Day Two.

Rough night last night.  Worked until 8 o'clock or so and I am very thankful to my Mother for taking care of the girls this week because my back is killing me.  As long as I keep up with stretching those dang hamstrings and icing the herniation everything should be ok.  I also had physical therapy at 7 o'clock this morning.  Can you believe it?  First day of the mini staycation and I schedules a PT appointment that early in the day.  Oh well enough complaining.

Today we started framing the first bedroom.  I can't believe that I'm doing this and not hiring it out, but I believe the benefits of personal accomplishment and saving about $2000-$3000 in labor just for the framing is well worth it. 

For the wall's floor plate I used 2x4 treated lumber, liquid nail to secure it to the floor, and 2 1/2" Hard Cut Masonry Fasteners driven through the 2x4 into the concrete.  Everybody was suggesting that I use a powder nailer and I believe that may have been the best way to go, but DIY projects when you are on a budget call for cheaper alternatives that work just as well. 



The wall itself went up pretty well until I got to the rough in of the closet door.  That was very time consuming and I actually don't want to talk about it.  :)  The closet doors will need a rough opening of 49 1/2" x 81 1/2" and that's what I did.  It was pretty simple to do but it was time consuming.  A carpenter would have build this wall on the floor and, when finished, would have lifted the wall from the floor to the intended spot.  A newbie like me did it the old fashioned way.  One piece at a time.  I considered the other way but know that in the end I would probably have had to tear it apart and start over so I decided to measure each board, put it in place, make sure it was plumb, and nailed it into place. 

I really need to mention that all the while my Father was helping out.  He did a pretty good job dealing with my grumpiness too.