Thursday, November 10, 2011

Greenhouse Progress ... Fast and Furious

For the past two days, I have done almost nothing except work on the greenhouse.  Progress came at a lightning pace, which fueled my motivation, which produced more progress ... what a great couple of days it was!  Let me share with you how much I have done.

When Tuesday morning began, the greenhouse looked like this.


My goal for the day was to try to get the bottom of the south wall framed and sheathed in plywood.  This is a long, straight wall, and I made pretty quick work of it ... relatively speaking.  When working without a helper (to cut pieces, or holler measurements, or hold the other end of a piece of plywood) the task at hand always takes a little bit more time. 

I'm still making really good use of my stash of stock-piled and salvaged materials, though I ran out of 2x4s and plywood on Monday ... and it was necessary to make a trip to Lowe's before work began on Tuesday.  This is where having my own truck comes in really, really handy.  (If you haven't see last year's post about my truck, click {HERE}

No need to strap down a load like this in MY truck!  The plywood and 2x4s fit flat in the bed, AND the tail-gate closed.



Even with the unplanned trip to the store for materials, work went smoothly and progress came swiftly.  By lunchtime, this is how the greenhouse looked.



All of the openings below the windows were framed and ready for plywood.  The plywood sheathing is an essential stabilizing element in this building.  Without it, I would have to do a LOT more diagonal bracing on the inside to keep the building square and plumb and level.  It also provides knee-walls to help me hide some of the supplies (like pots and bags of soil, etc.) that tend to accumulate when I'm not paying attention. 

At the end of Tuesday, it looked like this.



Wednesday's work was the same as Tuesday's ... with framing openings and installing sheathing, but on the west wall this time.  The process starts by measuring the openings, height and width, and using 2x4s to build these little pieces (that look to me like pi).



The vertical studs create the 16" spaces on which most building materials are based ... one sheet of plywood is 48" wide, which equals three stud-spaces.  (The openings are 26" high, so I had to cut the plywood cross-wise, or there would have been a ton of waste.)

When the frames are toe-nailed to secure them in place, it looks like this.



Fortunately, that propane tank is still empty, so I could scooch it away from the wall a bit for access.  Once the wall is finished, I'll slide it back into place.

This is where things stood as the sun was getting low in the sky on Wednesday.



Three of the four walls now have all their windows, framing, and sheathing.  I have begun the process of padding out the corners (beside the window trim and above the plywood) to fabricate the corner trim which will complete the process of closing in the building on those three sides.  I have intentionally left the wall with the door till last.  If the weather unexpectedly turns REALLY cold, my contingency plan is to wrap that wall in plastic and leave it to finish in the spring.

I don't think there will be time for greenhouse work for the rest of the week.  Our Greyhounds Rock "Take a Bite Out of Canine Cancer" benefit is this weekend, and it will take the next two days for us to finish the last few details.  I'm always really excited at this stage, as our year's work of preparations come to an end and the event begins.  This year, I am especially excited because I get to meet two women that I really admire ... Sheryl Matthys and Victoria Stilwell!!  After everything is over, you can guarantee that I will tell you ALL about it.

(If you are visiting from one of the Link Parties and would like to catch up on any of the other posts on the construction of the greenhouse, click the 'Greenhouse Windows' label below.)

This post is linked here:
At The Picket Fence (where the greenhouse is a Feature this week!)

28 comments:

  1. Ok, you are amazing!!! This is gorgeous and you have gotten so much done! I love it when things go smoothly and quickly, kind of feels like there is actually an end to it. :)
    Good luck with the benefit this weekend and have fun!
    xoxo

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  2. Very very nice Connie! After this weekend event, could you take us inside and show us how everything looks inside after the windows and the sheathing is up? I just love having gone through this whole process with you! Have a great fundraiser, raise lots of money!

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  3. Since you asked so nicely, Cydney, I will be happy to show you around the inside. It still looks like a construction site, and there is a ton of tools out there, but I'm sure I can do something for you. :)

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  4. I was just telling Bob about your greenhouse and how great it is coming together...I love it!!! I will have to show him when I get home from work. Have a good day! Donna :)

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  5. Go Connie. Exciting.

    Can't wait to see it painted and what type of little seating area you give yourself inside. Perhaps with a desk, lamp.......

    Garden & Be Well, XO T

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  6. Looking good!!! You're greenhouse is going to be absolutely gorgeous :) You're keeping me inspired for my projects after Thanksgiving.

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  7. Connie you got a lot accomplished on the greenhouse! Now enjoy your weekend! hugs, Linda

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  8. Quite beautiful - thanks for sharing! Have you kept tally on total cost? Also, once done, you could (and should!) write an article for home/garden magazine and recoup some of the costs for materials!

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  9. Writing an article? Hmmmm, now that's an idea.

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  10. JEez, it's just beautiful. I see an old stained glass church window in the peek there. Just sayin. Or perhaps a rose stained glass window. Just saying again.

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  11. Looking good!!! Can hardly wait to see it all finished out.
    Cindy

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  12. It looks beautiful now. It will be magnificent when it's finished. I hope you're soaking in a hot tub today!

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  13. You wouldn't believe how much this impresses me... like I haven't said it enough. When my sons were here, installing the new AC, I even pulled up your blog, to show them how amazing you are!

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  14. Connie you make me feel like I'm just standing still. Oh right I am right now....ok back to work.
    Looks incredible!
    x
    Carole

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  15. wow...I think you made some great progress!!! I can imagine that you are more than ecstatic and itching to get it done but all in good time, right! :)

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  16. You speak like a construction engineer! I cannot let me husband see that you did this by yourself or I will never get a helping hand from him. This is just amazing work you are doing!!

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  17. Connie, you're my heroine. What a beautiful thing you have made - or almost anyway. Can I tag along with Cyd on the interior tour? I think I'll go take a peek at Craig's List now.

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  18. You are making amazing progress!! Will be following you every step of the way. Laura

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  19. Connie,
    You greenhouse is phenomenal, and I am even more impressed that you are doing much of the work. You have inspired me to try to tackle a greenhouse project next year.

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  20. I'm in total awe with this project! you go, this is amazing! thanks so much for linking to VIF!

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  21. You are a star!! It looks amazing and i would love one!

    Veronica
    Tassels Twigs and Tatebuds

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  22. The greenhouse looks amazing! Great job!

    Good luck with the final preparations for Greyhounds Rocks. It sounds like it will be an amazing event!

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  23. Connie- this greenhouse is going to be amazing-- I'm loving it already. Honestly- you really do burn the candle at both ends- are you sure you aren't superwoman?

    Wow is all I can say!! ( I love the greenhouse!)
    Vicki

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  24. I just happened upon you on Pinterest :)

    http://pinterest.com/pin/401090074/

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  25. I love, love old roses! I will have to check out your website in the morning when I have time to peruse at my leisure. You greenhouse is a dream! Thanks so much for sharing.

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  26. Looks like a lot of hard work but so lovely when it is finished. I would want to linger in it all the time

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  27. I love seeing the progress on this darling greenhouse!! Thanks so much for sharing at Feathered Nest Friday!

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  28. This is awesome! We are in process of renovating a 1918 school building (that has newer aluminum windows - need to take back to historic). So we will have plenty of windows to use for a project like this (v. sending to the landfill!)

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