PBJ Cottage
Okay, I admit it. This page is really the internet equivalent of |
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When I needed a break from the exasperation and 95 degree heat, I’d go inside and write an email to my sister Arlene… |
I built this little garden house in the summer of 2002 with a little help from some faulty plans and a lot of help from my husband. |
Hi, Arlene – Just came inside to rest for a few minutes. You wouldn’t believe how fast that little potting shed is going up. The framing is done…tongue and groove pine siding is done…now working on the cedar shake roof!! When the roof’s on, I’ll email a picture. Then all that’s left is the windows, shutters, door, interior.. Love, Edie |
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Hi, Arlene – I thought I’d have the roof all done by Monday, but here it is Wednesday afternoon, and I’ve only just now finished laying the first two courses of cedar shakes…for the third time. The first row is supposed to be doubled, and then each course is 5-1/2″ above the previous one. The shingles are tapered, and the way I was laying them, each row was getting farther from the roof. By the time I finished, I’d have vertical shakes all nailed together—about two feet away from the roof. Referred to a carpentry book I’d given Gary several years ago. It said first course—the “starter course” —was supposed to be 3″ shorter than the others. Would have been nice if they’d said that in the book with the project. So, I pulled them all off, cut off three inches from half of them and hammered them all back up again. Still no good.
Ripped them all off second time. There’s so many nail holes up there, it looks like I used peg board for the sheathing. Now I see I was only supposed to have used TWO nails per board, regardless of the width. I’m taking a break for awhile. Anyway, I attached some pictures for you to see the progress. Picture taken from inside the “cabin” looking up through the roof sheathing. Love, Edie |
Went back to the book again, and there in a tiny picture, I could see that the tapered end goes UP, and the fat side goes down. Of course. |
Hi, Arlene – [It still looks from the pictures that this has been a ton of fun to do.] Yes, it has been… Except for the countless trips to Home Depot, Menard’s, and Ace. I wish I’d understood that although it’s presented as a “How to” book complete with step-by-step instructions and complete list of materials, it is, in fact, only a general guide. Many quantities and dimensions are way off. It’s clear now that what they did was take the plans for a child’s playhouse, raise the roof a foot or two, and call it a garden house. But they only converted half the drawings, board sizes, and quantities. (Figured that out as we were framing the first window by their instructions and realized I’d have to kneel down to look out the window and duck down to get in the door, even though there was another foot of height available).
They were off by more than half on the number of cedar shake bundles needed. Cost of the roof is now up to over $250— not including the cost of replacing the ladder. Shortly after picture [adjacent] was taken (and Gary had gone back inside), the ladder sort of crumpled in on itself to the left, and I fell with it in slow motion, nails scattering, hammer flying, arms flailing at the sky. I’m going to try to get the roof done before it rains this afternoon. Another thing that book left out is the layer of asphalt felt that’s supposed to go in between each course of shakes. I’ll wait to position that large sink until I see if/where the roof leaks. Gary bought me a carpenter’s nail pocket to clip on my jeans. Very handy. Oh well, I’ve finished my morning coffee and am now ready to face another exciting day working on the… um… ah… I’ll wait to decide whether to call it a “garden house” or “potting shack” until I see how it turns out… Love, Edie |
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Hi, Arlene – I have now determined that even with that handy-dandy nail pocket, I can still spill the nails.
I decided it would be more comfortable to lie on my stomach up the roof and reach over the ridge to hammer… As I was repositioning myself, the nail pocket caught on a sheathing board, flipped off my belt, and nails flew out and tinkled daintily (they’re aluminum nails—at $3.68 a box at Ace) down the completed side of the roof before slipping in between the shakes. A few managed to reach that frequently-mined swath of dirt under the eaves. Cooled off and ready to go back out again, but it’s not looking good for finishing the roof before the rain predicted for 3:00 p.m. today. Love, Edie |
Was sitting up on the roof, pretty pocket nicely filled with a new box of nails, hammering in the top row of shakes on the about-to-be-completed first side… ridge board poking painfully in to my butt.|
Hi, Arlene – [Maybe when you’re done you should write an article about this and submit it to Better Homes and Gardens.] Not a bad idea. I’d sure like someone to know how annoyed I am at that book. The cover looks so pretty. It all sounded so easy. Maybe later on my next escape from the sun and sweat I’ll write you about my problems resulting in miscutting the same piece three times.
We had a torrential downpour last night— and the roof didn’t leak!! Totally dry in there. The exterior is completed now, trim even painted. All that’s left is the shutters. Made the first pair last night, but I’m waiting until I hear (via internet) from the company that sells shutter dogs (the things that hold the shutter against the house) and hinges before I make any more. Wendy and Scamper love the garden house. Both kitties are Was going to ask why I’m not losing weight, too, but I think that last destination sort of answers the question. Problem is, Wendy no longer thinks it’s good enough just be let out. She stands on the other side of the screen door and yells until I come out, too. When I do, she dashes for the garden house—or reaches up my leg for me to throw her over my shoulder and carry her down while she nuzzles my neck, waves her tail, and purrs. I got a little carried away with Gary’s fancy new router (discovered I love playing with that and his new sliding compound miter saw) and put an ogee edge on practically everything—including the outside edges of the window trim and shutter edges. I think I may have created a problem there. Not sure I can attach the hinges now… Love, Edie |
there with me all day. Wendy is losing weight, though.
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Hi, Arlene – The painting has begun!
The shutters are finished, and the entire exterior is done. Can’t believe it. A dream of several years suddenly a reality. All I had to do was stop dreaming and just do it. The shutters turned out really nice. They are three boards of tongue and groove with a routed perimeter added to the top side. This leaves the center rectangle about 10″ x 27″ recessed about 3/4″. Am seriously considering trying mosaics in there. Always wanted to do one with some of my “Bag Lady” stuff. I have been told by two suppliers (one a manufacturer as well) that because of the double thickness of the wood on the edges, it will not be possible to hang my shutters so they can open and close. Gary went to Ace and bought some hinges for me to play with. True, there is no “shutter hinge” that will work. However, by using little nuts and screws to connect two standard hinges together in the right way (took about an hour to figure out what that is), I will, in fact, be able to hang them so they are functional… Love, Edie |
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In a message dated 8/1/02 2:07:24 PM Central Daylight Time, acoleman@coleman-dempsey.com writes: It makes me want to take a |
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© 2003 Edie Postiglione