believed that weed eaters from grounds maintenance activities threw a rock at the window.

5/26/21:  Vertical exterior siding finished, rear eave enclosure started.

The last sheet of Hardi cedarmill siding was installed on the structure on the tall side of the porch.

The first piece of Hardi cedarmill material was installed to enclose the rear roof overhang.  There were no pieces long enough that remained to enclose the rear roof eave in one piece.

5/24/21:  Siding installation continued.

The last sheet of Hardi cedarmill siding was installed on the tall side of the house.

One sheet of Hardi cedarmill siding was installed on the rear wall, and one on the front wall of the house.

Additionally, the window jamb was cut and nailed together for the interior.

5/20/21:  Siding installation started.

Two sheets of cedarmill hardi panel siding were installed on the short side of the shelter, and one on the tall side.  Power shears were used to cut the hardi panel to minimize the dust.  Jigs were used to support each panel at the bottom and assure the alignment of the bottoms of each panel.

The opening for the heat pump and the door were both flashed on 5/19.

4/28/21:  Rough Electrical Completed (by Northside Electric).

All rough electrical work was completed today by Northside Electric.  When exterior siding is installed, holes will be provided in the siding and the wiring for the porch light and the electrical plug in the back will be made.

4/22/21:  Eave blocking and interior sheathing completed.

Sheathing was cut out from the window and the heat pump openings using a trim router and a flush-cut bit.

The final two pieces of interior sheathing was installed.  All remaining screws were installed on the sheathing.

All the blocking at the eaves was completed. Gaps in the rafters over the front wall were sealed with duct tape in preparation for insulation.

Deck boards were cut.  End screw positions were pre-drilled.  Some boards were installed.

4/20/21:  More eave blocking and interior sheathing.

Eave blocking was completed on the short side of the house.

Four more pieces of 1/2" interior plywood sheathing was installed

4/16/21:  Eave blocking, lookouts, interior sheathing.

All hurricane tie installation was finished.

Blocking for ceiling sheathing was installed on the rear wall.

Two 4x4 lookouts to support the rear roof overhang and fly rafter were installed.

Blocking at the eaves was started.  This blocking helps with roof rigidity, provides a nailing surface when the eaves are enclosed, and will provide a barrier for roof insulation.

The first piece of interior ceiling plywood was installed.  This required five people -- four to hold, and one to fasten it in place.

4/14/21:  Wall framing done, rafter installation started.

The double top plate was cut and installed on the front and rear walls, finishing the framing of these walls.

A new piece of plywood was installed on the rear wall.  Only two screws installed however.

All the birds mouths on all of the rafters have been cut.

The rafter on the rear wall was cut and installed.  It still needs hurricane ties.

String was run from the end of each of the tails of the front rafter to the rafter on the back wall.  These strings will be used to align all rafter tail cuts as they are installed.

Two additional rafters were fully installed.  Each of these received two toed screws connecting each rafter end to the double top plate of one of the side walls.  One more  rafter has its tails cut and needs to have hurricane ties installed.

4/12/21:  Front and rear framing continued.

One stud, the king studs and jack studs for the door, and the door header were installed.  Screws were placed through the top plate.  Stud bottoms were toe-screwed to the bottom plate.  After installation, it was realized that the bottom plate was not taken into account when the jack studs for the door were cut.  The header will need to be lowered by 1-1/2" -- likely by adding a third 2x4 to the underside of the header.

Four studs were cut and installed on the rear wall.  Studs were screwed through the top plate, and toe-screwed with three screws each to the bottom plate.

4/8/21:  Side walls set into place.

Final leveling of the floor was completed using a laser level.

Studs were cut for the short wall.

The first course of plywood was placed on the square tall side wall.  This wall was then placed on the floor, braced plumb, and then screwed to the floor using 3" screws.

The short side wall was nailed together.  Pilot holes were placed on the ends of the plates and 3" screws were used on the end studs to prevent plate splitting.

The short side wall was squared, the first course of interior plywood sheathing was installed, the wall was set in place, braced plumb, and then screwed to the floor. 

4/6/21:  Floor framing and floor nearing completion.

The floor framing was relocated and placed on its skids.

The diagonals of the frame were measured to insure they were the same length to make sure the frame was square.

All joist hangers were installed between each floor joist and the rim joist.

A hurricane tie was installed connecting each skid with each floor joist and rim joist.

The diagonals of the frame were measured and the frame adjusted to make sure it was square.

The 1" rigid insulation was placed on the frame and tacked in place with 8D hot-dipped galvanized (HDG) nails.  They were placed so the long edge was parallel to the floor joists.  This insulation is only being placed beneath the inside space of the tiny home.  The front three joists will be the front deck of the home.

The 3/4" tongue& groove plywood floor sheathing was installed over this foam oriented at right angles to the direction of the floor joists.  The seam between the two courses of plywood was staggered.  The plywood was attached to the floor and rim joists using 3" screws.   Each piece of plywood was fastened with screws at 6" centers on the edges, and 12" centers in the field. 

4/1/21:  Material delivered by Spaeth Lumber.