May
31
2015

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Grindbygg Workshop Framing

by Going Slowly

After "finishing" our house, we both vacillated between never wanting to build anything again, and feeling excited about the strawbale workshop we are hosting this summer. Mostly, we feared re-living the most stressful project we have ever undertaken (last year). Happily, things are going really, really well, and this year's project has been far less trying than the last.

Cleaned and Ready Workspace in the Grindbygg The Grindbygg Workshop, Ready for Another Round of Construction

For starters, we have a house! Having a cozy, clean place to come home (not our camper) after a day of working on the workshop? Priceless. Having a hot tub to soak in? That's pretty good too. The fact that we're not trying to live in the thing we're building takes loads of pressure off.

Tyler Installs 4x4 Post for Grindbygg Pony Wall Construction Grindbygg Pony Wall Construction Continues Grindbygg Pony Wall Construction Begins Grindbygg Workshop Framing in Progress Grindbygg Workshop Framing in Progress Tara About to Raise Grindbygg Wall Framing

Another huge de-stressor is the fact that we've done this before. It's so rewarding how quickly and easily things have been coming together, now that we have a modicum of experience under our belts. Having to learn how to do every. single. thing was stressful and exhausting. This time around? Really not bad at all, and even FUN! We also bought a nail-gun, which really makes framing a breeze.

We Poured the Foundation TWO YEARS AGO! Grindbygg Workshop Framing in Progress Grindbygg Workshop Framing in Progress Us Raising Door Framing / King Studs Framing Around Radiant Heat Termination

Finally, we've changed our strategy a bit. For the house-building project, I worked on my own during the week and Tyler would join me during early mornings, late evenings, and weekends. This time, we're only working together, and we're (almost) only working on weekends. This means that Tara doesn't get frustrated at how useless and inefficient a single pair of hands can be, and Tyler doesn't get burnt out having to do a 9-5 and build on top of that. We might even be more productive this way.

Us in Grindbygg

The pony wall is done, the window framing is mostly done, the door framing is mostly done. Doors are on their way. Windows are on their way. Wire mesh is ordered. Straw is growing and ordered to spec. Basically, things are really rollin'!

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8 comments

Wonderful update! I admit, I still come to your site regularly hoping to find more pictures of the final house now that it has been lived in a bit. When you get enough distance, and the to-do list is not too terribly long (?), I hope you write a tour-retrospective on the house you are living in!
Posted by Anna on June 3rd, 2015 at 10:56 PM
I'm so glad to see your change of pace. And SOOOO happy you were able to take a recent "vacation" from everything.

Your homestead is looking pretty sweet. We're really looking forward to seeing it in person some day. Sending love and support.

~Sheila & Kai
Posted by Sheila on June 4th, 2015 at 12:47 PM
My Dad is attending your workshop this summer and I am so excited to hear back firsthand reports of how the house looks!
Posted by Jessica on June 4th, 2015 at 2:40 PM
You two and your house have been on my mind a lot lately, as Seth and I are about to start building our own little house this summer -- stick-framed on a trailer. So excited that you're continuing to build and document your workshop! It's going to look great.
Posted by SavvyChristine on June 5th, 2015 at 7:18 AM
I am so excited to see this progress in person--the photos already look different from what I saw when I visited in October.
Posted by Julia H. on June 7th, 2015 at 7:22 PM
Really an inspiration to us and our future!
Posted by Martin on June 13th, 2015 at 2:53 AM
Guys, I still think the Grindbygg is so beautiful on it's own. I knew you guy had plans to wall it in, but down here in the south it would be an awesome "pole barn" to call it this is a discrace to the beauty, but it would be awesome. I have even contacted Peter to ask some details about building one very similar but with longer overhangs for storage, stalls, etc.

I know it takes alot of time to put together an actual blog but I, and others, would love recent updates perhaps using other social media outlets to keep the quality and the chronology going. Use instagram to post some quick updates as they happen or a happy or defeating moment!

As always, yall's place is beautiful and love following!
Posted by Jason N (jclaudii) on July 9th, 2015 at 1:59 PM
Hey everyone, thanks for all the kind words <3 <3

For those of you who asked about updates---we just posted a few and we're going to redouble our efforts starting now to get back in the swing of documenting things more thoroughly.

I'm off to do some final pre-strawbale-workshop tasks!
Posted by Tyler on July 12th, 2015 at 8:02 AM