Building Update #20: A Break in the Weather = Two Walls

The past week and a half has been very frustrating as the cold weather prevented us from using caulk to air seal the second-story walls before they went up, and then we had to wait out some rainy weather.  Fortunately today was warm and sunny.  Jake rounded up a crew of 4 to help raise our first two second story walls.

The north wall went up first.  Some wind gusts gave us a scare, but we eventually figured it out. 

The walls went up as one piece, and they were REALLY heavy.  My Dad and my friend Sarah show what it takes to get it done.

From the front of the house.  The only window on the North wall is the bathroom window.

Now with both walls up.  The second wall was lighter, but we had a problem with it slipping off the edge as we lifted it.  Jake devised an on-the-spot system to put tension on the bottom plate as we lifted the top to prevent it from sliding away from us. 

The walls aren't perfectly plumb yet, but they will be once we get the end walls up.

The man himself.  Jake after a somewhat hairy but successful wall-raising.  Many, many thanks to Dad and Sarah for making this possible!