After the house pony walls were in place, it was time to start on the porch cross beams!
Since we did the porch posts some time ago, they had opportunity to start to torque and bend in the air. I had hoped to get to the cross beams sooner so this problem would be limited, and I never cut them off in hopes that most of the twisting would happen on the top parts that would be cut off; and now in retrospect, I probably should have done the porch posts and cross beams at the same time; but that wasn’t going to help now; and so, one of the biggest issues we had to overcome was the un-level, twisted posts.
At first, we used the truck and a ratchet strap to level the posts:
But then switched to using the tractor because it was more maneuverable into the tighter areas around the house:
A few posts only required a single 2×6 brace to get them untwisted:
Others required two, in the shape of an “L”, and with some of these we did a brace on each side (also notice the 2×4 from the cross beams, which was used to twist it flat onto the top of the post):
Quite a few required three 2x6s in the shape of a “U”, which gave us a lot of twisting counter-pressure:
Here is a post leveled with the ratchet strap off of another post, and two “L” braces in place keeping it torqued straight (although, we could have probably done it with only one “U” brace instead):
Once leveled and twisted in shape, the tops were cut off:
In similar fashion to leveling the foundation piers, we used the water level from one post to another, and we tried to use the same starting post each time so any errors introduced were not additive:
And here is a cross beam in place. The cross beams are treated 4x6s, like the porch posts:
We used two T-straps, inside and outside, to join each post to each cross beam, used 3 1/4″ 16d galvanized “Common” nails to attach the T-straps (come to find out, there are 3 1/4″ 16d galvanized “Box” nails, which have a smaller diameter and aren’t as stout, even though they cost more at the place we got them), and used bolts to further secure them:
So, as I mentioned, we were able to put quite a bit of twisting force on the posts to get them straight, which some of them really required. One of the biggest fears with that though was having the post come apart from too much twisting.
Well, with one badly torqued post, we got it almost straight. I looked at it, and looked at it, and said, “Just a little more, to get it just a little more straight.” And yep, that was it…snap! Bummer:
Well then, what to do. Mr. Gurau, who has been helping with the house building, had an idea. He first cut off the post at the porch floor joist support level:
And here is how he installed the replacement post, using the T-straps:
Here is what it looked like when it fell to the ground after being cut off. In thinking about it, the Lord might have been especially gracious in allowing the post to crack now, giving us opportunity to replace it now, rather than having to do it some time in the future, when the whole porch roof was up:
As Mr. Gurau progressed and got to the corners, here is how he handled them, using the T-straps:
And here are the porch posts complete!
We’re grateful again to God for granting us provisions for the house, and for the help in Mr. Gurau He has allowed, and for Mr. Gurau’s continued safety while he works, for which we continue to pray.
— David
It looks great. We're looking forward to having a big porch on the south and east sides of our cabin addition as well as the dog trot walkway on the west. We've had the same experience with setting posts and delaying construction only to have them warp.
Hi onbigturtlecreek,
Porches are neat! You can have sun, shade and/or breeze when you want.
Thanks for saying hi!
— David
Nice progress on your porch and home….yes porches are a neat addition to overall living space! Yours looks very spacious; may it provide many years of breezy, shaded, or sunny comfort and pleasure.
Beth
Please see a question I'll PM to Susan. Thanks.
Hi Beth,
Yes, I wanted the porch to be a little bigger so that, Lord willing, when the community meets at our place and it's nice outside, there's hopefully room for everyone.
Thank you for saying hi!
— David
Dear Susan and David,
Today I found your blog and your pathes are very interesting to me.
May I ask some questions?
What is the name of your Christian group? Do you share all possessions that you have like the first Christians?
What do you do when a member has to go to a doctor or in hospital?
Do you have an insurance?
Many greetings and blessings from Germany
Cara
In Germany it is not possible to live a comparable life to you.
You cannot live so separate from worldly things…school, for exemple is duty, homeschooling is forbidden…
Hi cara,
We don't really have a name other than Christian, although we are working toward living an Amish life-style. We share amongst ourselves and give as those have need; but we're not communal, in that, everything does not going into a big pot that anyone can come get from. We all have our own homesteads, gardens, crops, etc.
We have a county hospital available as part of our property taxes, and from there would pay as paying customers. We currently have a growing community fund to help with such circumstances.
I'm sorry to hear of the restrictions for you there. Perhaps the Lord will grant you to be able to live as you believe you should, unto Him.
Thanks for saying hello, and may God's graces and mercies be with you.
— David
Thank you for yur kind answer.
I am looking forward to read your whole blog:)
A wonderful Christmas time to you,
Cara
Hi cara,
Thank you for the reply. Actually, we reject Christmas. If you're interested, here's why: Why Not Christmas. Thank you for your well-intentions though.
May God guide your path.
— David