Bob an I decided to do a bit of birdwatching today so first went to the bird overlook and then drove further along Marina Vista Rd and started walking on a trail marked for public access.
We saw many types of birds:
Cooper’s hawk
Red tail hawk
Kite
Avocet
Great egret
Snowy egret
Great blue haron
Grackles
Over a half dozen varieties of water fowl
Anna’s hummingbird
Black bird
White pelicans
Canadian geese
Also saw several large, long eared jackrabbits, a coyote, and heard multiple frogs.
Bob and I completed the next section of the BART today. A 8+ mile segment with a fantastic view spot on “Dinosaur Ridge”. The Vista is comprised of a hard fossilisiferous material that contains the most embedded seasheells that I have seen in a very long time. I took a photoshpere but unfortunately my camera is acting up and it did not save.
A fairly strenuous hike with over 7000′ of total elevation gain. But some great views and the few people we saw were quite nice.
Even though this project has spanned many weekends, it has been an adventure so I feel it fitting to document here.
After living in our house for over 20 years I am finally getting shed/shop where I can tinker around.
Ground breaking started in April when Bob helped me remove a privet tree near the SE corner of the back yard. Which took about a day or so plus another day or so to remove the stump.
Tree Removal – April 2017
There is a power pole near the corner so I did a bit of easement research and called PG&E to see how close I could build the shed to the pole. Surprisingly the rules were rather vague..so because I had plenty of space, and I could use the space between the shed and the fence for kayak storage, I decided to place it 6 feet from the pole.
Next step was to get some plans, which, also surprisingly, is not as easy as one would expect to pull off the internet. I settled for a set from cheapsheds.com, which i used as a general guide but ended up modifying the design as i went – primarily by adding a double top plate and associated adjustments related to that. For the foundation, Chris convinced me to go with four 4×6 12-foot pressure treated beams for the “skids”. I installed 4 pier blocks for each skid. The ground in my build site slopes about a foot from West to East so I had to bury the blocks to varying depths in order for their tops to be level. I had 2 yards of angular gravel delivered (which I moved via wheelbarrow to the back yard).
Approximately 1-foot drop from west to east
Using stakes and string I marked off the location. The strings could slide along horizontal members allowing the intersection to me moved in order to adjust the exact location of the corner. Using a tape measure it is possible to make the area square by ensuring the diagonal corner to corner measurements are the same for both diagonals.
Adjustable strings used to square off the building site.
Next step was to install the 16 pier blocks used to support the skids. For each a dug a hole up to 2.5 feet deep, filled the bottom 4+ inches with gravel, placed the block and filled the remaining void with gravel. During this process I used a homemade model of a pier block made of wood so I could easily check to see if the hoke was large enough and the top of the block was level with surrounding blocks. I did my best to level each block with its neighbors. The site slopes approximately 1 foot west to east, so some of the blocks were nearly completely buried while others were nearly resting at surface level. (Mid-May)
June 2nd – All Pier Blocks installed
Then I placed the skids and leveled them with cut pieces of asphalt shingles and then screwed the beams to the blocks. In hindsight I should have added wood spacers where the gap was over an inch in order to provide better purchase for the screws…but hey, it only a shed.
4×6 by 12′ “Skids” – June 18
Because I stored the skids for over a month before using them, one was allowed to twist beyond use – it corkscrewed in quite a fashion. To replace it I screwed 2 2×6’s together, which was slightly cheaper and possibly less susceptible to twisting – I see many people suggesting putting a sheet of plywood inbetween. Also, all of the skids were slightly longer than 12 feet bit I did not trim them because I did not want to cut off the pressure treated end.
Next up was to install the 2×6 floor joists. Each was exactly 10 feet long so I did not need to cut them. These were also pressure treated. I screwed each into the skids at every contact and also attached the rim joists – which overhang the outside skids by about 7 inches. I used 3″ screws rated for PT wood. I checked for square using the corner to corner tape method (e.g. the diagonal legs should be equal), adjust via sledge hammer before securing the 2×6 to the 4x6s. Note: I took July off to go camping with my family and backpacking with Bob.
Square it up! – Aug 26th
Next up was 3/4″ pressure treated plywood. Attached to the joists with 2.5″ screws. I had to cut one sheet into 2′ x 4′ sections using my skill saw and a a 2×4 guide that I clamped onto the plywood…turned out better than expected.
3/4″ Pressure Treated Plywood Flooring
With the floor complete I went to Lowe’s to get most of the framing lumber.
Lumber Run! Sept 15
Parked my mower on top of the siding to keep it from warping.
Next up: the truss’s
Truss “Jig” built on the shed floor.
Next up, the window-less/door-less walls:
Measure Corner to Corner – Diagonals should be equal if “square”
Raised via floor jack and then lifted each side to slip in a 2×4 – then Bob helped lift into place!
A bit of plumbers tape to stop the wall from sliding off during the lift…great idea! Also, note how the siding over hangs the joist.
Two walls up! Sept 24
Handy tool for straightening 2x4s when framing the walls
Next up, the walls with windows/doors. A “speed square” is a very handy tool for this stage.
Marking the top and bottom plates. Also shown is the header, which is two 2x4s with a piece of siding in-between.
King, Jack and Cripple stud markings on top and bottom plates. (course the cripple is not needed on the top plate)
The last wall can’t be sheeted when lying down.
Hanging the sheeting after the wall is up is MUCH harder than doing it while laying flat. Thanks Dan!
Window and Door holes cut out with a router – via the outside so the router bit could rest on the framing for a perfect cut.
Cut the bottom plate for the door.
Double top plate – to help tie the two walls together (not shown). Also shown is the jack and king studs for the Header.
Gable Ends – Pre-Trimmed (Oct 11)
Truss Time! Note the truckers strap used to plumb the side walls a bit. Thanks Keith and Alex!
Placing the TechShield sheeting – Roof Time!
Thanks Bob!
Front Shingles. Thanks Keith!
Back Shingles. Thanks Lesley!
Gap for the ridge vent. Can also see the sheeting spacers.
Door In – Nov 4th
Siding “ripped” into strips to use as trim. (much cheaper)
