Siding Swarm (and Photo Blitz)

Here's where we got to on Saturday. Continue below for the details of the day's journey.

The custom ordered, iron gray Hardie Panel arrived at the supplier early this week. I borrowed Devon's truck on Friday, and picked up the Hardie Panel and some rigid foam insulation.

Hardie Panel on the bottom, Hardie Reveal flashing on the side,

and rigid foam insulation on the top.

An awesome crew of friends (Tom, Brett, Christopher, Bryan, Jaxon) came up Saturday morning. Our goal: Get all the paneling mounted on the front the cabin.

What got done?

• Upper flashing on the flying beam at the back of the Haus installed. (Tom & Christopher)
• Rigid foam insulation installed under the cantilever. (Bryan, Jaxon, Christopher)
• Wiring for porch lights in the cantilever. (Bryan)
• Four of the six Hardie panels installed. (All of us.)

The back story with pictures below.

As always, the first panel takes the longest to get up because we're all figuring it out together. Here's the process (for posterity):

1. Get the ladders up and positioned in the right spot for the panel (+anchor the based of the ladder on the sloped walkway with a tie strap).
2. Climb the ladder and confirm measurements for first panel, accounting for offsets of the reveals.
3. Mark the panel. Measure again. Re-mark the panel. Snap a chalk line. 
4. Wearing a dust mask, cut the panel.
5. Mark the screw holes. 
6. Drill the screw holes.
7. Wipe the dust off the panels several times.
8. The people at the top of the ladders have cordless impact drivers and screws. The people at the bottom of the ladders have the panel and wood poles to help push up the panel. 
9. Wrestle the panel up and put it in place.
10. Make sure the panel is positioned correctly (level, aligned, correct overhang, etc.)
11. Mount the screws in the predrilled holes.

First panel of the day cut.

First panel being carried over.

Positioning the first panel.

Fastening the first panel.

Repositioning the first panel.

Final fastening of the first panel.

Measuring for the porch overhang insulation.

Preparing to cut the insultion.

Head scratching.

Cutting the insulation.

Insulation going up.

Fastening panels and trim.

Cutting the Hardie Panel.

Measuring and fastening.

Katie and the panels. 

Measuring for the beam cutout.

Notching out the 3rd panel for the beam.

Notching out the 3rd-panel for the beam.

Marking the drill holes on the third panel.

Marking and drilling the 3rd panel.

By now you've got the picture of what's going on.

Carrying the third panel up to the porch.

Putting the third panel in place.

The lunch/snack table courtesy of Katie.

Fourth panel going up. 

Jaxon and Tom fastening the 4th panel.

Attempt at carrying the 5th panel up to the top. 

This is about as close as the 5th panel got to it's intended resting place. 

Some of the things that can go wrong during the process of hanging Hardie Panel:

• "Where are all the tape measures?"
• "Where's a pencil?"
• "Can I use that extension cord now?"
• "That panel doesn't look centered. It needs to move over just a little."
• "This line is 1/2-inch off."
• "This bit is too small"
• "The screw broke off."
• "Another screw broke off."
• "This bit's not working."
• "This bit is broken."
• "Another screw broke off. That's 4!"
• "Can you remeasure that?"
• "Let's get the dust off the panel before we put it up. Where's the rag?"
• "I can't fit the panel in. We need to cut another inch off."
• "I think John should move. I feel like this panel might drop."
• "I don't have enough leverage." 

In the end, we had to settle for 4 mounted panels, no dropped panels, no injuries. The last panels are just too heavy and high to put them up manually. Looking to get a Highboy up there to finish the job.

I grabbed this picture from the truck as we were driving out.