Sunday, June 5, 2011

Back to Building

June 4, 2011
We are back in the good old USA once again having arrived in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon.  We are down in Long Beach, CA until Tuesday enjoying the good life here in southern California with my cousins from Palm Desert.  We have had beautiful weather here with blue skies and temps in the low 70's.  We will be leaving Tuesday for home in Ohio.

As usual I am behind in real time with the blog so will be trying to get caught up once I have a good internet link.  The hotel we are in has a very weak wifi link unless I go sit in the lobby but I prefer the comforts of the room.

From Grandma Ritzman's 1914 diary:
May 31, 1914 - Sunday, went to Sunday school and church, read five chapters of Jeremiah, Leland was here for breakfast and dinner, the painters was here for three meals and all night, had five callers in afternoon.
June 1, 1914 - Monday, done washing, the painters was here for three meals and all night.
June 2, 1914 - Tuesday, churned butter planted peas, beans and radishes in garden, the painters was here for three maals and all night.
June 3, 1914 - Wednesday, ironed, mended, the painters was here for three meals and all night.
June 4, 1914 - Thursday, baked eight loaves of bread and pan of biscuits, worked in the garden, the painters was here for three meals and all night.

Back to the building program, below is the left side and right side of the finished duplex homes.  This was one day after the dedication and the families were about 90% moved in.  The places look real nice I think.
Left click on the pictures to enlarge them.


After the dedication on Sunday we went back to work on the new homes that started from the bare slab the day we arrived.  Hopefully the description below will give you an idea of the construction method currently being used.

Below you see the T supports that are holding up the ceiling panels from the bottom side.  These panels are really heavy and have to be lifted into position with a crane.  These are similiar to the wall panels which are made from a type of particle board.  These supports have to stay in place until the floor joists for the second floor are installed and then clips are installed between the second floor joists (or trusses in the case of a single story) and the panels.  Before the the joists are put in place metal plates or strips about 2 1/2 inches wide are installed over all the joints between panels.  First adhesive is put along the edges of the joint and then the plate is screwed down with about a gazillion screws.  The screws of course do not penetrate through the panel.  The panels are prefinished and form the finished surfaces for the walls and ceiling.  Other than minor patching of any holes or scars from the installation the finishing is done and ready for painting.  No gypboard or drywall is required.



Here a couple of the students from a local college that have worked with us are installing the clips that hold the ceiling panels up against the floor joists.  The clips are angle clips about three inches long and screwed to the top of the ceiling and the joist.  A side plate is installed around the perimeter of the house flush with the outside of the first floor walls and any other interior openings.  The red colored joists are used in dry areas and slightly green joists are used for the side plates and upstairs bathrooms or any area that might be subjected to dampness.  Once these clips are in place then the T props downstairs can be removed.  The same procedure is used on the second floor ceilings.


Here Dwight and Marilyn are putting up the fence on the back property line.  Quite a job!




A darn nice looking fence - nice job!

Below Therese and Richard are sorting and painting the siding for the new houses.



Here you see the first floor of the homes in place and the second floor joists are being installed or in place.  The vertical 3x2's form kind of a balloon type of construction keeping things flush and plumb.  The siding is attached to these.



 Back at the RV park after a hard days work.


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