Walls Up, Head Knocks Included
If you’ve been following along with our fixer upper renovation, you know every stage brings its own set of surprises, and sometimes, literal bumps on the head. The day the home addition framing began, the whole project suddenly felt real. The framing crew put up walls, braced them, and added ceiling joists and roof rafters.
With all that bracing, let’s just say it was a good head knocker trying to navigate the addition. How do I know? Well… because I tested it with my forehead more than once. At this stage, we also started tying the new structure into the existing house, both walls and roof.
Framing the new addition walls and tying them into the existing house.
Bracing walls and ceiling joists during the early stages of construction.
Rafters, Windows, and Dream Spots
Once the walls were framed, the roof rafters installation began, and my excitement really took off. Window and door framing started to appear, and I could finally picture exactly where the sunlight would pour in.
I may or may not have dragged a patio chair into different corners just to test out future “lounging spots.” That’s when I claimed my perfect perch, ideal for backyard views and keeping an eye on neighborhood happenings.
Living a little ways from the city I grew up in has been anything but dull. Around here, you never know what’s going to wander by, two legs or four. Case in point? Our neighbor’s bull decided to take himself on a little joy run right down our street one afternoon.
Needless to say, it added a bit of unexpected “country flavor” to our construction zone, and yes, I had to grab a few photos because how often do you see a bull trotting past your half-framed fixer-upper?
Roof rafters going up after wall framing completion. (roof rafters installation, home addition framing)
Window framing taking shape in the new addition. (framing windows, fixer upper renovation)
Scaffolds and Sheathing
Next came the scaffolding my husband built so he could install the sheathing and cornice. That step made the whole place start to look like a real house instead of a pile of lumber.
Custom-built scaffold for sheathing installation. (sheathing installation, cornice construction)
Exterior overhang (cornice) framing in progress. (cornice installation, DIY home renovation journey)
Portalet Perks
Here’s a topic you won’t often find in DIY home renovation journey blogs: the arrival of the jobsite portalet. Since we’re far from city conveniences, it kept our site clean, sanitary, and the subcontractors happy, making it one of the most underrated upgrades on any jobsite.
Jobsite portalet providing convenience and cleanliness for workers. (jobsite portalet benefits, construction site safety)
Shingles, Wrap, and Stone Prep
Then came the day I had been waiting for: installing roof shingles. With the roof dried in, we could finally bring in interior finish trades. Shortly after, the house wrap (Tyvek) went on, an essential step before our Austin Stone exterior could be installed.
Roof shingles installed to dry in the house. (installing roof shingles, home addition roofing)
House wrap (Tyvek) applied before stone installation. (house wrap Tyvek, Austin Stone exterior prep)
Tyvek wrap complete, prepping for stone siding and skylight install. (Austin Stone exterior prep, house wrap Tyvek)
A Window in the Ceiling
One of my favorite upgrades? Our Velux 4×4 skylight installation in the bathroom. It’s electric-powered, opens and closes with a remote, and even has a blackout shade—making it my “window in the ceiling.” It brightens the space, makes it feel bigger, and adds just enough luxury to make every shower feel like a spa moment.
Velux skylight installed in the bathroom for natural light. (skylight installation Velux, bathroom natural light solutions)
Remote-controlled electric skylight with blackout shade closed. (electric skylight with blackout shade, bathroom skylight ideas)
Closing Thoughts
This stage of our fixer upper renovation was one of the most exciting yet. From rafters to shingles to that gorgeous skylight, our vision started coming to life. Sure, there were a few literal bumps along the way, but the progress made it worth every bruise.
Next up? Stonework, siding, and that magical moment when the outside finally matches the dream in your head. This home renovation journey still has a few surprises left, so stay tuned!
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