Beaming.
Beaming
Looking from the back, both beams which need replacing are on the right hand side and so, starting from the left we get started on measuring up the rafters and passing a template onto Gary to start cutting the 6x3s at the front of the building. Me and Donald get started on cleaning up the beams and installing and levelling lengths of C24 4x2s on top of the oak purlins to create a level across the whole roof and give us a workable piece of timber which we could drive some wood screws into, to secure the rafters. Again, the beams are rock-solid and the huge nails we try to use securing the 4x2s don’t get very far into the timber but it gets far enough in to hold the timbers together really well.
Tom, Donald’s son is with us now to help manoeuvre the concrete lintels into place over the original barn opening and the rear wall. Between the three of us, we manage to get things in but it’s an absolutely knackering experience which I’m glad we are doing now. Putting these in down the line would be an awful job.
As Gary ploughs through the 6×3 C24s, cutting the angle to meet the ridge beam and the birds mouth to meet the wall plate he seems to be enjoying himself. He’s getting a bit of a workout here as these lengths are quite heavy but he keeps at it, bringing them around the back and stacks them ready for Donald and I to install. It’s not long before we have a pretty good conveyor belt going on and the structure of the roof starts to take shape once again.
As the day draws to a close, Donald packs up his gear and Gary and I carry on. There’s a surprisingly large amount of work to do even after a builder leaves. Tiding up, finding and putting away tools, cleaning the brew kit, sorting stone or slate for the following day it can easily be another two or three hours before we decide to knock off for something to eat. On this occasion though, Gary has spoken with John the local farmer who has agreed to let him pitch his tent in the corner of the field near the gate. So we’ll both be staying over tonight ready for an early start.
With that sorted out, we head into Bentham for a well-earned drink and a chat at The Coach House before heading back for some rest.