Huck

Hey FHB, got my great new nailgun, thanks a million for running the contest! - Huck

hahaha, that is a good speech there buddy! I guess some people need to "shed" their prejudices. I admit, I didn't watch the videocam presentation, but I like your attitude, your sales pitch, and I really like that shed a lot LOL.

No, but in a pinch I've cut the posts off flush at the ground, poured in some Temin-X, and relocated the new posts.

Stormando - Do I detect a little sarcasm? =)

So...as a DIY'er, wouldn't you prefer a magazine that presents the professional approach? Isn't that what you're after as a DIY'er? I'm not aware of the attitude you mention, not on FHB at any rate. I have heard of it on certain plumbing forums.

I'm a DIY'er on my own home quite often, and like you, have benefitted tremendously from FHB. As a DIY'er working on my own castle, I love the professional insights I get from FHB, and from BreakTime. I also love the video tips.

I have no idea why a fire sprinkler article would be so offensive -care to elaborate?

If more people are forced to become DIY'ers as a result of the economy, will there be a need for a professional journal for them to turn to, as they strive for professional results?

So...How about that shiny new avatar?

How about an "esoterica" column - each issue features an aspect of homebuilding that's not widely known. But to keep interest in the fine art of homebuilding alive, this column would discuss interesting facets of construction that are little known today. Like roof-cutting, building a door, building a wood screen door, building a window, site-built cabinets, etc.

I like it when the magazine speaks to professionals on a professional level. DIY'ers should be welcome, but the magazine should NOT be directed to them, on their level. That is a mistake that will turn professionals away faster than a stop-work notice from the building department! And really, by focusing on professionals, the DIY crowd will be enticed by a peek into the pro's world, they won't be turned off.

I'd like to see more remodeling articles - dealing with the plethora of challenges one faces in dealing with tying in new work with older homes. Also, more bang for the buck - high impact remodeling projects on a shoestring budget.

I like carpentry articles - tricky framing challenges, hanging a door in a difficult or unusual situations, site-built finish details, etc.

Also, a primer for contractors - a series of articles explaining basic plumbing theory, basic electrical theory, basic insulation theory, basic air conditioning theory, basic sheet metal work, etc. - but directed at the professional contractor, not the DIY'er.

Most of all, I'd like to see craftsmanship revived as a virtue worth striving for. Every issue should showcase examples of consumate cratsmanship - whether current or past: carpentry, sheet-metal, even plumbing, electrical, and ducting can be done with care and craftsmanship.

r.e. the website: the gallery needs to be set up to take more than 5 photos per entry. Also, set it up so your software resizes pictures for web use, don't make us tediously resize every photo we're trying to post! And when someone posts a comment to us, how about an email notification, to keep it current. Not like, Oh, someone posted a comment on my gallery listing 3 months ago - I just noticed!

And how about a reader's video section - where we can upload "how to" videos of our own. And dump that "beverly hillbilly" banjo music, and silly "better way" monologue at the start of each of CM's tips videos.

BTW - kudos on a great website, love the video tips, love BT, love the gallery contests!

Hey, these oldies do get recycled, don't they? IIRC, I first saw this one in an old Time-Life home repair volume! Here's the step-by-step as a companion to the video:
http://www.diyonline.com/servlet/GIB_BaseT/diylib_article.html?session.docid=1673

Careful not to use this one where you think anything might be hung from a hook in the wall or ceiling!

"buried amid a sea of cookie cutter homes with about as much personality as a salad fork." ROFLMAO!!! Who let Philip Marlowe write this description? hahahaha

Dan - that is a very cool idea!

Your comment made sense. Not sure I agree with the engineer's rationale, however. Be interesting to see where he thinks the loads would go if that hip ended into the gable ridge.

Oh well, you did the right thing. It always impressed me how inherently strong a cut-and-stack roof is, when put together well. Nevertheless, we did always run purlins with knee braces down to bearing walls.

Nice roof. Interesting that you ran those hips that would normally be crippled down to the plate line - must have been an engineering thing? Gang cutting - yeah!

Tim - a word to the wise. You can't get points for complex framing and problem solving if you keep making it look easy!

Tim - that is just awesome. And the photos, too. Really great shots. Its sad that cut-and-stack is becoming such a lost art, it does my heart good to see there are still some young guys like yourself carrying on the tradition. If I were the judge, this project is a winner!

Hey Tim - nice project, and great photos. Think you coulda got a few more gables on that puppy? =)

Boy, you don't encounter detailing like that much anymore! Wow. Very nice work.

Near as I can tell, its 5 pictures per post, unless you're Charles Miller, he got 10 but isn't saying how, so I'm guessing its Exective Privilege. But you can enter as many 5-picture posts as your little heart desires. Just be sure to get your pictures resized to the correct size and resolution, otherwise they won't take. The site here is kinda finicky.

JLC won't take your parking spot away

That is just a really awesome project.

That looks really cool! Were the dome rafters sent out with the trusses, or figured and cut in the field?

Tim - I don't see where they're taking ownership of the copyrights from you. Just that you're giving them permission to use those images in their mag, website, a book, advertising, etc.

Come on, post some of those framing pictures of the bigfoot in action, or some of those cool roofs you've done!

Thanks loneframer, but its really not that different from what you do. Just commons and jacks, that's the only difference.

You said you cut a few commons to get the ridges up - so go ahead and cut the rest. And since I pulled layout from the corner in, with 2' o.c. layout, and 5:12 pitch, the jack rafters will always be the same, every hip, every corner, every roof. No risk, I know the measurements are going to work, like they always do.

The first time you pre-cut the entire roof, it feels like jumping off the high-dive for the first time. Then its just like, Well, if I'm careful with my math and my measurements, why wouldn't it work?

And trust me, your crew will love it. My guys took a noticeable jump in pride when we started doing it this way. Instead of dreading the roof, they couldn't wait to get to it. Then they'd brag how much more roof they put up in a day than the other crews. Tim Uhler, a framer who writes a lot for JLC, does it similar, and says the same. His crew loves it. It's like "our system is better than their system".

There once was a man in Nantucket
Where sand could be found by the bucket.
Who was building a club
Which would someday be dubbed
The Cliffside Beach Club of Nantucket

Up to seven the ridges did talley
With an equal number of valleys
It was something to see
By the infinite sea
And the infinite sand in the alley!

"Send us your gables, your hips,
Your jacks and valleys, straining towards the ridge,
The wretched rafters of your framing follies.
Send these, the shingle-less, unsheathed to me,
I post my jpeg's upon the beaming monitor!"

That looks like an interesting project, and its always good to see people who have a passion for their work! I'm not that crazy about the design, but the craftsmanship looks good, I bet framing it was a challenge!

Thanks Artisan77, appreciate the compliment. Not too risky - just measure twice, cut once! House was built in '91, crew was 4 full time & 2 part time, (everyone showed up for stack day), plus me. Email me HP@bakersfieldremodel.com, be happy to discuss the project. Also had a thread on Fine Homebuilding's BreakTime board awhile back.

Its pretty tough to tell a story in 5 small photos. If you'd like to see more and larger photos, go to:
http://eyemagination.smugmug.com/gallery/9191786_rXjWH#613456430_sxbd3
There are some duplicates in the gallery, when I get time I'll go through and organize the photos, and delete the duplicates.

Doggone, that turned out nice!

Pete - that is a very cool project. I bet you could build octagons in your sleep now!

OOPS!

I tried to delete a picture, in order to add a picture of the completed roof - because I finally took the time to read the rules, hahaha - and I inadvertently deleted the whole thing! - in case you're wondering why here it is again!

Sometimes this gallery can be a tad touchy to negotiate!

Good tip and clear explanatory picture - thanks for sharing that!

I wish the pictures were a little clearer - definitely looks like a well thought out, and well executed project. Kudos!

that interior shot of the trusses is beautiful!

That is some beautiful framing! Shame it had to get covered up.

That's a roof that would raise a few eyebrows!
(sorry, couldn't resist!)

Dude - now that is a ROOF!
nice work BTW

"This roof has a lot going on" - hahaha - that's the understatement of the year. Maybe you could put a few cupolas up there, just to dress it up a little! =)

That looks OK, but its a little too turtle-y for me. I think you'll need my help on your next Hawaiian project - be sure to figure my plane and hotel into your bid!! Shakka bruddah!

Thanks GHarmon for the kind words! When some problems arose with a door that the architect spec'd (and which the h.o. didn't like), the h.o. tried to come after me to pay for a replacement. I told him I just ordered and installed what was spec'd, asked why he didn't contact the architect about the problem. He said he didn't want to call the architect, because he charged for phone time! Easier to go after the nice guy on the jobsite, I guess. People are funny.

Thanks Davo. I've had a lot of requests for more details, so one of these days I'm gonna put together a detailed graphic how-to scrapbook. Meanwhile, I try to answer any questions I receive by email hp@bakersfieldremodel.com

I agree with the above comments. The plumbing was one of the last items completed, and in the rush, I didn't even give it a thought. By that time the h.o. had abused any good will left, so I just wanted to get paid and get out of there.

I returned a short time later for a few punch list items, and was saddened to see that his handicapped son had not moved in - instead, he was using the room for keeping his two puppies! The thousand dollar carpet reeked of dog pee! Sad.

I agree. The plans had some definite oddities. I told the h.o. to let me know in advance if he did further additions, as I could get him better plans. Turns out he was such a p.i.t.a. customer I wouldn't work for him again for all the tea in China!

Paul - that is simply beautiful! I can imagine that the tower / main roof intersection would be a challenge! Love that picture of the crane dropping the completed cone onto the tower.

Wow, that's some garage! Love the giant gables.

very nice!

boparks - "we're not building furniture, we're building a deck" - ROFLMAO!!

very nice work, BTW!

pretty cool - it reminds me of a lighthouse-inspired design! Got any photos to post here?

those are truly beautiful!

Lawrence, your work is always excellent, and worthy of study! Thanks for posting pics here.

Very cool!

That is beautiful!

Cool! Nice photo documentation. I didn't know you could post more than 5 pics - how did you do that?

Man, 70 sq. ft., shows how much impact a few well thought-out square feet can make!

Wow, that is a dramatic transformation. So much so, that it took me awhile to correlate the before and after shots! Talk about maximum bang for the buck - amazing what a few changes can do for the look of a house.

Did you have to add any structural support below? Do you have any "in progress" photos you could post? A website or blog with more photos of the project?