After I finished the flashing on the trailer...
I then "lost" all kinds of time on various things that were important but not visually impressive...including a half a day spent moving lumber around to more convenient staging areas (because, of course, the lumber I needed first was on the bottom) and setting up a work area with a tarp for some shelter from the sun.
I spent half a day crawling around under the trailer, finishing the leveling process I'd begun weeks ago when it was too wet and muddy to be crawling around under there. I also took pictures and studied how the trailer is constructed--in order to understand how to install the floor joists so they're on top of the steel supports.
I discovered that some hornets had started to build a nest under the trailer. It was right over my head when I got under there! It took me some time to get rid of the hornets and the nest, but I did not get stung in the process--a major victory!
I won't even try to explain how much time I lost hunting for my tape measure. First it was in my tool belt, then it wasn't. Turns out I managed to lose it on the hillside I climbed to tighten the rope that's supporting my sun shade. Aargh!
Finally, at long last, I started to cut floor joists. These are not screwed down yet, just set in place--but you get the idea.
Also see:
...
Oh yeah, I know *all about* Lost Time ;-)
ReplyDeleteBut hey, you need a Sun Shade! How about that?! It's a small thing to deal with, considering the blessing of no rain, eh?
Kind of weird, I know. First, I can't work because of rain. Then, the sun comes out and it's so hot and humid, I find it hard to get work done.
ReplyDeleteJan, I've built several trailers over the years and one thing I noticed about your floor in the pics above is that there is no protection of the wood from road spray and water on the underside. Even the best wood will rot or de-laminate over time when exposed to the elements. I'd hate to see you go through all this work only to have your floor come apart under your feet. Do you have a plan for this?
ReplyDeleteHi Chris,
ReplyDeleteGood question!
This is one thing I love about building a tiny (registered trailer) home: without the one-size-fits-all code restrictions, there is a bit of leeway to build things in ways that are *smart* for how that particular home will be used.
When I see a trailer that has its underside completely sealed up so it is impervious to water and air, I cringe because I know that (at least in the climate where I live) that creates a vapor barrier that will lead to serious rot and mold problems in the floor. When that trailer home will spend a lot of time on the road, that might be a way of building that makes sense or is unavoidable.
In my case, I am going to live in this home in the very spot where it now sits for at least two or three years. I definitely want to avoid the moisture, rot, and mold issues I would face if I sealed the underside of the trailer up tight. If I decide not to live in the home on a more long-term basis, I will either move it (once on a dry day) to serve as a camp on another piece of property or I will sell it. If I do end up selling it in the future, the new owners would have to decide if their new home will get moved once and then sit in one spot, or if it will be a more mobile structure--and make decisions accordingly.
Thank you for your question. I appreciate others looking out for where I might misstep. I also don't mind explaining the thinking behind some of the decisions I've made.
Jan