Bartee,
I actually Like photobucket, my work computer was just hogging bandwidth last night (uploading 70 some odd high res jpg files). I will check into Picasa, however. I also have access to photo shop if there is a really special photo, I can just port it over to my laptop and twiddle with it.
On to the shop build.
It was a bit frustrating, truth be told. I 'thought' I was prepared for the job, but it soon became apparent I'm not. First Grizzz and I went hardware shopping, and not knowing for certain about the availability of my friend Sean's framing nailer, I overbought on hardware. Some of it will be returned or simply saved for other projects. Ah well. More later on 'unused' items.
We got back to the house in due time, and proceeded to look over the site. I hadn't noticed just How lumpy it really was. Grizz pointed out that leveling the piers would be quite a chore, we've had a lack of rain and the grass was covering concrete or so it seemed.
About this time my rock vendor called, and we lucked out, I had just about written off my original plan to put down stone and then build 'on grade' which is how my plans were designed to work. hence the piers. We discussed the type of stone and in about an hour he was ready to back into the back yard. We 'borrowed' the neighbor's yard (absentee landlord and the shack is pretty much falling down and vacant) to gain access to the shop site. in about two minutes there were 5 yards of what I call 'roadbed' gravel.
Lori, the LOML was shocked to see the pictures of the stone delivery. I guess she didn't expect an 8 wheeler like that in our back yard.
This was a multi-wood forum project, with Grizz and my friend Sean from over on Woodnet helping out in a Huge way. Both guys brought tools and while we didn't use them all, the framing nailer was a great help, once we got better nails. 3.5's would jam occasionally but 3.25's worked just fine.
Sean took over the site prep and with my help we went from lumpy/wavy ground to 'screeded' stone, level in both directions. While we were doing that, Grizz's circ saw recip saw and sawhorses came in very handy, cutting those extra truss parts and joists.
Since the stone is meant to help control the occasional water problem in the yard, I decided to do away with the deck piers (they'll be saved for the Deck in the next phase).
We ponka'd the rim joist into shape, and got creative when it came to squaring up the frame. I don't have a maul or sledge hammer, so I suggested that Sean use one of the concrete piers, three hits and it was square.
Somewhere in the middle of hanging the joists, I realized that I miscalculated the number of joists required. Luckily I overbought lumber wise, and we were able to cut three more joists to length. I will need to go pick up some more hangers, but that's just a quick trip to the hardware store.
I expect we'll be putting down the floor and then putting together the trusses by early afternoon at the latest.
there's the state of the shop right now, about 1/2 of the joists are in. I honestly thought that we'd be further along, but that's ok, I'm in a better spot shop wise than I would have been on 'plan B'
left to right: Grizz, Sean and yours truly. Not pictured, but also a big help was my stepson Adam. better known as "Go-fer' this weekend.
one empty skid down , three to go.