The loft
One
downside of open plan design is the reduction of functional space. More
openings and walkways in a room means less walls and corners, and so, less places to put furniture
and things. How could we get more useful space in a small open living
area? Put in a loft above. The
loft area is fairly space efficient with only one doorway being the access to
the stairway.
As with the main rafters, the loft end beams and joists are rough sawn cypress,
sanded, bevelled and lacquered, the rustic look. Cypress has very
interesting grain, in many case too good to be painted over. Like the back
verandah, the joist hangers were nailed on the end beams before the latter were
erected and screwed to the wall framing. The joists were cut to length, dropped
into the hangers and nailed. Prior to nailing and gluing down the particle
board flooring, the top edges of the joists were planed flat and level.
THE LOFT (Viewed
CW)
Smoothing out the rough edges...
Pre-drilling for the hanger nails...
Simply drop each joist in...
Oops - this one is too tight...
Team work, planing and pre-drilling...
Getting ready for the last sheet...
The three amigos...
