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Good morning folks! Here's what a 16x16 pergola looks like. Some assembly required. Does not include batteries.

First a railing...got most of the posts up between rainstorms. No splinters. Yet. Another shower, a couple 🍻, and off to find something for dinner.

Cut a couple more posts for temporary railing. No final design yet, just a 2x4 railing using future rafters. Might use corrugated panels. Hauled up most the lighter lumber overhanding a rope. Got some pulleys to rig a block and tackle for the 6x6s and 2x6-16s that are left. Tomorrow.

Base of 4x4s cut for posts. Also, I got a new friend from some folks I know on a nearby farm. Now friend lives next door in the rundown house with the chickens. They sure have been quiet since. 🤫

Tried taking a time lapse of setting a post. 5x is kind of like an old timey silent movie. Maybe I'll try 10x or 50x next. Note my steel-toed chanklas.

youtu.be/yW85w2nJu8Y

Well, good morning all. and Smoothie done. Update on pergola project. Yesterday I rigged a 3-line block and tackle, started with the smaller stuff to test it out and managed to haul all my timbers up to the roof yesterday. Yes, lots of walking up and down to rig the next item and then back up to the roof to pull it up. My calves are sore today, but it worked out fabulously. The only thing left is to pull up the 26 ga. roof panels - later.

Alright. After a week of trying to figure out how to get a permit and finding that it was going to cost me 2x $ the materials, and probably weeks if not more, I'm just going to build it.

A couple of weeks ago someone from the government had reported how the permit process here was so complicated and expensive that half of the buildings on the island are built without permits, leading to problems after hurricanes and earthquakes. I'm just going to lean into that. Ask for forgiveness right?

Alright. My Labor on labor day. A few scattered clouds and doing most my work sitting in a chair under an umbrella 🏖️ helped me not expire from heat exhaustion. Now I have 2 more 45° braces to fit, some long timber-loks to secure them, and the 2 sides are ready to raise tomorrow. Brace and square it up, add cross-beams, rafters, roof sheathing, and Bob's your uncle! Pergola.

North side up. Whew.
Started mortise and tenon the 45s about 4pm - too hot and humid midday - so finished with help of a solar light I had. Pixel caught sunset light I didn't see - it was dark. Pixels have great camera/software.

Beautiful moonrise as I suss out my roof angles. Setting them at about 18° for solar panels on the south face.

Trimmed and set rafters and got lath up yesterday and the day before. Hauled up half the tin today. Got an alignment on the truck.Spent time with friends at their poolside and had dinner with them and others. Good day.

Hope yours was too.

youtu.be/GrYMOYYhy58

Got the roof metal screwed off and hurricane wires set today, just in time for Fiona to arrive mid-day tomorrow. Need to add a ridge cap and tidy up in the morning. After the storm I'll trim back the gables to fit the metal and re-set the gable rafters for a tight, clean edge.

@ACG2
So far so good, but splinters are just the price of admission when working with rough-cut wood.
:WilLongAndProsper:

@FireMonkey 🖖🏽 Too high a price for me! I’d be in triple gloves!🤣

@Jene_Sais_Quoi

US soil.
Sometimes disputed,
always shortchanged.
Viva la Republica!

@SDDPHOTO
Thank you, it's getting there. Cool evening breeze is great.

@FireMonkey

lol yes I realize my imagination filled in a bit of the scene in advance—I will enjoy seeing your progress :)

@Minholkin
Ultimately, I'm with you. I'm planning for some rooftop greenery lining the outsides, possibly hydroponics for edibles. Maybe a couple of potted fruiting trees like a papaya, . BBQ, fridge small sink. Microfarm of sorts.

@FireMonkey

wow a functional, many-purpose space that will be pleasing to see and experience!

@Minholkin
😊 We'll see - it's a vision. Thanks for the props!

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