Building Gypsy Rose

 The exterior trim for Gypsy Rose presented another material choice dilemma. Many builders are now using plastics. I suppose there's something to be said for trim boards that use recycled PVC, but I just couldn't bring myself to put up plastic. For me, wood is the only option. The choices there include pine or cedar. Pine tends to split/twist/rot, so I settled on cedar, but I had to search hard to find a good quality primed, finger-jointed cedar trim. My search led me to a terrific supplier of high-end exterior trim and siding. Woodbury Supply, in Woodbury, Connecticut. As soon as I drove into their facility, I knew I'd discovered something good. Well-managed, nicely organized, with helpful staff - a breath of fresh air. I had been looking for Boston Cedar Millworks trim products, and there they were. I picked up all my trim boards, as well as the 6" cedar clapboard that will cover Gypsy Rose's walls.

 Today (December 10th) the temperatures rose into the upper 40's and I was able to finish the gable overhangs and soffets.

 Soffet returns come in a variety of shapes and styles. A common detail is what is known as a "pork chop". It's the small triangular piece that forms the lower inner corner of the rake wall trim (on the end of a gable roof). On a full-sized home with long overhanging eaves, the pork chop triangle might be a half a foot or more. At the Gypsy rose scale, the pork chop measures less than two inches. Very sweet.