7/7/19
(Above: A miniature cable clamp used to hold together the ‘safety-strap’ on the north postern door.)
Building Summary: Today I began by procuring a miniature cable-clamp (the one Padre and I obtained from Sparr Farm Supply a few days ago), an equally diminutive ratchet wrench, and then I affixed that clamp to the small cable at the base of Jacobhouse’s north, postern door. Now, the door can again be fastened open so it does not swing freely in a heavy gale*.
After tending to the mini-clamp, I set about adding the remaining piece of galvalume to Wall #5’s west side. This required the routine exercise of measuring / marking / cutting, and the result was promptly fastened to the wall via a series of five rivets. Then, with that piece in place, I was able to finish off the morning by installing the above-bed light.
Commentary: Galvalume paneling. That is my life at Jacobhouse now. Almost every moment at the work site is spent marking, measuring, cutting, and fastening that trial-of-a-substance to the plywood walls, and while I do this, I must always make certain I’m wearing gloves and that I immediately remove my shoes if I ever feel a stabbing sensation within my feet**. The experience is growing a tad tedious, to say the least, and yet, through that tedium, the positive events do seem to glow with added luster.
For instance, there is the fact that the paneling looks exceptional – something that seems all the more true after I have completed a wall (like I did this morning). There’s also the fact that once I have the galvalume in place, I can install the fixtures that have been long awaiting their time to literally shine***. Thus, while it is tiresome to deal with galvalume, it seems like it will be well worth the effort. Such is the way of Jacobhouse.
Final Note: Tomorrow, I will begin working on Wall #1 (the bedroom’s farthest west wall) or Wall #2 (the adjoining hallway wall). Before I start on either, I will have to make some measurements to ensure that the 3-switch cover plate does not meet with any of the galvalume’s crests. After I determine how that piece needs to be positioned, I will know where to begin.
*This is a very minor problem. For reference, the recent tempest two days ago which possessed 20+ MPH winds and dumped about 3″ of rain in the span of half an hour, managed to blow the heavy door about 1 foot from where it had previously been opened to.
**The nibbler creates little quarter-moon slivers out of the sheet metal, and those slivers seem to favor sneaking their way through my socks and into my toes.
***I still wonder when the Hendricksons are coming over again… No matter, there is still plenty to do.