More Wall Progress (Interior Walls 5)

I took a few vacation days off of work so, even with the long weekend merry-making, I have made a little more progress on the JayBee.

After adding some more boards in the bathroom...

... I spent a lot of time pondering this vent pipe.

The top of it needs to be framed in so the wall boards can cover the outside of it. On the bottom part, the wall boards need to run behind the vent pipe because water pipes will run along the wall behind the toilet and around the corner behind the vent pipe to the bathroom sink in the bumpout. After those water pipes are installed, I will construct a narrow counter-height cabinet that covers the water pipes and the vent.

After much futzing, I installed this framing around the upper part of the vent pipe.

And I installed more boards on the bottom of the wall.

In the living room, I installed more rows of boards.

Before I installed this next board in the back end of the closet, I realized there was a problem.

That board really should run the whole length of the east outside wall--over the top of the bedroom wall framing.

Which means I need to install some wall boards on the east wall (including in the east end bumpout) up to the height of the boards on the north wall. Unfortunately, the east end bumpout has been full of tools for years.

I have said many times that I spend 80% of my construction time moving things around and reorganizing. I've been told this is the case with all construction projects but I think it must be even more so when working on a tiny house. Space is so limited!

After moving the tools to the base of this finished wall...

... I now have room to work on the east end.

Also see:
Interior Walls 1
Interior Walls 2
Interior Walls 3
Interior Walls 4
Interior Walls 6
Interior Walls 7
Interior Walls 8
Interior Walls 9
Interior Walls 10
Interior Walls 11
Interior Walls 12
Interior Walls 13
Interior Walls 14
Interior Walls 15


I have some lupines again this year! For many years, I had a whole hillside of them. Then, last year, not one. It's nice to have them back.

I have some trimming to do on my front hillside. When I stand on the lawn, this is my blocked view of the river.

Standing up on the deck is not much better. Not only have I been focused on housebuilding rather than this... In the past, I have ended up with a bad case of poison ivy after trimming this hillside. That is definitely a huge disincentive!

A Little Wall Work Here...A Little Wall Work There (Interior Walls 4)

More wall boards in process...

Progress on the north living room and closet wall...

I swear the wall is straight. It does not have a big curve in it, even if this next photo makes it look like it does.

While various finish coats were drying on boards for the living room wall, I began working on boards for the bathroom. These boards are also tongue and groove, but they are fir instead of pine, and they are smaller in every dimension. Also, I am painting them white--without the faux-beetle-kill-pine treatment. The boards below are in various stages of finishing. The three in the back are more "done" than the front ones.

First three bathroom wall boards installed...

Also see:
Interior Walls 1
Interior Walls 2
Interior Walls 3
Interior Walls 5
Interior Walls 6
Interior Walls 7
Interior Walls 8
Interior Walls 9
Interior Walls 10
Interior Walls 11
Interior Walls 12
Interior Walls 13
Interior Walls 14
Interior Walls 15

One Wall Done, Another One Started (Interior Walls 3)

I finished this wall up to the intersection with the ceiling. Those last two rows took forever--with all the cut outs for the ceiling joists.

For the next wall, I cut boards that were over 15 feet long. Getting them into the JayBee proved difficult; I ended up bringing them in through an end window. Then, I put the newly-built closet section to use as a paint and finish stand.

First few boards installed.

I'm ending work early today. Just a little nod to Mother's Day. :-)

Also see:
Interior Walls 1
Interior Walls 2
Interior Walls 4
Interior Walls 5
Interior Walls 6
Interior Walls 7
Interior Walls 8
Interior Walls 9
Interior Walls 10
Interior Walls 11
Interior Walls 12
Interior Walls 13
Interior Walls 14
Interior Walls 15

Interior Walls 2

I made some progress on the kitchen wall.

I am strategizing how I can speed up my process so this doesn't take me forever.

Also see:
Interior Walls 1
Interior Walls 3
Interior Walls 4
Interior Walls 5
Interior Walls 6
Interior Walls 7
Interior Walls 8
Interior Walls 9
Interior Walls 10
Interior Walls 11
Interior Walls 12
Interior Walls 13
Interior Walls 14
Interior Walls 15


In the meantime, I have wiped these various mud splatters off the JayBee's door and entryway for five days in a row.

I knew they were put there by birds who are eager to build their nest. Every time I would see new mud, I would immediately look up and reassure myself that my nest arrestors were in place and blocking birds from building nests on my entryway lights.

What I failed to notice until yesterday was that the mud in the entryway was minimal compared to the amount collecting on one of the south side windowsills.

And on that window...

And on the south wall...

This is what I found when I looked up under the eave! Those clever, nasty birds!

Okay, ruthless action was required. I have removed the nest (thankfully no eggs yet), and now I'm checking the outside of the house every day. There were also two significant mud pats stuck on the back side of the JayBee as well. Why are they so attracted to living here? <sigh>

Other signs of spring, even though one might think it was summer already. Last Wednesday it reached the high 80s.

I thought George was done going on long walks with me. He has been stopping part way down the driveway and waiting for me to return.

With this recent exception!

We've been having very high tides.

One morning this week, there was a perfect reflection of the far shore on the still surface of the river.

Interior Walls 1

Here are my first wall boards. Took me many sample attempts before I came up with this combination. I should back up and explain...

Remember how I had stained a bunch of boards to install on the ceiling? My plan had been to work from the ceiling down. Those boards are still sitting up in the storage loft.

I decided I was too intimidated by all the gable angles--and it had me too paralyzed to get started. So, I decided to switch gears and start installing wall boards. This wall is a good place to start--since no one will ever see it. The pantry cabinet, refrigerator, washer, and dryer will all sit in front of it.

Before I purchased the tongue and groove boards for the JayBee's walls, I looked into buying beetle kill pine. My lumber guy did not even know what it was until he researched it for me. Turns out it is only available in Wyoming and Colorado, which would make it hugely expensive for me to have some shipped here. (I guess we're very lucky we don't have beetles killing our pine trees here in Maine.) After much experimenting, I decided to make my own faux beetle kill pine. I then apply a white milk paint wash over it, and protect it all with three coats of matte finish poly.

Installing the boards goes fairly quickly. Since I'm finishing the boards before installing them, though, working my way through all the coats and drying spells takes time.

I'm pleased with the results so far.

Also see:
Interior Walls 2
Interior Walls 3
Interior Walls 4
Interior Walls 5
Interior Walls 6
Interior Walls 7
Interior Walls 8
Interior Walls 9
Interior Walls 10
Interior Walls 11
Interior Walls 12
Interior Walls 13
Interior Walls 14
Interior Walls 15


While waiting for finish coats to dry on the wall boards, I painted a bunch of framing that is going to be visible inside closets eventually. I also installed the casters on the bottom of the east closet section.