Swett Lodge prayer wheel spins thankful: palpable progress, near future work above deck. But more things change, more things same - in Thai 'same, same, different'. Neighbor says she can't see any Swett Lodge change. Must be language barrier - she's from Latvia, speaks excellent English - like most, she speaketh not Building. External visible change at Swett Lodge will be some time coming: structure first, dedumpify Swett Lodge living quarters next, then perhaps something outside....
Believe development arrested at 'scarf joint '. Below: 7/8"x9"x4' plywood 45 degree angle scarf joint, abundantly nail existing 2x8 joist. Theory: scarf joint ply more fully strengthens/stiffens 2x8 joist (which carries 2x6 stub joists) than butt joint ply. (Ply strengthener my short cut: doubling 2x8 joist carrying stubs like this while overkill, current practice.) At left note perpendicular score, x left: next stub location. Sawn original sub floor boards above ply, 1x3 gap fill board lays on stub joist. Atop stub note previously installed one inch ply sub floor: slightly jack raise; slip in (OK: lay on back; use hands/feet; rejack; try again, again,...) next 2'x4' one inch ply sub floor piece, butt joint atop stub.
Move jack under new ply piece, raise into place, nail in remaining stubs 'til west side rework. Reenclosed crawl space sepulchral incandescent.
Gertie haul home sixteen foot 2x6 front east perimeter joist - makes east side new lumber total $90 - slip into place, you know: hammer bang, bang; 4x4 bludgeon; jack assist slip into place. Edge nail sawn treated sill/perimeter joist; triple sixteen penny end nail stub joists through perimeter joist - oops!, didn't lower jack prior, allow weight compress everything: release jack pressure, wonder bar denail stub joists (dozen well sunk sixteen pennies altogether); appropriate compressed position renail. Completes east side Swett Lodge under structure work.
Upstairs inside; fit, nail one inch ply east front corner piece, slotted true 1x6 cedar deck board gap fill.
Poke through 'lumberyard' supplies, finally premonition agree: 3/4 inch ply doors from Kate's lake place adequately fill front room sub floor vacancies. Creative fitting/sizing just eliminate door's rot, slip under jack raised finish floor ample, require couple additional under floor 2x4 supports.
Reengineered front room floor allows 3/4 ply; add quarter inch ply match original one inch rough cut sub floor board thickness, sneak (sneak: more cajole than slip) under jack raised finish floor.
Middle room original two foot joist spacing requires minimum one inch board sub floor: salvage one inch board, true 1x6 cedar deck board, puzzle piece. Remove closet/front room studs, finish floor boards, reveal ancient original rough cut 1x10 sub floor, extent replaced sub floor under finish floor (right, salvage finish floor boards photo top center).
Piece remainder middle room sub floor around salvage 1x10 placed along edge for strength, few finish floor boards still attached to short section good original sub floor board.
Further rummage 'lumberyard', locate 3/4 ply, piece bath sub floor, final nail except under stool.
Confident ample sub floor replacements available in Swett Lodge salvage 'lumberyard', find uncanny: use practically every piece available, fill voids remarkably well. Even require square kitchen table ply, aesthetic round replace. Awful lot of folk crazy 'bout screws as fastener choice these days: still prefer nails. Easy install, hugely strong, relatively easy removal. Here, toenail table top to stud atop coat rack/stringer; nail support under top into stud at left, toenail through top to stud; couple nail top into 2x8 single leg; voila: table, easy remove when time comes, sturdy as hell.
Jack handy, raise ceiling/wall from floor, start front east corner persuade Swett Lodge salvage 2x4 lower wall sill plate under studs.
Stretch string, level verify wall alignment, lay in front room lower wall sill plate. Reuse salvage materials eliminates resizing hassle when use new lumber: original Swett Lodge 2x4s measure 1-5/8 inch x 4 inch; new 2x4s measure 1-1/2 inch x 3-1/2 inch - pull few nails any day of the week.
Continue lower wall sill plate through middle bedroom;
finish out bath lower wall sill plate
where it's necessary to shim 3/4 ply bath sub floor to one inch using 1/4x4 strips; 20 ton jack persuade corner into position, garage wall as base.
String/level align wall requires front corner half inch inset from foundation,
slight over hang mid wall; no worries:
sheet metal or plastic skirt below siding will cover perimeter joist; include screened, louvered vent covers. East side completely perimeter joist enclosed could barely sleep at night knowing miasmatic still moist air envelops Swett Lodge underpinnings; solution: chain saw regular vents into perimeter joist. Venting Swett Lodge here and in attic probably simplest, quickest yet most longevity effective of any Swett Lodge task: cool, moisture unencumbered air promotes preservation.
Front room/closet walls partially removed; go ahead, deconstruct, denail for future use 2x4 walls. Begin to get an idea of what a nice sized living space Swett Lodge will be all opened up.
Alchemy continues, hints past master connection: reduce ancient rot ridden scrap; conjure; Swett Lodge phoenix arises. Difficult articulate already obvious huge difference Swett Lodge renovation incurs; new life spurs steady progress; transformation catalyst thrill. Claw foot anyone? Archimedes?
Prayer wheel spins on:
thanks.
Peace
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