Now that the roof truss are in place I need to install 2 x 6 blocking. First I went to the middle truss and dropped a plumb line to make sure that the peak of this truss was exactly over the N/S centerline of the building. Then I attached two 2x4 temporary braces to run from this peak down to the floor to make sure things would not shift.
I then worked outward from the center truss to make absolutely sure that the peaks of the trusses were exactly 16" apart along the ridge pole... That done, I could drive screws into the plywood webs at the top of the wall truss.
Then to help me place the blocking I rigged up a temporary rail to hang just below the blocking.
AT LEFT - Here you see the L-shaped blocking that I installed to provide backing to the gypsum board that will line the room.
This method took a lot of time to install. I think that the gypsum board could be attached to 1x4 boards strung along the bottom of the trusses but the assembly would not be as rigid or strong.
I was pleased that I could measure and cut this blocking precise enough to make everything a press fit ( using light taps from the rubber hammer...
Dec. 30, 2000 - With all the blocking done I could move to framing the ends of the second floor BUT before doing that I needed to get all of the gypsum wall board upstairs! Getting a 4'x8' panel up thru the drop-down stairs might be possible but I bet it would be a super 'dog' of a task...
Time to call on Ron & Wally to help with the task. I attached two - twelve foot 2x4's to the side of the shop at their very top ends. Then attached a 2x4 near the bottom to join them together. Then a eight foot 2x4 was attached at its mid point with a single 3" screw right at the top of each 12' 2x4' The screw was loose enough to allow the 8' board to hinge at its center. Then a piece of scrap plywood was used to connect these two 8' hinged 2x4's at their top ends. ( Actually I used two boards ).
The picture to the right shows a T-shaped unit made from scrap plywood and a 2x4 that supports the gypsum board along its bottom edge. You cannot see it in this view but at the bottom edge of the plywood (in this view) there is a hole to attach a rope. Also there are two 10" 2x4 blocks attached to act as guides to keep the panel centered over the 12' guide rails while lifting...
After pulling up the panel about 5' I could then flip the panel onto the floor and slide it off to the stack. The hinged 2x4's provide the necessary support... Wally & Ron loaded the panel onto the gizmo & I worked the top end.... It was still hard work but it WORKED!
