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| So here's the workshop with our home-milled lumber in front of that, and the carport slab under the lumber. |
His next step was to frame out the attached carport.
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| For the piers, Dan used pre-fabbed ones leftover from another project, rather than making his own. |
Three posts and a beam were needed to support the roof. The beam was 17.5 feet, about the length of the carport. Even though the timbers had been curing for about a year, it was still very heavy. Here's how he moved it one-man fashion.
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| Using a strap and two short logs. You can see two of the carport posts on the ground at the right. |
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| Close-up. As the beam is moved the logs must be repositioned. |
He attached the posts to the beam on the ground.
But the kneebraces pushed the posts farther apart than the piers were set. So Dan used the ratchet and strap pull them together and added some weight in hopes of correcting that problem.
The following weekend we were ready to raise the bent. First a final inspection.
He used the tractor the same way he raised the other bents.
To make sure it didn't move around too much on us when we got it on the piers, he first paced a slice of a 4x4 in the center of each of the piers.
In the center of those blocks he sank a piece of rebar (missed photos for that one), and then measured and drilled a hole in the bottom of each of the posts. Happily the posts slipped easily into place.
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| With flashing, because the posts are untreated |
And here it is.
The last step was to remove the straps and brace the bent. Next - second thoughts.
Dan's Workshop: Carport © June 2017 by
Congratulations on the progress, I know this is hard work but wow, so rewarding in the end. Take care from Iowa
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's especially fun because we're using our own homegrown lumber!
DeleteLookin' good! Every once in a while, you have to do some 'fudging' to make it work no matter what the medium/media you are working in. ;>)
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's those "creative" moments that keep things interesting. :)
DeleteLeigh - Dan is nothing short of a creative, artistic genius! jambaloney is very impressed with using your own lumber! dan's workshop and carport are going to be gorgeous when finished and jambaloney says thanks for all of the tips because he will use them when he adds a sort-of carport on the end of one of our sheds for the tractor-port. great craftsmanship and ingenuity are appreciated by both of us!
ReplyDeletesending much love! your friends,
kymber and jambaloney
Kymber, you and Jam are always so encouraging! I love having friends like you on the internet. :)
DeleteThe structure looks awesome! I'm wondering if there is something that can be used to treat those wood posts in place along with the flashing?
ReplyDeleteTheresa, good question. I do have the ingredients for a boric acid mixture to keep termites at bay, but it's water soluble and would wash off in the rain. Since we've gotten a lot of that lately, I will wait a bit until everything is under cover!
DeleteIs there something in the tar family or does that accelerate rotting of wood?
DeleteHe has used tar in the past, which seems to work pretty well. We've used paint too, which works. It might be up to paint this time too.
DeleteI am always amazed at one person can accomplish when we put our minds to it. I used to read a blog of a fellow who was building an entire house by himself. Some of his solutions for his shortage of hands at various points were very elegant.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Ed. Dan finds a lot of his solutions and ideas on YouTube. Where there's a need or a problem, someone has probably already figured it out!
DeleteGreat job. I'd love a structure like that here. Oak framed garage after I've finished the extension!
ReplyDeleteOak! That would be lovely, if not heavy to work with!
DeleteI like big wood like that, you know it will be around a while plus you can use a beam to pull a motor if you have to.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about that but that's very true!
DeleteYour finished project will be extra special. Whoever inherits your farm later in life will be one lucky person. Lots of work but yous must experience great satisfaction! Nancy
ReplyDeleteVery high on the satisfaction list! Dan's only lament is that he has to go to work which means less time to work on it.
DeleteCoo-oh! :)
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteDan is doing a simply beautiful job on that structure. Wonderful construction techniques that are a joy to see still being used.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a great experience so far, and learning the skills and techniques is part of it. Plus knowing all the lumber came from our own land. That's the icing on the cake.
DeleteHow are you guys finding, working in the heat? It looks terrific however. It looks like you're making good progress, and should have it mostly done, before winter.
ReplyDeleteDan seems to tolerate it more than me - I stick to morning and evening hours or things that need to be done in the shade. I think he pushes himself too much, but mostly he works in the evening after work, or Saturday, I will mention that so far our summer heat is tolerable, thanks to all the cloudy days and rain!
DeleteGreat progress. Your man is in good shape to do all that physical work. I melt after a few minutes when it's so hot out, though today we have a little break in the humidity. The carport looks great! Can't wait to see the roof!
ReplyDeleteLet's just say we try to stay in shape! Things do slow down as we get older, and like you, I try to take frequent breaks when it's hot and humid. Still, slow but steady, as they say. :)
DeleteWe are right behind you guys, getting started on our new barn/workshop/milkhouse this week. Hot days here in Illinois and Keith and I are getting very dark in the sun. Your Dan, my Keith, a couple of rare guys who still know how to use real tools. Your workshop is going to be fantastic!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis kind of progress is exciting stuff! The heat is not so exciting, but I agree about being able to use those old-fashioned skills. :)
DeleteLooks great!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSo impressive! Just goes to show where there's a will, there's a way! You two are experiencing awesome accomplishments.
ReplyDeleteA will and a lean pocketbook, LOL. But you're right, Mama Pea, it is an awesome experience to learn to build this way. :)
DeleteBe glad you live sans busy bodies or in stead of building you might be begging for permits from shakedown artists or trying to unload useless albatros
ReplyDelete