Framing into fall

The framers were hoping to stand the first living room wall today, but the forecast called for wind gusts up to 70 miles an hour. Alaska has relatively extreme seasons, and September is a time of chaotic transition. We’re losing about six minutes of light per day, and the weather can include frost, snow, warm sunshine, rain, wind gusts and hail–sometimes all in the span of a few hours.

Of all the weather conditions that could affect the house right now, the one that matters most is the wind. In a completed building, the walls, floor, roof, and other parts of the structure are locked together so that they brace and support each other. But individual components, like a tall wall that hasn’t been attached to adjacent walls or a roof yet, are vulnerable in a wind event. Anchorage construction projects have been severely damaged by wind storms before.

Temporary bracing helps reduce the risk of wind damage, but it’s best for the framers to work in decent conditions and move quickly to get the building tied together. The biggest storms in Anchorage tend to happen in fall and winter, so it’s important that we keep the pace moving this time of year.

Photos taken September 16, 2020. Posted September 16, 2020.