T-8 and T-9 Truss Lift

On the 22nd Hal and I raised the smallest trusses, 24 feet long, with the new winches. Actually Hal did 99% of the work as the handles on these were rotary and I did not have the arm strength to continue after the first couple of turns. These winches worked very well though and hopefully will work just as well when it's time to lift the longest trusses in the build, the 40 foot T-5s.

Here is a link to a slightly longer video of this lift. Halfway through you'll notice the angle gets tilted. The battery died and after replacing it I did not really have time to line things up, but it's still obvious what happens. I really need to find my tripod!

T8-T9 Lift.

These trusses are for the small bedrooms' wing.

The new trusses are next to Hal's truck

The T2 Trusses are Up!!!

And it got a little hairy toward the end as the ratchet handle teeth started failing but with a little help from Hal's tractor we got the 4 trusses up!  He has ordered bigger, stronger winches for the rest of the house. Hopefully those will work better with fewer hiccups.

4 winches, one on each pole 

smooth notch atop pole of for straps

destroyed ratchet handle

Hal bent that handle off to be able to attach a socket wrench to continue turning. At that point we were only about 8 inches from the top and he used a 4 x 6 pole in the tractor bucket to push each truss corner onto their respective poles.

Link to a very short time lapse video of the T-2 lift. I tried embedding it but got an error.

In the meantime, until the new winches arrive, we have plenty of joist and purlin (joist hangers on the roof side) hangers to attach.

Happy Anniversary to Us

Actually our anniversary was a few days ago but we finally were able to go out to dinner tonight on Hubbard Lake at Churchill Pointe Inn. Had a great corner table with a nice view of the lake, and the food was wonderful.

There was garlic butter escargot for an appetizer with crusty bread, then we both had a terrific thick lobster bisque. Hal had crab cakes for a main course, which I got to try. Great flavor, perfectly cooked. I had pan fried lake perch with homemade dill tarter sauce. The fish tasted great with and without the sauce.

forgot to take the photo till I'd eaten the other 2

the lobster bisque with a dribble of sherry in it

lake perch

Maryland style crab cakes

The sides were sauteed zucchini and buttered parsley new potatoes.

And because it was our anniversary we got to share a complimentary slice of key lime pie.

And Hal selected a pinot gris from J Vineyards in California. An excellent choice.

We may have to eat here again when they reopen next spring.

Trusses in Position

Click on the photos to make them full size.

garage in the front with trusses placed willy nilly but off the ground

It took more than one day to set them all up off the ground and then another day and again today to take the ones placed alongside the garage and lay them back down then pick them up again with the tractor, ropes and a winch to maneuver them inside the garage and line them up where they are going to go. But here they are, all 17 trusses, in the 300 pound and up range, set up to prepare for lifting.

all the trusses in place

Looking at the garage end

Next we have to add purlins and some hardware before lifting them into place. But not tomorrow, it's going to rain and we need a rest!