23 September 2011

Mike, Mike, and Mike (aka: Dad, Pikey, and Mike) arrived promptly at 8 to start installing the metal roof.  They brought with them a trailer that custom bends and then cuts each panel to whatever length needed, fed from a large roll of metal stock on their truck. They also had a nifty little self-propelled machine that runs up each seam, crimping adjacent panels forever together. They got about 85% of the panels installed by 2:30, when they had used up the 500 foot roll of metal on the truck… and quit for the day.  Depending on the light, the roof color (Colonial Red) ranges from copper to russet.  The shed should look pretty stunning once we have silver-grey cedar shingles on the exterior walls. In between watching the roofers roofing, I laid another course of rocks on the three sections of between-column walls that are incomplete.  Unfortunately, virtually every rock will need trimming with the diamond saw, so I have reached an impasse with that project until the Skilsaw arrives.  Switching hats, I began installing the conduit and running the wires to extend power to the shed upper level.  Note for do-it-your-self electricians: running five #12 solid core copper wires thru a 90 degree bend (in contrast to a 90 degree elbow) in ½″ conduit is not a fun proposition.  Got ‘er done, but ‘t was nip and tuck for awhile there.  By quitting time, the shed upper level had a working electrical outlet (GFI protected) and wires run to the switch for the overhead light.  Returning to the RV, found that the smoke detector was making the once per minute chirp again, so quickly called the First Alert customer service line.  As soon as they answered, the chirping stopped.  After explaining the situation, the nice lady agreed to send me a new unit anyway.  As soon as I hung up, the chirping started again!  And people wonder why I drink…