DAY 0:
Oct 3, 2005
This is the 'before' picture. The orange flags are where the posts for the south wall will be.
DAY 0:
DAY 1:
Oct 4, 2005
Just finished some site prep. Notice the missing spirea bush next to the deck. This monster took almost two hours to dig up and move. Started digging holes for the posts.
DAY 1:
DAY 1:
It was 85 degrees this day so the hammock made a nice place to take a breather.
DAY 2:
Oct 5, 2005
Poured stage 1 of the footings. The holes are 16"x16"x32" and needed at least 6" of cement, so I put in 8".
DAY 2:
Learned that not everyone does things the right way. This edge of the deck was off by about 4 inches. You can see the bend in it in the next couple pictures.
DAY 2:
DAY 2:
I tried to straighten it out the best I could with the circular saw.
DAY 3:
Oct 6, 2005
Poured stage 2 of the footings and set the posts for the south wall. Used this yellow "sona tube" to pour the cylinder of concrete around the base of the posts.
DAY 3:
DAY 3:
Took most of the day just to get things lined up and leveled. Doing this by myself in the wind was not fun.
DAY 3:
Also called for the construction inspector to come out and inspect the footings. He came out the following day and gave us the okay and a sticker for the permit.
DAY 3:
DAY 4:
Oct 7, 2005
Dug the holes and poured the footings for the west and east walls. Since they weren't load-bearing walls we didn't have to pour complete footings; only post-holes.
DAY 4:
DAY 4:
DAY 5:
Oct 8, 2005
Was fortunate to have some friends come over and help with some of the tricky stuff. Hung the ledgerboard against the roofline to attach one end of the rafters.
DAY 5:
My friend, Scott, cut the posts to size and the notches that will hold the rafters and the top edge of the south wall.
DAY 5:
Things are starting to take shape.
DAY 6:
Oct 9, 2005
Relaxing on the couch with the "supervisor". Can't get anything past her with eyes like that!
DAY 6:
Photo of one of the orchids that will be moving into the greenhouse when it's done. It's now hanging in the lathe house.
Vanda Suksan Delight
X
(V. Pimporn x V. Bangyikhan 'Red')
DAY 16:
Oct 19, 2005
Had to go back to work this past week, but with the help of Torre's father, we were able to get the rafters cut and put up.
DAY 16:
Also started digging out the floor. I'm digging down about 6" for 4" of 1/4 chip gravel and a 2" layer of pea gravel to go on top. Taking all the extra soil to build a flower bed along the back of our lot.
DAY 26:
Oct 29, 2005
Was able to get the vinyl siding off yesterday. Used a special "plastics" blade for the circular saw to cut the line against the east wall. Put up 15 lb. tar paper to prep for the OSB.
DAY 26:
Got the OSB up thanks to my friends Rich and Linda. Used 4 sheets of 1/2" OSB. Will probably need another sheet to finish off the bottom.
DAY 26:
Also got the framing for the door entering from the garage complete.
DAY 28:
Oct 31, 2005
Got the door installed.
DAY 30:
Nov 2, 2005
Since we are quickly running out of warm days, we decided to stain the posts. It was recommended that we use a colored stain instead of exterior paint because the treated lumber needed to dry and stain would allow that to happen. The OSB is primed with Kilz.
DAY 33:
Nov 5, 2005
With four people, we made quick work of getting the roof purlins in. Torre and Linda were running the saw and Rich and I were on the ladders nailing. Purlins were placed at 32", 64", and 8'.
DAY 33:
Nov 5, 2005
Installed the 2x8 baseboards between the 4x4s. They are 3" above grade and 5" below. This will be the compliment to the top boards and provide the bottom edge to secure the polycarbonate to.
DAY 33:
Nov 5, 2005
The silver flashing wraps around a 2x4 against the OSB. We used a hair dryer to heat up the "glue" to make it adhere better.
DAY 33:
Nov 5, 2005
Closeup of the baseboard. Also ordered the polycarbonate sheets this week. I was told they would get crated yesterday and could arrive as soon as next weekend. Ordered it from GE Polymers in Kalamazoo. Mark and Dawn have been great at taking care of me.
DAY 37:
Nov 9, 2005
The polycarbonate arrived today. They ended up shipping from a warehouse in New York instead of a Michigan one because it was cheaper for shipping.
DAY 39:
Nov 11, 2005
Preparing to put the floor in. Had to make sure to put in a weed barrier beforee the quarter-chip.
DAY 39:
Nov 11, 2005
A couple dozen trips of the wheel barrow and we now have level one of the floor. Tomorrow we'll get the pea stone gravel layer complete.
DAY 40:
Nov 12, 2005
A photo of us working. Linda and Rich are the ones on the left. Notice the door is no longer in place.
DAY 40:
Nov 12, 2005
When thinking about the steps coming in we had a problem with the doors being at different heights. Our options were to build either a largle platform, and raise up the garage-side door, or make a more complicated two-level landing.
DAY 40:
Nov 12, 2005
We decided to raise the door and go for a simple landing. We are considering putting the floor of the landing on hinges and making it a "chest" for storage.
DAY 40:
Nov 12, 2005
Just about finished the framing. Rich and Linda have been amazing help. I'm so lucky to have friends like them.
DAY 40:
Nov 12, 2005
At one point everyone was working on an individual task and everyone was "in the zone." It was very cool.
DAY 42:
Nov 14, 2005
Final touches on the framing. The small rectangular window on the lower right is a venting window. Since the winds are mainly out of the west, they should blow in low and angle upwards to the other side where it'll either vent via a fan or out the storm door.
DAY 44:
Nov 16, 2005
Had my "framing" inspection today. The inspector's only concerns were how the joists/rafters connected to the roof. He wasn't sure there would be enough strength. He later called back and said I needed to double the rafters in the garage by nailing a second 2x4 to the existing ones. He gave me the approval to start putting up the polycarbonate.
DAY 45:
Nov 17, 2005
WHAT THE DEUCE!!
DAY 45:
Nov 17, 2005
We had our first snow of the season last night. Got about 18 inches with a forecast of more for the next couple days.
DAY 45:
Nov 17, 2005
This is going to make putting up the polycarbonate a challenge. :)
DAY 47:
Nov 19, 2005
We got another break in the weather for the weekend; the low 40s. We've got the entrance from the deck complete.
DAY 48:
Nov 20, 2005
The first corner of the polycarbonate is up and here is Vanna Whiiii... I mean Torre modeling it for us.
DAY 48:
Nov 20, 2005
After 10 long, and cold, hours we finally managed to get all the polycarbonate installed.
DAY 48:
Nov 20, 2005
Only three sections left to fill with plywood and then it'll be enclosed.
DAY 48:
Nov 20, 2005
We opted to cover the section with the lower vent window with the complete sheet instead over worrying about the window. We'll come back in the spring and take care of it then.
DAY 51:
Nov 23, 2005
We are now "enclosed." Pressure-treated plywoood over the storm door ...
DAY 51:
Nov 23, 2005
and also a couple strips between the polycarbonate and the garage.
DAY 87:
Dec 29, 2005
Took a break from construction. Installed fiberglass insulation to the wall seperating the garage and the greenhouse. Will be building a short step below the door, soon.
DAY: 103
Jan 14, 2006
Torre and I spent about 6 hours putting this step together. She had a great idea to "indent" the step down to save space in the greenhouse
DAY 120:
Jan 31, 2006
Passed the final inspection for construction today! Next is to work on getting some benches in there and try to get some heat and lights, too.
DAY 131:
Feb 11, 2006
To help make the greenhouse blend into the garage, we took some of the vinyl siding that we took off the south side and cut it to fit here.
DAY 222:
May 13, 2006
Bought a standard basement window and cut a hole in the existing polycarbonate and tried to frame it to look nice.
DAY 223:
May 14, 2006
Installed some 50% Aluminet shade cloth on to a PVC pipe frame suspended above the existing roof.
DAY: 233
May 24, 2006
It's official! We are now moved in to the greenhouse. Shelves are ClosetMaid shelves that were on sale at Home Depot.
July 17, 2006We had an insane storm run through! It ripped the roof off of the greenhouse! There were winds of 70-80 MPH. I heard a friend say it was like Hurricane Katrina, but on a much smaller scale.
July 17, 2006Three of the four 4x8 panels were thrown in to the neighbor to our south's backyard (about 300 feet) with the fourth going into their neighbor's yard (about 500 feet)
July 17, 2006Plants strung all over the floor. It's going to be a challenge to get them and their tags back together.
July 18, 2006Had a 12x16' tarp and was able to tie it down to make a temporary roof.