Work this past week has been on the entryway. We've been interested in incorporating some salvaged beams in our construction. Not only are they desirable because they're reclaimed material, but they have history, a story, and character. Our first attempt at finding salvaged carrying beams for the house did not work out due to timing, cost and availability. (Salvaged does not necessarily mean inexpensive.) Marc, our electrician, knew of some old hemlock beams on one of his projects in Springfield, and John had transported them up to be stored temporarily in Marc's barn in Whately. They were the right sizes for framing the entry way. This is what they looked like prior to being cleaned up. John wanted to plane them but they were full of old hardware: staples, nails, and screws-- some that were broken off below the surface. Just one small piece of metal will ruin a planing blade. So, John retrieved his "magic wand" and some nail pullers and went to work.
The "Lumber Wizard" is used by moving the wand along the surface of the wood. It lights-up and beeps when metal is found. Once all the metal is removed, the beams are ready for planing. Because they are large, only two sides could fit through the planer. The other two had to be planed by hand with a power planer.
And here is an outside view. The double 2x4 uprights are temporary and will be replaced with something else (once we decide what it is!) Are you wondering what the "story" is behind these beams? Were they once part of the USS Constitution? We'll never know for sure, but the last place they lived was as decoration in a Springfield liquor store...
The entryway roof is now ready for sheathing:
John works on the vent:
This view is from the inside. John mentions how odd it is to be framing in reverse order (sheathing, then framing):
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