Second Floor Beams

The first course of business this week is to finish all the pockets for the second floor beams. Here you can see our chiseling expert finishing that task.

As you can see there were a lot of beam pockets to do.

Another job that needs to be done prior to installing the second floor beams is the installation of the loft tie supports. The loft which is in the back of the house is tied to the front wall with 18' long 6" x 8" beams just like the second floor. The difference here is that these beams span a vaulted ceiling and also help support the beam and purlin roof system. The supports for these beams are recessed into the front wall of the house. Here I am making the first cuts. This material will be removed to recess the beams.

Here is a completed pocket. They are 1 3/4" deep.

Once the pockets are completed the beam is fitted in place and bolted to the wall on every other log course.

The finished product. All that's left is to use 1 1/4" dowel sections to fill in the bolt holes. That will be done later.

Before the second floor beams can be installed the end walls need to be in place. These are standard stick built walls built from 2" x 6" 16" on center. Normally they would be 24" on center but since these walls intersect the garage they are required to be covered with fire coded sheet rock instead of the 3/4" wood panels that will be through the rest of the house. Local code requires 16" on center in this case.

Once the wall is constructed on the floor it is simply stood up, plumed and nailed in place.

The end wall is built the same way.

With the end walls complete it's time to start installing the second floor beams.

There's no rocket science to this, just muscle power.

The beams are held in place by 10" screws set in a criss-cross manor on each end.

We were able to get all the beams over the kitchen, pantry and utility room installed before the weather closed in. Our monsoon season has officially started and we can now expect a 50% chance of rain almost every day.

Looking from outside the garage you can see the completed walls with the beams installed. We had a busy week.

Meet "Big Betsy". A 12" x 8" x 18' solid beam. This will be one of the first things we get to this coming week. After she is installed her big sister "Big Bertha" which is 4 feet longer will not be far behind.

That's all for this week. The final delivery (doors, windows, and finish materials) will arrive Monday and unloading the two 18 wheel flatbeds will take most of the morning. We've made room in our storage shed to house the doors and windows so they can be kept under lock and key till they're needed. Anderson windows aren't cheap and we don't want to lose any.

Check back soon.