The Build - Stage 12 Exterior Work: Soffit, Facia, Siding, and Stucco

This week we started doing soffit and facia.  The 2-man crew that installed the siding soffit and facia were very nice to me.  I enjoyed helping them.  One of the neatest parts of this process was learning that we were related to one of the crew!  He is my grandmother's first cousin.  Small world!  

Soffit closes off the underside of the overhang of your roof.  Most soffit is white and made of aluminum.  It actually comes in several colors.  We chose a dark bronze aluminum. The facia wraps up the drip edge which is just below the shingles to complete the magnificent look.

The siding installation was fun to watch since it helps finish off the exterior.  This is the backside with stucco, soffit, facia, and siding installed.  One side down--three more to go!  Below, is a picture of the front gables in progress.  The tallest gable has vertical siding.  The two gables on either side will have shaker-style siding.  We plan to do rock on the columns of the front entry.

Stucco is like playing in the mud!  (Literally).  The only downside is that it doesn't wash out.  Once you get it on your clothes...it's permanent.  We learned that it can dry really fast.  Once it's been applied to the wall and semi-dried, you have to texture it with a special trowel.  (We had to work especially fast on the South side of the house when the sun was shining directly on it).

Latest progress on the interior:  This is the future fireplace and custom built-in bookshelves.   More updates to come on the interior and preparation for the 4-way inspection.

The Build - Stage 11 Roofing Shingles

Putting on the shingles!  This is a big step forward, because now when you're inside the house, you are now protected from the elements.  No rain, snow, or shine inside now. 

We used shingles that came in strips. These things are heavy!  I could barely climb the ladder with six strips of shingle in my hands.  You'd be surprised how sore your ankles can get when standing on the roof with your feet in a downward tilt.  My Dad got the worst of it, working with his feet at an upward tilt.  He would nail the shingles down as I passed the sheets of shingle to him.  (Stand on your heels with your toes in the air for even a few minutes and you'll see what I mean). 

The gun that we used on the roof is a roof nailer.  It shoots small nails on the midpoint of the shingle.  The nails are hidden by the overlapped shingle and ensures that no rain can seep through the shingle.  I nick-named the nailer the "Tommy Gun" because of its round magazine.