Heber Valley DMV Awning

Heber Valley DMV Awning
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This area receives a lot of snow, so the NorthWest corner of the building, where the employee entrance/exit is; is frequently snowed in throughout the winter, or covered in ice. PGAW Architects commissioned us to build an awning over this area, with a sidewalk to the parking lot, built to match the existing awnings over the front doors (used by customers); to enable the staff to use the entrance year-round. We first excavated the area, moved the sprinklers in the area so they would not be under the sidewalk, tied rebar into the existing building and curbing to the parking lot, laid out a metal mesh (this reinforces the concrete and the rebar ties it into the existing work, so it will not separate with the freeze/thaw cycle) dug two 18” wide x 3’ deep holes for sono tubes, which we then installed rebar in a ring and lattice pattern (to create a footing for the massive log posts/columns that would support the entire roof structure), and poured the concrete for the sidewalk and post footings. We set custom brackets in the footings while the cement was soft, to allow us to anchor the columns to the footings. Once the concrete had cured for a week, we returned with large timber beams and columns to frame the structure. We began by cutting the columns to height (the sidewalk slopes downhill to allow for proper drainage, but the roof and beams need to be level, so the 2 columns are different heights), and shaping the top of the columns to accommodate the 6” x 16” rough hewn beam that would lay atop them and be anchored together with ¼” steel plates and 3/4'” bolts. Once these columns and beam were installed, (over 2,000 lbs of lumber in these 3 items alone); we installed the “ledger” board to the side of the building, using a hammer drill, we bored through the 8” concrete block wall, and installed 3/4” J-Bolts from the back side of the concrete wall (in the ceiling of the offices inside the building), through the ledger board (which is 3”x 8” rough hewn lumber), effectively anchoring the ledger to the building, and allowing us to begin installing the joists from the ledger to the beam (supported by the columns). Once all of the joists were installed and the construction of the framework was completed, all fasteners were tightened, the tongue and groove decking surface was installed to provide the rustic open feel beneath the awning. Now the electrical for the LED lighting was installed, through a conduit, bent to hide along the joist, through the concrete wall, where it was connected to the electrical system in the ceiling space above the offices. Once this was finished, the metal roofing was installed with all the custom fitted flashing and trim; and the awning was ready to be cleaned, prepped, and stained with Sikkens wood finish. This provides a protective coating that is absorbed into the wood, and will protect it from the elements for 3-4 years between applications. And that is how you prevent Mother Nature from closing your door.