Okey Dokey. Exactly two years ago I started building my Sitooterie (Scots for summerhouse)
my-sitooterie-t90558.html . Last year our house was being knocked about by builders creating a new kitchen extension, so now, at long last, I can get on with my leisure palace. While the builders were here I got them to grade the site and pour any left-over concrete into various holes in the ground just behind the house to start creating my 'tank trap' foundations.
As soon as the winter weather started receding I mixed and poured more concrete to make up the remainder, then as soon as that was done I ordered the timber. Timber deliveries are always a good laugh - the trucks are too long to turn into our drive off the narrow lane so they block the road for about 20 minutes while it's craned over the wall. Luckily the road isn't ever busy but I do stand watch for drivers to apologise to!
I knocked the base timbers together last week. Given the size and number of foundation blocks 4x2 timbers are sturdy enough. I proved this to myself when building the Sitooterie.
The biggest pain was attaching the various battens to support the insulation - and then fitting the insulation!
Next to go on was the OSB3 deck and we now have an insulated dance floor in the back yard!
Our new neighbours are going through the same building hell as we did last year and this included demolition of a conservatory that was never used because it was too hot in summer and extremely cold in winter. They were kind enough to offer the windows and a pair of doors for my cabin. This sort of thing happens a lot in our wee community - I call it Galloway barter. No money changes hands but something is usually offered in exchange. They didn't actually want anything in exchange but, being new, they weren't aware of how the system works, bless 'em! So I helped to stock up their log store ready for next winter. Everyone's happy 8)
You're probably wondering what it's going to look like but I don't have a working plan - it's in my head. It's a very simple 20 sq metre rectangular, dual pitch roofed building with the double doors on one end opening onto a small deck and two windows on each side. The windows are actually a little too deep (130cm) but I can work with that - they were free! Rain was persisting down today so nothing done but the next step is to use the base as a template for laying out and cutting the roof timbers. I got the idea from an American Youtube vid which shows how to create a jig on the base to make trusses. I'm not using trusses but the principle's the same. Sounds a bit back to front to cut the roof before putting up the walls but the idea of using a template at ground level that is exactly the same dimensions as the top of the walls is too good to pass up :wink:
More to come (hammer) (hammer)
Paul
