Home Improvement Today?

Antique beams and a white kitchen

 

Now for the laborious task of staining the 1x12 spruce for the siding

 

Bolting the rafters to the front line glulam beam today , what a pain in the ass , had to use a billion clamps to not only draw the 2 beam halves together and kerf cut the butt connection but also clamp down the rafters to the beam prior to running the drill bits down for the 1/2" x 18" lags

Managed to shear off one of the lags out of the 45 connections which we will reinforce with a few 3/8" x 18" GRK RSS screws

Plus it was bucketing down rain this morning and the water was adding to the surface tension under the beams making them a bitch to move end to end

 

brick looks in great shape... I'd probably keep it (should be easy to paint if you don't like the color), and build a custom mantle/surround/woodwork, ...you could choose how much or how little of the brick to conceal as you'd like...

 

I wish my place was made with such sturdy construction!

 

The wash would look good with the white cabinets and rustic beams. Just make sure you're OK with painting it before you start. Would be a PITA if you had to clean whatever you put on the brick off.

 

Nice house!
With a bit more effort you should do a build out "like this"
Its like the fireplace is too flat, leave or paint the brick.

Obviously my color is off.

 

Yea we're gunna put a chunky wood mantle up to break it up a bit. Also debating on mounted the tv there or in the next room over.

 

I did not know Sawzall was a brand?

Thanks. We use the Diablo stuff a lot at work, with good success. I'll have to give it a try and see. I'll be looking for the sale now

 

Next room

 

I vote for the next room as well. Just because I don't like TVs over fireplaces.

 

Pete, I hate you. From your recommendation, I'm going to drop a big chunk of change on an IPE deck. Any tips on working with it? I know I need to pre drill everything. Structure will be, 6x6 posts, and 2x12 for everything else.

 

Are you going to use a blind fastening system ?

 

I helped a neighbor with this on his ipe deck. Lots of extra work compared to face screwing but was well worth it for the look

 

Yes, for everything I can

 

I've used these and liked them

http://www.ebty.com/

 

Did you glue as well?

 

I wasn't using them with ipe but no glue

 

No work on the house today....just down my pond for a couple casts