Shelter

Once the flooring system was complete, the walls were quickly raised.  I say quickly because that's how these framers work.  I have only built a few wood structures in my life and I know basically how walls are built.  But, to do it in an efficient and timely manner is another thing.  I spent a little time watching the crew work and it is amazing how well they work together.  The verbal and non-verbal communication, unique to each framing crew I am sure, is still effective at getting the walls laid out correctly and raised in the best and safest manner.

Rear kitchen wall

Front walls

Walls are typically laid out and constructed flat on the floor and then tilted up into place and then temporarily braced until they can be permanently straightened and fastened in place.  Because this house is basically a square box, there are some long exterior walls and these are built in place and then raised.

Well, after all the framing lumber is put together and covered with plywood sheathing, it is extremely heavy.  So heavy, in fact, that when it comes time to raise them, mechanical help is needed.  On a couple of the longest walls, they used wall jacks to lift them in place.  It is a process that requires coordination among the crew as the wall is jacked up and then nailed in place.  It is not one for the faint of heart, I might add, as one would not want to be under a wall should it accidentally fall in the process of raising.

View from living room toward kitchen

After all the walls were raised they had to be trued.  This is also a well-orchestrated process that has to be done or your house is going filled with walls that all out of whack.  This house will have none of those, I can assure you.  After walls are trued, there remains a maze of braces and cross braces that will stay in place until the second floor is in place and the roof rafters are installed, which comes later.

Maze of bracing after walls are trued

Rear view looking towards kitchen

Walls nearing completion

First floor walls complete

The excitement of building a house grows as walls are built because the definition are spaces are established.  The feeling of protection that walls provide is certainly real and as these walls are built that feeling becomes real.  Now, if we can only get a roof on this place and some protection from the rains that are surely going to fall.