Topping Out

So apparently I have not alienated all of the neighbors with my Shed4Ed construction project. A couple of nights ago, just after dinner while I was trying to wrangle the girls into getting ready for bed, I was surprised by a rapping on the sliding door to the deck. Thinking the neighbors had finally organized a posse to bring me in, I jumped 3 feet in the air, just about pissed my pants and let out a startled yell. (More like a high pitched scream if you ask Alex). It was our neighbor Mike bearing not arms, but a 3 foot cedar tree. After I stopped hyperventilating and he stopped laughing, Mike explained that had brought the tree over to help "top out" the shed.

I know that technically it's supposed to go on top of the structure, but it was too late, dark and cold to dig out the ladder and rig up the tree on the roof. I also figured just pitching it up onto the roof would be in poor taste. So in a quick, impromptu ceremony I laid the tree up against the shed for luck. Maybe I should have invited all the other neighbors, too.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Lots of good progress this weekend. I got all of the latch and locking mechanism installed on the doors. No more propping it closed with a couple of cinder blocks. And while initially I was planning on waiting until the spring to install the window, in a fit of productivity, I decided to take the circular saw to the front of the shed. Four quick cuts and a handful of screws later, the window was in place. Now I'm saving up my energy for the final pieces that will bring it all together.... the WINDOW BOX and SHUTTERS.

When a hammer meets a thumb...

...the safe money is on the hammer. While nailing up the trim around the window I caught the tip of my thumb with the hammer. I think I was distracted by the glares I was getting from the neighbors. Neither really bothered me, so I just kept on working. It wasn't until I felt something wet on my wrist that I thought to look at my thumb again. Yikes! Not to be deterred, I finished the window.

It all ended well as the girls took great care to get just the right band-aid for my owie. And I think the neighborhood punks are going to think twice about breaking in to the shed once they notice the bloody fingerprints and splatters on the window trim.

Under the Lights

I was working under the lights on the roof of the shed this evening, racing to get the shingling finished before the rain started. As the sound of my mighty hammer blows echoed through the still crisp night air, I'm sure our neighbors (the same ones who were witnesses to the door installation) looked up from their dinner-tables and thought, "What is that jack#%$ doing now?" Nothing to see here, people. These are not the droids you're looking for. Move along. Move along.

It seems I timed it perfectly. As I was putting away the ladder and gathering up the shingle scraps, the rain and sleet started. I also timed it just right to get back in the house as the melee known as dinnertime wrapped up. I'm two for two for the evening. I think I'll stop while I'm ahead.

Almost like I know what I'm doing...

With the thermometer holding at a relatively balmy 38 degrees, I got started on installing the shingles today. No major mishaps or set-backs, just lots of up and down on the ladder. I was just wrapping up for the day when John O. stopped by and summed up the day's work. "Hey," he said. "It almost looks like you know what you're doing."

Creative Problem Solving

With a break in the weather this past Sunday I was able to get some work done. I finished off a few pieces of trim and started working on installing the doors.

So the doors get laid out flat next to each other and then attached together with a couple of boards that span them. This makes a single great big (and heavy) unit out of the two doors. Now in theory, one (or two or three) is suppose to pick this up, position it in the opening, nail it in place and then remove the boards. Viola! Installed doors. The theory doesn't hold up so well if you are working solo.

Step 1 - Attach doors together: Check

Step 2 - Pick up the doors: Check (for hernia).

Step 3 - Position doors in opening: Check.

Step 4 - Nail doors in place: It's here we run into problems.

I quickly discover that there is nothing to support the doors while I reach for the screw-gun. And once I do get the screw-gun, the doors are WAY too heavy to hold in place with one hand and work the screw-gun with the other. #$%& ! Not to be deterred, I get the jack from the van, arrange a few boards as a base and crank, crank, crank the doors into position. A few strategically placed screws later and I am at:

Step 5 - Viola! Installed doors.

As I stand back to admire my resourcefulness and workmanship, I think to myself, "I truly am a handyman not to be trifled with." That satisfied glow lasts right up until I open the doors, or should I say, TRY to open the doors. Because they will only open about 6 inches before they jam on the overhanging roof. Thankfully the girls were engaged watching TV so they missed the colorful tirade which followed. Though our neighbors out raking leaves did not.

Return to Step 1 and start all over again, this time installing the doors a 1/4 of a inch lower. Then humbly walk away to take the girls to swim lessons.

Shed = 1
Ed = 0

Rain Delay

The weatherman said Saturday was just suppose to have scattered sprinkles, and I guess technically they were scattered right up to the point where they converged over our house and formed into a deluge. My plans for starting on the roofing were put aside and I had to content myself with installing the trim, soffits and fascia. Once my clothes hit total saturation, it really wasn't so bad. Good thing I had a shed to keep the tools dry.

Wow

Wow. That is all I can say. wow. Wow. WOW! What a great surprise and an even greater weekend.

When I woke up Saturday morning I had no idea of the wonderfully devious awesomeness of my wife, friends and family. You guys (and girls) ROCK!

The bulk of the shed is up and now I am excited to finish the rest of the siding, the trim, the doors, the window, the vents, the roofing, the ramp, the painting, the landscaping ties and most importantly, the WINDOW BOX. Come to think of it, who wants to spread some of their awesomeness around for the next few weekends?