30 August 2011

In the morning Perry and I installed the feature strips (narrow boards nailed to the fascia to introduce an additional shadow line… a subtle but important Architectural Digest detail) and the soffit vents (3″ x 8 foot louvered metal strips that let air into the building just below the roof line).  Then we began cutting and putting up the soffits.  These are being made from ⅜″ PTS underlayment instead of AC plywood… far less costly and nearly the same quality.  Unfortunately for our elderly bodies, the scaffolding is about three feet too tall for working on the soffits and it would not be worth the substantial effort to lower the working level to the right height.  Therefore most of the soffit work has to be done sitting cross-legged with both hands holding lumber and/or tools over your head.  Great exercise… for about five minutes.  After that it’s just plain tiring.  As Perry says, “Think of all the fitness club dues you’re saving by doing this kind of work!”  By the end of the day about 75% of the soffits were nailed into place… and I was almost too tired to drink my after-work beer.  Notice I said “almost”.