Roof Panels, Knees, Younger Knees, And Staining Bees

Here is a shot of the port side, ready for the dormer roof panels to be installed.  The window trim may be installed after the roof panels, although the sidewall trim, siding and fascia had to be on before the roof panels could be attached. The dormer fascia board above the windows has not been stained yet.

A close-up of the beautiful siding and trim work Kyle has done, in spite of the puzzle of the concealed fastener roofing system! 

I know this looks like a duplicate of the first photo in this post, but look closely, and you will see that the dormer roof panels are ON!!! Also the window trim is in place!!! I was standing on the base of the sculpture in the yard, and still could not get high enough to really show the dormer roof.  It is one tall trailer....  There is one type of metal trim left to install on this port side, the rakes, of which there are four. The rakes run down the edge of the roof slopes on the fore and aft ends of the house (steep slope) and the dormer (shallower slope), where roof meets wall.

A close-up of the beautiful port dormer. I am loving the color of the stain with that of the roof, though these pictures don't do the colors justice. 

Here is Kyle, up on the roof, where it's as peaceful as can be; there the world below don't bother he... (paraphrasing James Taylor for all the Machamux Painting Party alums).   Actually, though the world below wasn't bothering him, the kneeling on the metal roof did, and he injured a knee, halting any further monkey business up there for a week, and causing us both (and Kyle's wife, M) angst about our semblance of a construction schedule and about our (mine too) creaky joints.  After all, Kyle has been the one elected to crawl around up there so I can pamper my own creaky joints.

However, apparently no permanent damage was done, and after one quick and successful session where Kyle fed his son D the main starboard side roof panels to screw on (which D made short work of), here is Kyle back up on the roof, doing the geometric gymnastics (but fewer actual gymnastics) to fit the starboard side with its dormer roof panels.

Mathematician at work on the starboard dormer.  I like the juxtaposition of the phrase printed on the house wrap with the sight of the miracle-worker pondering an angle or measurement.  Maybe it should say "miracles of geometry".

A shot of the starboard side from down slope, in the lower access road; Big D's house visible in the background.  My house looks bigger than his!  Incidentally, Big D, contrary to his teasing, can actually stand up just fine under the loft joists -- they are at 6 ' 6 ", and he is 6 ' 4 ".  I will admit, however, that he must duck his head to get through the entry door. 

Returning inside to the studio, temporary cedar staining headquarters, here three lengths of siding may be seen.  We have 8, 10, 12, and 16 foot sizes.  These were stained by The Three Brushketeers last Saturday morning.  We stained nineteen boards, a third of what must be done, in about two and a half hours of action and chatter (and some silliness), and then went for a terrific lunch at a little cafe in Bellevue. This is more of an accomplishment than might meet the eye, since each board had to be stained/sealed on all six sides. 

This photo shows the sheen on the cedar trim boards fairly well.  The transparent stain/sealer really glows in some places, and it is great to see the grain patterns and knots are so different from board to board.  

Some of our lovely work curing against the armature loft. We did take each piece outside onto the patio to dry in the shade as we finished it, to minimize the odor for us, and maximize our elbow room. 

Brushes and paraphernalia of the Brushketeers, rinsed in odorless mineral spirits, awaiting tomorrow's session. There's a screwdriver to open the can, a paint stir stick, a pencil to mark the backs of the boards (yes there is a finished side, typically the rougher one!) and a skinny tomato stake to stir the pesky stuff (frequently) when we had the red plastic pour spout on. Rags, gloves, and more rags.  It is very special to be at work again in this space, and using the modeling stands to help.  Our work is not as contemplative or monumental as that coming out of the studio in years past, but at least it is practical, useful and sound, qualities that my teacher would have approved of.

Our brushes at rest for the week, awaiting the arrival of the crew on Saturday morning with breakfast sandwiches in hand.  Merry Christmas-in-July!