Foster Road farm sign

Farm Journal

Thoughts and images from life at Foster Road

 

 

Entry: October 9, 2009

 

Sea of beams

It took many days and a lot of careful calculation to complete the new framework of rafters for the addition and dormers. Sam and Eric worked through nasty weather with only a leaky tarp for protection as they constructed the rafters, section by section. Last night the winds tore most of the nailed-down tarp off the roof.

 

Code requires bedroom windows to be egress-compliant and installed no less than 36 inches above the floor. But getting the windows the right distance from the floor meant raising the height of the large dormer. The side walls are now a full 8 feet high, giving much more head room in the shower and simplifying a complicated roof valley  where the garage meets the house.

 

At first it felt like a sort of failure to make changes to the plan. But both Clark and Sam swear that this happens on every job, even very expensive architect designed homes. I’m fine with making decisions on the fly, it's fun to reconsider, assess and sometimes turn a few degrees from the original course. But it will be even more fun to finish this harrowing part of the journey and get down to details and finishes.

 

The true feel of the altered space is different from what I first imagined. And I know it will different yet again when the roof is on and the walls are finished. For now, it’s a joy to look out from the top of my house like from a ship at sea in the trees.