41F and cloudy @ 13:30, heading up to a high of 44F. Low this morning was 37.4F. Calling for rain and snow tonight.
Up late this morning, after about 10 hours shuteye.
Did some organizing of empty boxes in kitchen and dining room last night.
Also got a bunch more cardboard tabs cut to use for backers on the ceiling vapor barrier while on the couch.
More pole barn discussion with The Woman re several things that need to be done before the ceiling/vapor barrier is actually put up:
1. Need to frame out the opening for attic access. Menards has the pull down attic ladders available and in stock but the larger size for taller ceilings (up to 12') is not stocked and is special order. Oddly enough, that larger unit - which is wider and taller - is $60 cheaper than the smaller ones that they have in stock. Best part: these are are way cheaper than what The Woman was expecting them to be.
2. Need to install a walkway the entire length of the barn so that if I have to get up there for any reason there's something to stand on. The good news is that if I make it 16" wide it will only take three 4' x 8' sheets of plywood. The bad news is 2 x 4's for floor joists (spanning 8') seems a little dicey so will probably need to go with 2 x 6's instead.
3. Locations of light fixture need to be firmed up and the wiring run, even if the lights aren't actually hung where they will eventually be yet.
Found a light calculator online and used that to get a rough idea of what of what kind of illumination I'd have based on the sixteen 8' double lamp fixtures I thought I had (turns out I only have 12):
32 lamps @ 4400 lumens per lamp = 140,800 total lumens/3024 sq. ft. = 46.56 lumens per sq. ft.
That should yield 500 lux (the calculator claims that 538 lux is the level of illumination required for counter work in a kitchen) which seems reasonable to me, as I hate dim lighting while I'm trying to work.
What we haven't discussed yet is gable vent fans. I was originally planning on one at the south end - and the wiring is already run for that - but I think I'll probably go with one at the north end as well, since that would provide enough ventilation for the total area. Would be nice to get those up before the ceiling while the access is still open.
Probably head out here in bit for the Menards in Avon and pick up another four 8' fixtures. Hopefully will be able to shoehorn the fixtures into The Woman's car ... since it will be a lot cheaper to take that than the van.
Hope everyone is having a great Monday ...
