Posts and Beams

The middle of May saw huge changes to the work site. I vacated the valley for a quick trip to Brisbane to help Lucy move for her new job at The Brisbane Times.

When I came back posts had been notched, scaffolding erected and everything was ready to head skywards. Rafters and beams needed bleaching and ceiling boards needed white washing so I had work to do.

Chris made brackets and drilled holes in concrete. The big beams were in position.

Early one morning I waited for the truck from Braidwood with more timbers to arrive. It was quiet and cold and beautiful.

 

Friday the 18th May saw the arrival of half of ‘Team Uncle’ (see Chris and Holly Build a House) and in no time the southern frame had been built and raised.

Posts were next. Ivan spent a good deal of his time ‘post holding’. The traditional ‘Y’ landing was adopted when the first post stood alone and steady. Lucy was a bit critical of Uncle Ivan’s ‘Y’ landing but we forgave him as he had never attended Gym classes as a child so was lacking in that particular skill set.

The next day Peter arrived. Having already built his rammed earth home and being a skilled carpenter we now had added skills and knowledge for the all important beam raising.

Friday was a big day in more ways than one. The central post was the first to go up.

YAY!

Next was the first ridge beam. After some adjusting of the height of the endless chain and three attempts (better to be safe than sorry) the beam was in place.

Ivan was the chain operator. Better than a gym work out!

The second beam required a little adjustment….

I needed to go to town and came back to all three beams up and in place.

With thanks to Peter for being with us on such a crucial day.

Two more posts went up, everything was secured and tied down and the weather continued to smile on us.

The Beards have it.

We can now walk around the spaces in our house defined by posts and beams and understand better how it all works. Ivan has been a wonderful addition to our building team (Chris) and we really appreciate the steady, calm and cheerful manner he brings to the build.

Greg and I continue to bleach timbers in readiness for this coming weeks job of  putting the rafters up.

So much change in such a short space of time.