May-June 2008 - we want a roof

Now as the summer rains approach, the mad dash to get the metal roof on. We are using white (another First Day first). Remember in Florida, WE DON'T NEED HEAT, we try to get rid of it!

After sheathing the bents with tongue-and-groove, we wrapped the house in with rigid foam insulation panels, then placed strapping over the insulation. Now on to the roof....

Technical breakout for First Day Fans and Interested Builders

Technical breakout for First Day Fans and Interested Builders

Our basic garage/house kit is 22 ft wide with a 20 foot porch transitioning into a 47 foot long house with an added cupola (for light and heat shedding). Basically a 67 foot long garage... In rib form our neighbors think it looks like a church. Four inches of insulation on the roof and two inches in the side, to meet Florida code. Lots of windows, east/west oriented to maximize light yet avoid summer sun.

So far, we believe we hold the extreme Southern end of the (ever increasing) First Day nation( or confederacy? or cooperative?) In this part of the gator nation, First Days are a total novelty to plans inspectors, building inspectors and most of our subs.

And don't forget the constant vigilance needed to keep a tidy building site.

The Famous Dowels

Our Florida engineers decided we MUST have one inch diameter carriage bolts instead of the standard First Day half-inch diameters. These custom bolts were going to run 10 bucks EACH (we have over 150 in the house).


However, they did mention that one inch wooden doweling would be an acceptable substitute (as long as we pegged them). Lets see $1500 versus $70.






Actually, a lesson to be learned: set-backs often create new opportunities. We installed the wooden dowels and they look totally spectacular! It is the second thing people mention after they get over all the WOOD. Ironically, people now think we are some type of insane, artisan/old school-type builders.

Practicing a Bent: 1" = 1'

Ok, the kit arrived, the slab is poured, and now we need to start. Here we are studying David's instruction booklet.


We decided to build a baby bent first. Here is our practice version, a cupola bent built to scale by Dad Kiker. This gave us an opportunity to check our interpretation of David Howard's instructions and familiarize ourselves with the angles and the many pieces included in construction of a bent.








Then we practiced the real thing!

Kit Arrives from First Day - Dec 2007

The kit arrived on a 40-foot 18-wheeler in middle December, 2007.

We had a forklift and managed to drop only one load of tongue and groove on the ground while unloading! We set up pallets around the building site in order to place bundles off the ground, covered by tarps.

Concrete Slab - Mr Jones - Nov 2007

Gainesville concrete guru - Mr Sam Jones (80+ years old) does his concrete magic. We have a stem-wall slab three blocks above grade, raised to provide a termite inspection zone.

We also put radiant heat in the slab, ordered as a kit from Radiantec.

Finally got our Building Permit - Sept 2007

At last the plans were deemed suitable and in September 2007 we got our building permit. We immediately out the wheels in gear and broke ground in October. We're elated to at last see something tangible rise from the ground.

Here are the three boys with Granddad Kiker at the building site.

Oh and did you notice that it's now three boys? We somehow managed to find the time to add another little Kiker boy to the mix, a wee three months old at time of ground breaking.