Building Gypsy Rose

In order to travel down the highway without special permits, a vehicle cannot exceed eight-feet six inches wide or thirteen-feet six inches tall. Those dimensions will be the final width and height of Gypsy Rose. With that in mind, I had a bit of "figuring" to do today before I could put up the first rafters. Given that every inch will count in the sleeping loft, I wanted to be sure that the peak (including sheathing, metal roofing, and metal ridge) was right at the maximum height.

To facilitate the layout, I used the subfloor as a full-scale drawing board. I drew up a pattern on which I was able to lay out the rafters exactly as they'd be positioned on the top plates. I tied them together with 2x4's that will be removed once the ceiling joists are installed (acting as collar ties). Finally, I'd climb the ladder with the triangle and drop it in place over the top plates and nail it down.

By the middle of the afternoon, I had three pairs of rafters in place and it was off to the lumber yard to pick a 24-foot 2x8 for the ridge. In the morning, I'll get some help from Marion to put the ridge in place and then complete the rafters.