hellhole - the final chapter!!

okay - this is the LAST chapter in the hellhole saga - sorry to disappoint (really, you are probably sick of this by now - i sure am! - for what it's worth, this was completed a month ago, just posting it now).

we left off at "hellhole - part 3: there has to be a better way!!!" in which i installed an attic ladder. now we need a floor, what better way to begin that a 14 amp circular saw:


and some 1/2 " osb:


which needs to be cut into bite-sized chunks (2x4 each piece, i used 5 4x8 boards in total):

whoops, we are not worthy, i mean ready:



well, i got the first load up the ladder and then covered the ladder to minimize the blown insulation that would leak into the kitchen, yes, that is my foot:



i put the first load of boards down willy-nilly, but at least i have a place to put the tools now:



some gonzo electrical work. there were no plates on the junction boxes and i wasn't about to dick around with the power - thank god for duct tape!! before:



after:


i NEED to stand here!!!


up off the floor......




anchor as best i can


now the first part of the floor goes down where the ladder opens up to...some success here:



at the wall where the old and new cottages meet, i have to lay some 2x4 supports:



now i can floor this area properly:


down to the end of the ladder:


and around - awesome!!!


now i cut more sections of osb and bring them up:



and start the first long corridor along the load-bearing wall in the middle of the first cottage:



then over to the other side of the load-bearing wall:



the wiring was a pain, buddy just tossed the wires across the trusses, no stapling, nothing. you will see a few boards that he laid in, i didn't bother removing them. i had to cut notches here and there to go over/around the original wiring, cost a LOT of time!



but it's worth it!

when i was done with the flooring, i stapled plastic barriers to keep the blown insulation from creeping into the floored area, it worked better than i thought it would!


i extended the flooring on the second row to go out a second truss support, we'll put bags of clothes and lighter things there:


here is the additional storage in all it's glory. keep in mind, max head clearance is 5 feet, but with some effort, ingenuity and a sore back, i was able to kluge together a suitable storage space. i t is now about 1/2 full and will accommodate the rest of the things that need to go there. we were able to empty our storage locker in town - a milestone!!


so after all that, i deserve this!! :



yeah, it's a camo beer, close as i will get to hunting this year ;-) don't fret over the end of hellhole, wait till you see the basement!!!

cheers!