July 5: Crane Day - Raising the Walls

Erik and Dave discuss each step of the crane lift.

Erik gives specific instructions for the raising the walls.

Getting all the gear ready - endless loop straps, come-alongs, bolts...

The small shed roof wall on the north side gets lifted first. That was easy.

After the shed roof wall is temporarily braced, the north wall of the barn is lifted...

...and braced in place, slightly leaning out.

The south wall pauses during the lift for come-alongs to be attached.

Once the south wall is secured, the crane lifts the girt connecting the two walls.

Walls are up, connected with the long girt on the east side, and braced.

Erik and Scott install the steel connectors tying the walls together.

The next day, Erik and Scott frame the back wall with post, beams and knee braces.

Come-alongs pull the posts together while Erik connects the knee brace.

It's so exciting to see the walls vertical! Everything went together smoothly and the crane was only here for two hours lifting the three walls and the long connecting girt on the east side. The next couple of days were spent assembling the west wall and connecting the north shed roof wall to the main structure.

July 3: Timber Frame Assembly

The South Bent is assembled first, and will be lifted last.

The Beam Plate will sit on top of the Posts, and are attached with steel straps.

The straps are connected with through bolts.  Drilling from both sides, to insure straight holes can be awkward.

The through bolts are tightened.

The South Bent has been assembled and lowered. 
The North Bent is assembled above the South Bent so it can be lifted first.
The bottom of the North Bent is then lowered with high lift jacks so the final, smaller wall can be assembled.

The ends of the Beam Plates, which will be exposed to weather, are sealed with an emulsified wax.

Drilling the third wall was even more awkward, with two assembled Bents underneath it.

The North shed roof wall is assembled last above the two Bents. 
This wall will be the first one to be lifted.

For the past month, Erik and Scotty have been completing the joinery on the first phase of the barn structure, the walls.  After cutting, drilling and locating housings for the posts, beams, girts and knee braces that form the walls of the barn, they are ready to be assembled.  At the end of the day today, three walls were positioned on the slab for raising on Thursday: the main north and south Bent walls, and the smaller shed roof wall on the north side. It'll be so very satisfying and exciting to see the crane lift the walls on July 5!