Trim and Ventilation 1

Before I can install the metal roofing on the JayBee, I have to install the trim that attaches to the rafter tails all around the outside of the roof. The metal drip edge will get installed over the trim and the edge of the roof sheathing before the roofing goes down on the roof. Once this trim gets installed, access to everything between the rafter tails, the trim, and the roof overhang will be extremely restricted. Therefore, I realized I had a number of things to do before installing this outer trim: stain the rafter bays, install trim up against the walls between the rafter tails, and install air vents that will help air pass along the under side of the roof sheathing and ventilate up at the vent above the ridge board.

The gable ends of the house don't need air vents installed, so these are the easier sides to do, First, I cut trim boards to fit between the rafter tails. I decided to use pine for this inner trim. It is a lot cheaper than cedar, and it won't really be exposed to much weather (since it will be protected by the rafter bays). After the trim boards are cut, I stain them.

Underneath each trim board, I install a piece of radiant barrier. The radiant barrier will reflect heat back into the house (or back out when it is hot outside); it will add R-value to the insulation I will install in the walls. The radiant barrier is a layer of perforated foil that is backed by paper. It is perforated so air can pass through it. I don't want it to be a vapor barrier, since that will be installed on the inside of the walls.

After staining the rafter bay, I install the radiant barrier--paper side facing out. I put a bead of transparent caulk down the sides of the rafters before setting the trim board in place.

Two inner trim boards installed on the west end...

Then four...

Then all six inner trim boards installed.

For the outer trim, I purchased cedar boards. Very expensive, but it will hold up to the weather abuse so much better. It is beautiful, fun to work with, and it smells great too!

Using the cedar, I installed a key block on the end of the ridge board...

and then installed the outer trim boards. The west end is done!

The inner trim along the south and north walls is more complicated because air vents are installed in these rafter bays. Cutting the holes for the air vents in the trim boards is not difficult, but cutting the matching holes in the blocks between the rafters is really hard. The slope of the roof and the top plate of the wall get in the way and severely restrict maneuverability. I have tried using two different hole saws, a jig saw, various drills, hand saws, and chisels.

The air vents I purchased are two inches in diameter and have insect netting in them.  They are white, so I am painting them a cedar color to help them blend with the trim better. Here are less than half of them after they've been painted.

I just purchased a new/different hole saw, so hopefully cutting the holes in the rafter blocks will go more quickly moving forward. I have something like 68 of these air vents to install!

After I cut the inner trim board to fit a bay, I cut vent holes in it and stain it. I cut matching vent holes in the rafter block. I stain the bay, install the radiant barrier and caulk, and then install the trim board.

Finally, I install the air vents, which fit tightly in the holes with friction.

Thankfully, the weather has been great. I just keep plodding along.

Also see:
Trim and Ventilation 2
Trim and Ventilation 3
Trim and Ventilation 4
Trim and Ventilation 5


And, for your entertainment, check out this huge dragonfly!

Roof Sheathing 3

I had a bit of work to do on the west end of the JayBee's roof. First, I measured to see if the rafters were all the right length. I added a small chunk to the ridge board. (Turns out that it needed a few more inches to make the large overhangs I wanted on both ends. The east end was fine; the west end was a few inches short.) Trimming a rafter from the bottom up while hanging on a ladder is not easy, so I was lucky that only one rafter needed trimming.

I filled the cracks around the blocks with spray foam insulation.

After the foam cured, I trimmed the excess off.

I was initially puzzled about how to mark the cut lines on the sheathing--since it required measuring from the under side but marking on the top side--and I was working alone. I came up with this method: While up on a ladder, I measured on the underside of the sheathing. Off the end of each rafter, I drilled a tiny hole to mark a point that the cut line should go through. Then, to make those tiny holes visible on the top side, I stuck toothpicks up through each hole--sticking up above the top side.

Next, I climbed up on the roof with a straightedge and marker, and connected all the holes/toothpicks to make my cut lines. I have no idea how Arlen felt comfortable up there over the weekend; I would have slid off without my safety lines. (I used two safety lines. They were tied to the trailer frame--one on each side--and thrown up on the roof. Tying myself between the two of them, I could just barely manage to stay on the roof without sliding off.) There was no way I could manage to run a circular saw while up on that roof, so I used a jig saw instead. I cut the outer edges of the sheathing while standing on a ladder off to the side, and the rest while up on the roof.

Ta dah! Trimmed and ready.

Next up: Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation. And trim, trim, trim.

Also see:
Roof Sheathing 1
Roof Sheathing 2


In case you've been wondering why I am letting greenery hang over the west end of the JayBee... I have actually trimmed a lot of it back, but most of what is left at this point are grape vines. Large, concord grapes. For some reason, they are having an odd season. There have been years when I have had edible grapes. This year, the grapes are shriveling up and drying out just as they are turning purple--so they are not edible.

This snake visited me twice today--or there were two similar snakes that visited me at different times.

Monster dragonfly.

Roof Sheathing 2

Today started out cold and covered in wet, but clear and pretty.

I took this next picture hoping it would be the last time I would see the JayBee covered in tarps. So much for my eagerness...

Same crew, same project. We picked up where we left off yesterday. We started by sheathing the dormers. Arlen and Dale did the installing; I did the cutting down on the ground. For extra strength and stability, we used construction adhesive and screws to install all the sheathing.

We finished! All the sheathing is installed. The east end is trimmed but the west end still needs trimming. After I do that, we can get the underlayment put down. Once the underlayment is installed, I can stop covering the JayBee with tarps. In the meantime...it sort of looks the same, doesn't it? Feels a whole lot different, though. Feels like progress.

Also see:

Roof Sheathing 1
Roof Sheathing 3

Roof Sheathing 1

Roof sheathing day!

We began by pulling all the tarps off the JayBee. The JayBee hadn't been completely uncovered for over three years. She looked naked!

We quickly figured out a routine. While Arlen and Dale installed a piece of sheathing (Arlen up in the rafters, Dale on a ladder on the outside), I cut the next piece of sheathing on the ground. Leave it to me to have a roof design that requires that every single piece of sheathing be cut; none of them got installed as a whole 4' x 8' sheet. Even so, the work moved along quickly.

We worked four hours, and got more than half the roof done. The east end and two dormers are left to do. If the current rain clears out by morning, we hope to finish up tomorrow!

Also see:
Roof Sheathing 2
Roof Sheathing 3

Roof Framing Wrap-Up

I have some generous people joining me this weekend to help with installing roof sheathing. To that end, I have to finish up all the roof-framing odds and ends. First, I trimmed the rafter tails on the southeast corner.

Then, I trimmed the rafter tails on the northeast corner--so the trimming on the whole east end was done.

Next, I installed blocking all around the east end.

Notice my "helper" up on the east-end bumpout?

Half done...

The blocking on the whole east end is done.

I still have five blocks to install--one on the south side, and four on the north side. I also have to trim the rafter tails on the west end. It's raining today, so it will have to get done tomorrow!

I learned today that I lost my lumber guy. Funny how I thought of Tim at Hammond Lumber as "my lumber guy." He was friendly, helpful, and non-judgmental--just what I needed when putting together lumber orders for my JayBee. Anyway, he has moved to Florida. Tim was also a regular follower of my blog. So, Tim, if you're reading this: Thank you for the help and support. I hope you have fun and a great life in Florida. Even though it seems like it is taking me forever, I will finish this build. I hope you keep following along.

Update: I did get everything done (except trimming the rafter tails on the west end) before we began installing roof sheathing.

Also see:
Roof Rafters 1
Roof Rafters 2
Roof Rafters 3
Roof Rafters 4
Roof Rafters 5
Roof Rafters 6
Roof Rafters 7
Roof Rafters 8
Roof Rafters 9
Roof Rafters 10
Roof Rafters 11
Roof Rafters 12
Roof Rafters 13
Roof Rafters 14
Roof Rafters 15
Roof Rafters 16
Roof Rafters 17
Roof Rafters 18
Roof Rafters 19
Roof Rafters 20

Miscellaneous photos--for your entertainment:

I really liked the light on this day:

I am calling my feet "tiger feet" these days. I have worn the same sandals (Keens with a great toe box and good, grippy soles) for so many months now, my feet have developed a very distinctive tan pattern. See who is trying to steal the shot?

That same buddy--on a walk to the waterfront.

Some of the critters that have visited me this week:

Bear just couldn't stand being left out of the action recently.

So, up he climbed.

When he had had enough, he complained a bit--until, finally, he found his way down again.