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Well we are trying to keep with the going green theme, we have done the compact fluorescent light bulbs, built our own recycling can so that we don’t forget to recycle just because we have to carry it outside, we have adjusted our thermostat 2 to 3 degrees for the season, we are growing a garden and we are trying to lower our carbon foot print by driving less until we can get a better family car for the environment. Well for me I wanted to do more, a few weeks ago I posted about a rain barrel project that the city should do for the environment and an increase in revenue. Well if I’m going to propose it I thought I better go out and get one so that I can say “hey I did it and these are my results”.

So while getting our garden mulch at Lowe’s, Jane said why don’t you get a rain barrel so we don’t have to pay to water the garden. Secretly she just wanted the gutters put back up and she knew I would do it right away if i had a cool use for it. We bought the Fiskars rainwater collection system 52 gallon barrel. More information is available here.

So yesterday we put the gutters back up with some changes so that they all flow into the single downspout to be collected by the rain barrel. I will be collecting rainwater from aproximately350 - 400 sq ft of roof in to my 1st rain barrel. it should take less then .50 and inch of rain to fill my 52 gallon rain barrel. Installation was easy and if I was installing it only and not putting my gutters back up at the same time it would have been a 20 minute process. The directions were easy to follow.

Here is a picture of the fininshed product.

We are going to be getting some rain tonight I will let you know if we fill it up or not.

Update:

It took about an hour’s worth of steady rain to collect 52 gallons of water.

Well after a few “yucky” weekends the weather has turned beautiful and sunny. The boys and I got to do a fun project yesterday. My mother in law’s deck only had a railing around it so we were constantly having to watch the boys to keep them from falling 6 feet and goto the ER. Well she managed to salvage 30 1×1’s that we could use for the railing to keep boys and Jack Russell’s from going over the edge. So in trade for building the slats and mounting them Jane and I get a night out without kiddo’s and having to put them to sleep first.

Dad Hard at Work Before After

Of course i had my helpers who played and helped so hard that nobody made it thru the bedtime stories. Thanks ma.

For more pictures and information click here.

Details coming soon I can’t type real well.

Updated 3/15/2008:

Well we have been real busy here in playhouse central. The delay in typing lasted about a week and a half after I shot myself in the finger with my finishing nailer.

Update on the playhouse:

It is complete except for the siding. We now have 3 windows a door and shingles on the roof.

I will do a complete wrap up on the playhouse with full photos when I get the time. I start a new job next week so this may be on hold for a while. I’ll try to write more when I can.

Well today was 50 degrees here in Eastern NC, so we got some progress made on the playhouse. I didn’t like the way the roof trusses were sitting so we took all of them down and restarted from scratch. We got the roof system rebuilt and 100% more stable and 90% of the plywood covering on the roof. Next came the 2 gable ends which took up an entire sheet of plywood each.

So as of today we have 2 sides completed and 90% of the roof. Next weekend weather permitting will be finishing up the walls and roof tar paper and shingle as well as windows and doors.

Here’s to hoping we have a good weather weekend, or if we don’t let it be snow and not rain.

Well today was a little warmer then yesterday and at least there was no breeze to chill the air. This is what we had when we started this morning.

After leveling out the floor we started to frame up walls using 2×3’s for nailers and 2×2’s for studs. By lunch time we had 3 walls framed and the little helpers had arrived from indoors fresh from watching their favorite builders Kevin O’Conner and crew from This Old House. Here’s a picture of our morning’s worth of work.

After lunch when the helpers all got cold and retreated back inside for an afternoon Huricanes game with mom. We finished the front door and went to Lowe’s for roof truss materials. So after 2 days we have 4 walls a doorway and a roof skeleton. Here’s what it looks like after 2 full days of work.

So next weeknd barring adverse weather we will put the roof panels on, tar paper and shingle it, cut the windows out and install them, hang the door and install the ramp.

The last edition of the playhouse post’s will include a materials list and tools used in the construction of this project as well as some detail pictures of how it all went together…

It’ s bitterly cold here with a wind chill in the high 20’s and we had to abandon the use of all scrap wood.  There was just no way to complete the playhouse without having to go and get lumber. My dad took us to Lowe’s and we got 2×3’s for wall headers and footers and 2×4’s for floor joists; as well as more press board for the walls and roof.

With the framing nailer he purchased last week we made quick work of the floor. earlier this after noon we leveled off a single brick layer of supports to go under the floor. So the floor joist sit on leveled and packed down brick pillars. Due to possible yard flooding we didn’t want to close in the entire underside.  I will post pictures tomorrow which should include framed walls that have been raised up. I don’t know if we will get to putting the plywood on the studs, but we should be able to get the entire structure framed during the day tomorrow. next weekend will be the roof and sides.

The good news is there will be no wind and it should be above 40 degree’s.

Ok, We decided the boys need a playhouse. The two reasons for this are, we are tired of not having anywhere to put the toys in the backyard out of the rain and the boys need a house to play in. So we decided to hit everyone we know up for building supplies. Dad donated a lot of scrap lumber, shingles and a sheet of plywood. My mother in law donated 2 sheets of press board, some lumber, an old door and tar paper. so now we have our supplies it’s time to come up with a plan.

 I ripped all of the scrap lumber to either 2×4 or 2×2 sizes. 2×4’s for the base plates and 2×2 for the studs. ( It’s a playhouse) So we decided to attempt using the sheets of press board for the floor because we have enough for the desired size of 8×8. Let’s just say pressboard doesn’t work.

So with day one behind us we have all the wood cut and the only thing we need to go get is 2 sheets of 3/8″ plywood for the floor. The floor will sit on a single brick foundation. The stud walls are aproximately 5ft and we are still debating about the roof design. We do know that it will have a skylight in it. Stay tuned for next weekends progress.

Today was outside day, leaf raking and leaf blowing. Nothing says I hate a Pin Oak tree like a leaf blower. On another note our good friends called from the great north stating that her water broke this morning and she was already at 8cm dialated. Good luck Jer and Kristy we are waiting for the call about Isabella.