And now for the metal cap!

Saturday, October 29, and Wayne and Janet report for roof-building volunteering at 8 in the morning. A certain amount of confusion as we try to organize the work and who does what without really knowing what the Master Builder's Master Plan is. There has been a frost overnight, so we start on the sunny side of the roof. The MB soon has Wayne marching up and down the slope as if he were in a shopping mall. Our team quickly builds the 2 by 2 framework to receive the 2 inch foam insulation panels and then we proceed quickly to the first 15 foot by 3 foot metal panel. We don't know exactly how they recommend attaching these panels, so the first one looks like it's been attached to the front of a military tank: we shall call this first panel the "hurricane corner". That panel will never come off, ever. I do a calculation and realize that we'll need twice the screws they've sent us if we carry on with this screwing pattern. It will also take at least an hour to screw each panel. Our family doctor, work site co-organizer and Swiss MB comforter (one of the three sisters who are wives of the three men involved in this exercise) has the answer: using her magic I-phone she contacts the company and manages to get help from someone doing a Saturday morning shift! We have it! Now we know how to screw it down. The magic of Apple. Thank you, Mr Jobs. In the remaining six hour session we get 2/3 of the way along one side of the roof at which point there is a shower of light rain and magically a double rainbow breaks out across the lake. It is time to call it a day before Wayne's feet fall off and Michael permanently develops a Charlie Chaplin penguin walking style. I am sure that those size 14 shoes help keep him balanced on the roof but nevertheless it is amazing how flexible and balanced he is for such a big man: tribute to his dad, Oldy who was an accomplished Alpine climber. Oldy would be proud of the MB's building. The evening party and feast helps to get us over the trials of the working day, but rain breaks out overnight and Sunday, with Janet and Wayne both ready to help us finish the roof, is lost to high winds and rain. At least it's only 1/2 of the house now getting wet... But how shall we finish the roof with only the two of us, and only one MB?

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have a peak!

WE should be drinking champagne! The Master Builder spends two long days finishing the peak, coming up with an ingenious solution to the inevitable discrepancies in his huge beam construction. All that remains for this year is to insulate and cap with the metal roofing. Just a few photos to show the effect, the massive beauty of the beamed roof and, of course, the beaming Master Builder himself. What a dance on a roof from such a massive man.

 

 

Working against the clock

Well. now we have a roof, a wooden one, very wooden, several tons of wood in fact. On this blustery, almost cold day, the Master Builder strides across the roof while I cling to the gable roof to screw in a few long screws to hold the gable trim, a 15 foot 2 by 10 board to end the house (or begin it), very heavy and very impressive. I am terrified of walking on the roof, even if it is only a 7:12 slope. Even though there are straps along the roof to stand on and push off on, I don't like walking up there. Meanwhile, Michael the MB, strides around like he's having fun up there in the cold wind. He even hauls the boards up to finish the peak which he will now have to finish tomorrow, after which we'll start putting on the tar paper and insulation. I somehow thought the house might be protected from last night's rain by all the wood, but you still have to have waterproofing and, finally, the metal. Then the house will have to dry out. Then we put in the 3 patio doors and the place is ready to be left for a winter rest, for me that is... Deborah takes off for Randy Cormier's wake and I am invited to share pork and potatoes with the MB, a fine dining experience with the master of construction. It even tastes good here.

 

 

 

 

 

The roof takes shape

Let the photos speak for themsevles. In this race against winter, against snow, against rain, we are now ahead. Janet and Wayne came for the weekend and we managed to do half the roof. The Master Builder has excelled himself. The wood arrived Thursday: Firday he did one attic floor. Saturday he did a second attic floor. Sunday he did half a roof and today, Monday, he has done 2/3 of the other side of the roof. By tomorrow night the house should be covered, then we protect it with tar paper, insulate it with foam and put on the metal roof which arrived, as promised, on Friday. The Master Builder has proved himself to be a Master Builder. A year ago we sat on the lot and decided to build a house here. We are nearly there. Let the party begin!