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!