Bonus Room and Starting the Tongue and Groove
The bonus room sits above the kitchen and pantry/utility room areas. This wall was built in two sections since
half sits above a log wall and the other half sits above a stick built wall. This is the section above the log wall.
These walls are of standard stick built construction using 2x6 boards. This is the section that will sit above the
stick built wall that joins the house and garage/shop.
This is an inside view of the completed wall. This room has a low ceiling that duplicates the same roof lines as
the rest of the house. Note that the top section is made up of doubled up 2x6’s. This is a local code requirement
in most areas of the country.
Here is the completed wall from the outside. We may install small windows in this wall but will have to wait and
see how the shop roof line integrates before we can make that decision. Getting both sections of this wall up
and in place was a real job. Two stories up and 30 mph winds will make a wall section act a lot like a sail.
Muscle prevailed however and the wall was firmly secured in place without incident.
With the bonus room wall complete it is now time to start the installation of the finished ceiling in the main
section of the house. This is also the first step towards completing the roof. Tongue and groove knotty white
pine is used for this purpose.
The T&G also forms the soffit on both sides of the house (as well as the rear). The front integrates into the
porch system so no soffit is visible there. The holes are 2" diameter and have screen stapled on the inside
which will let air and hopefully nothing else in.
The basic installation is very easy. The boards simply fit together and are nailed to the purlins.
While my son was in Phoenix for the day one of our neighbors came over to lend a hand. This is George. He’s
married to Martha and no, their last name isn't Washington. Its little things like this that tell you what kind of
neighborhood you've chosen to live in.
Installing the T&G is not a job for someone that is afraid of heights. Whatever you do don't tell OSHA we were
using a step ladder on top of 12 foot tall scaffolding. They probably wouldn't approve.
Like I said this is no job for someone afraid of heights. The only way to nail the last two boards in place was to
hang a ladder down the outside of the roof, climb down and do the nailing. Just so you'll appreciate this, the
entire front section of the roof is at a 40 degree angle. When my wife saw this she about had a heart attack.
However, not only was the ladder firmly secured to the beam and purlin system but I also had a separate rope
around my waist which was tied off to a purlin. Neither the ladder nor I were going anywhere.
Here you can see one of the dormer openings. Hopefully we will get started building the two dormers next week.
The finished ceiling is now completed on the entire front of the house. This type of roof system really is
impressive especially where a vaulted ceiling is used. All the T&G was polyurethaned by the “boss" before
installation.
The finished T&G from the outside. Our next job is to get this covered with 15 lb. felt paper for temporary
protection against the weather.
That's it for this week. Next week we'll work on getting the felt on the
finished area as well as the installation of the T&G on the back section
of the house. Then it's time to build the dormers.

We have contracted with a local framing company for the installation of
the OSB and rigid foam insulation. They will also be installing the OSB
on the garage and bonus room areas when we're ready. Getting 230
sheets of 5/8" 4’x8’ OSB up on that roof would take my son and I quite a
while and sometimes it just makes sense to let the pros take over. After
all a man has to know his limitations.


Check back soon.