At the time it looked as if his gruesome pumpkin (at left in photo above) would win uncontested. But my haste inspired a fierce 11th hour contest from Pam who carved up a sinister Jack-o’-lantern (at right in photo above and in video below) that is especially eye-catching after dark.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cka_dH6Azuw/
So, just when you thought Halloween was safely behind you, when you hoped spooky and haunted would give way to joyful gratitude and Thanksgiving, when you wished the season of tricks and treats would surender to the steady crescendo toward Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I’m backsliding briefly to the height of Halloween haunting with a Jack-o’-lantern post mortem.
Pam’s Jack-o’-lantern (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
With two cleverly crafted Halloween Jack-o’-lanterns contending for 1st place, I knew I needed another judge to assist me. Fortunately Susan was quick to volunteer and quick to judge.
Best Jack-o’-lantern 2022
And the winner is… Both!
No, Susan didn’t deem the contest a tie. She awarded Hroth’s Jack-o’-lantern (closeup below) the daytime win and Pam’s Jack-o’-lantern the nighttime win. So there you have it. Straddling the light/dark divide, Susan has awarded both winners!
Hroth’s Jack-o’-lantern (Photo: Hroth Ottosen)
In closing, it is worth noting that Hroth further embellished his Jack-o’-lantern after sending me the photograph this weekend. Perhaps he was feeling a little heat?
Fabricating Boathouse Post Wraps (Photo: Peter Vaiciulis)
It’s time for a progress report on Rosslyn’s boathouse post fabrication. Peter Vaiciulis and Sia Supi Havosi have been beavering away lakeside as autumn blurs into winter. Unfortunately, their decking progress has been stalled because the moisture content of the lumber is still too high. In contrast to the previous contractor whose work required extensive remediation, Peter is prudently allowing the decking sufficient acclimatizing and drying time to rnsure stabilization (and to ensure that we don’t once again wind up with inconsistent gaps ranging from 1/8” to 7/8”). In the mean time, Peter and Supi headed inside to shop-fabricate components for the post and railing system.
Successful repair of the boathouse posts and railings started with dissecting and documenting the existing conditions, deciphering the *how* and *why* of the existing conditions, and executing a meticulous rebuild with discreetly integrated improvements to function, structure, and endurance ensuring safety and longevity despite the challenging location and harsh environment.
Supi Sanding Boathouse Post Wraps (Photo: Peter Vaiciulis)
Supi is sanding a post wrap that will get installed over the structural posts that have already been integrated (correctly this time!) into the substructure.
Peter Chamfering Boathouse Post Wraps (Photo: Sia Supi Havosi)
Chamfering edges along the midsection of the post wraps, Peter has clamped stops on either end to standardize the offsets. He’s replicating the design that we developed about fifteen years ago during our original rehabilitation of the boathouse, gangway, and waterfront access stairway. This subtle but comely detail that we included in similar situations elsewhere in Rosslyn’s four historic buildings, offers a practical benefit in this waterfront location where waterskis, surfboards, windsurfers, etc. are quick to nick sharp corners. The eased edge is also friendlier to shins and knees usually protected with little more than bathing suits in this area.
Chamfered Boathouse Post Wraps (Photo: Peter Vaiciulis)
Up close and personal with the post wraps. Note the chamfered midsections and wood filler curing for Peter and Supi to sand.
Supi Priming Boathouse Post Wraps (Photo: Peter Vaiciulis)
After wood filler cures and sanding is complete Supi begins priming the post wraps. Because of the intense weather changes — from rainstorms and dramatic temperature fluctuations in the summertime to snow, ice, and deep freezing in the winter — that the boathouse gangway posts and railing will endure, two coats of primer (including concealed end grain, etc.) and two coats of exterior paint will be installed in the shop. Although some touchups will be necessary during and after installation, this will streamline the late season installation and improve long term weatherproofing.
Although historic rehabilitation took place a decade and a half ago, the lakeside location accounts for the accelerated deterioration of Rosslyn’s boathouse gangway, posts, and railings. This go-round we’ve been able to tweak a few mechanics based on previous performance, hopefully improving performance and extending the useful life of these repairs to 20+ years. Even though Opud’s disastrous attempt last year cost us dearly in time, expense, safety, and usability over the summer, Peter and Supi’s rebuild is superior through and through, ultimately affording us solace after a year of headaches.
Let’s wrap up with a mashup of the dissected, well documented prototype guiding Peter and Supi’s repairs.
Icehouse Apertures and Transparency: Matt and Justin framing double hung windows. (Photo: Hroth Ottosen)
It sure is fun to see the three double hung windows emerging on the north elevation of the icehouse. And the three fixies above. And the three fixies on the south elevation. And the freshened up window aperture in the southeast corner, opposite the new bathroom in the small anteroom (once framing, well, and everything else, is complete.)
I’m talking about window apertures. And the transparency that all of the new windows (and doors) will bring to Rosslyn’s icehouse. The transformation will be dramatic!
Icehouse Window Apertures: Matt fine-tuning framing for “fixies” (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
With the north elevation becoming so porous, the team added plastic weatherproofing to ensure that an early December storm doesn’t punish us. In the photo below, you can see the in-between stage that probably should have appeared before the first and second photos above, the progression from opening up the sheathing for the three double hung windows and the three small fixies above.
Icehouse Apertures and Transparency: covering up new apertures (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
This time of year we’re working on borrowed time, racing winter, keeping our fingers crossed that temperatures and moisture will remain within a favorable range. But, we’re also realistic. And practical. Better safe than sorry!
Icehouse Apertures: Matt fine-tuning framing for “fixies” (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
Keeping with my out-of-sequence chronology, I’ll double back again. This time to Matt putting some of the finishing touches on those upper windows. When everything is said and done, these three small window apertures will echo those in the carriage barn stables visible from the west and northwest, adding a handsome cohesion between the two buildings. And they will augment the transparency that is fundamental to this repurposing project. Just as the west wall is transforming from a solid first story and a small service opening on the second story (ostensibly to help pack in the ice?), to a window-filled, view-filled gable end, we’ve integrated a constellation of windows in the northwest section of the north elevation, dramatically shifting the transparency of the interior.
Icehouse Apertures and Transparency: Matt and Justin opening up the new double hung windows (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
Again out of sequence, the photo above and the next one below offer some insight into the process. The team first framed in the window bucks from within the icehouse. Once everything was secure, they cut through the two layers of existing sheathing and the “air gap” which is filled with shredded newsprint insulation (all original to the icehouse) to open the apertures.
Icehouse Apertures and Transparency: Justin tuning up double hung window framing (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
To the right of Justin (in the photo above) you can see the third double hung window and the three small windows (“fixies”) above framed and ready to have the sheathing cut out.
Icehouse Apertures and Transparency: Matt manning the mitre saw (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
All six window frames have been cut out in this photo. Jarret, cutting framing material with the mitre saw, is bathed in natural light even though all six apertures are covered in semi-opaque plastic. Try, if your imagination is feeling nimble, to imagine those apertures a few months from now. The large, lower openings will receive six-over-six double hung windows that can be opened to allow a nice breeze to enter on the north side of the building. And the three small windows above are the non-operable square “fixies” that echo the stable windows in the carriage barn.
Although the drama today — at least in terms of apertures and fenestration — is found on the north elevation of the icehouse, there’s also some headway being made on the south elevation.
Icehouse Apertures and Transparency: Matt and Jarret fine-tuning new “fixie” (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
The new fenestration in the western portion (open area of icehouse with vaulted ceiling) repeats the high (clerestory) windows windows from the north façade, albeit with slightly different spacing. This southern exposure will introduce plenty of natural light to the principal space in the icehouse while editing the view of the carriage barn. Although these new apertures will not result in the same elevation transformation as the north side, they will significantly augment the natural light and the transparency.
Icehouse Apertures and Transparency: Matt cutting out sheafing from new window (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
Although windows will not be installed until spring, we have the ability in the short term (before exterior paneling is installed) to preview the inside-outside blurring — or would that be, outside-inside blurring?!?! — that we’re hoping to accomplish by introducing so many apertures into this small building.
And one more window is now ready for temporary paneling and spring installation of new casement. In the southeast corner of the building, directly to the left upon entering from the east, an existing window has been reframed and replaced with a matching but high efficiency Marvin window (that will be installed in duplicate on the north elevation, one in the same location as previously but now located in a bathroom, and another in the new mechanical room).
Icehouse Apertures and Transparency: shoring up window framing for existing aperture (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
For those of you familiar with the building as it stood prior to this remodel, that aperture is unchanged.
Icehouse Apertures and Transparency: Matt and Zack framing new window (Photo: R.P. Murphy)
Although the location (and window design) remains the same, Matt and Zack are fortifying the window buck to ensure exact location and structural integrity.
In my last icehouse rehab update I caught you up on the internal window framing. Now we’ve taken the full leap!
There are still two windows in the north elevation the need to be framed and open, and then there are all of the hight level windows in the two gable ends of the icehouse. This latter project will take place after first phase of insulation and subfloor installation (both scheduled for next week) so that staging can be set up to work so high up. Updates will be forthcoming…
In closing, a heap of gratitude to Pam, Hroth, Tony, Eric, Matt, Zack, Justin, and Jarret. Have a great weekend!
Team Barbecue: Peter, Hroth (back l-to-r), Supi, and Pam Hroth (front l-to-r)
Another short and sweet post to mark the end-of-week team barbecue. With four fifths of the icehouse concrete dream team present (Tony was unable to join), it was a well earned chance to take a break from work and celebrate.
Susan and I are profoundly grateful for the problem solving and priority juggling and camaraderie and diligence and expertise and enthusiasm and accomplishments of this crew. Thank you.
Icehouse Concrete Work Complete (Photo: Hroth Ottosen)
It’s been another monumental week! After the concrete subcontractor melted down a week ago, mere days before starting work on the icehouse, our in-house team decided to undertake the foundation and slab themselves. Today I can report with profound pride and pleasure that it was a total success. The crew is gathering tomorrow to celebrate two exemplary pours and an end result that is — in all candor — most likely superior to what we would’ve wound up with in the first place. Sometimes setbacks are actually the inspiration to regroup, reboot, and outperform original expectations.
Needless to say, it’s been an uber productive but looong week with a staggering level of accomplishment to celebrate, so I’ll keep this update short and sweet. I promise to share a more detailed look at the full court press made by Hroth, Pam, Peter, Supi, and Tony (as well as the concrete collaboration extraordinaire they have to show for their efforts) soon, probably even tomorrow or Sunday.
