Our first week building.

From a standing start we begin the process of learning on the job. Monday 6th June 2022 was our first day in the workshop, very exciting. After a bit of training from our guru, Andrew, we got down to some real work.

We cut all the timber required to build the frame of the workshop. We also manually moved a couple of tons of timber. Tomorrow we will cut the timber for the house then start assembling the panels for the garage. We’re really enjoying ourselves.

On Tuesday after cutting the timber we started assembling our first panel from the plans, which was the end south facing wall which is almost 5 metres wide. We had to measure where every stud was to go then line it all up before nailing it all together.

Unfortunately we hadn’t noticed that the studs were too far apart on the plan so we had to take it all apart and start again.

On day three using the correct measurements we rebuilt the panel we had dismantled the day before and now full of confidence we built another with a big steel beam in it for the workshop doors.

We worked late that day because Pete lost track of time and was determined to complete the first panel for the east wall of the workshop. Finishing at 7pm we were both exhausted and vowed not to do that again. Rest and relaxation is just as important as working hard!

On Thursday it was a bit of a slow start working out the measurements of the Oriented Strand Board (OSB) that is nailed to every panel. This was probably due to the long day yesterday. We kept making mistakes but in the end got that panel completed as well as panel four (panel three was built yesterday). These are now stacked ready for transporting. This afternoon we started panel five. This one was more tricky as it has a window but we made good progress as can be seen in the photo. Really enjoying working out the plans & the hard graft …. boots off and a lovely wee journey back to Tarbert.

Day five, the end of our first week building our house. We managed to get all six of the panels for the workshop constructed. On Friday we completed panels five and six, each of these more of a challenge as they involved making lintels and supports for the windows and doors and then how to cut out the OSB to fit the openings.

A few ups and downs but all done and hard hats off for 5.30pm. Now some rest over the weekend ready for more fun and hard work next week.

Of course none of this would have been possible without the help, support and generosity of our guru, Andrew. He is a very patient and enthusiastic teacher and gives us lots of encouragment as does his partner Manda, with the occasional Kilberry chocolate brownie to keep us going.