More upstairs framing

This is the front porch with the ceiling joists just going in. The gap you can see in the middle is where the upper deck will be, and I guess they'll put some stronger flooring up there.




You may not be able to tell much about this picture, but I wanted to show the hurricane straps that are now part of the building code. The vertical metal bars running beside those studs (which are actually 2 X 6's) are threaded rod which is tied into the slab, and they will run all the way up to the roof and tie it down. It's quite a system, and, of course, very expensive, but we have to do it now. At least it keeps the insurance down.

This is a detail of one of the 16 columns that support the porch. The metal piece is actually a "U" shaped strap which was sunk way into the slab. the bolts you can see run all the way through the columns. the columns then will be strapped to the roof to hold it down in high winds. This will be the place to be in the next big storm!

Here's a picture (taken with the camera in my phone, so it's not a very good quality) taken on March 1st of this year.

And here's one taken yesterday, June 6th, at the same spot. Quite a difference!