Attic

attic without floor boards
nail guns
nail gun ammo
attic, first layer done
attic panorama
attic covered in plastic

After placing the beams, it is time for the first layer of the attic floor (or the ground floor ceiling). 2cm planks nailed into place. As I’m told, this stuff is never done by hand anymore. Nailguns are a time saver…

After placing that layer, it will take ‘some’ time until the next layer is placed. therefore I played Christo in the small. Dust apparently has the ability to, together with the shrinking and expanding of the wood, seep through the planks, even with the grooved connections. This could lead to the dust falling though onto the floor below. As there will still be a lot of dust generated for some time, a layer of plastic should prevent the dust from settling in the grooves of the planks.

Putting in the beams

beam layout plan
wooden beams waiting to be placed in a ceiling
Measuring the position of beams for ceiling
placing and glueing beams
beam with glue
beam with glue removed

Placing the beams was a two day job. There are two long beams that span about 7 meters of the length of the building. Into these a bunch of shorter beams are inserted and rested on internal walls with their other end.

The piece that is inserted into the other beam is pulled against it with a nifty tool before it is screwed into place. The screws and glue should do the trick and there is not too much sideway forces on it anyway.

Nasty thing about the glue is that it drips. Especially when the beams are pulled towards each other. Chisel, paint scraper, sanding paper and a bit of patience do the trick there…

Milling the beams

milled beam
milled beam
milled beam in place

The long beams have 3cm inserts milled into them. Into these, the perpendicular beams slide with a generous amount of glue. Most of those shorter beams only lean on the big beams on one end and rest with the other end on a wooden wall.

Beams are in!

beams in trailer
Beams in the trailer
Beams stacked in building
beams inside

The beams have arrived. Big ass, sturdy beams. Bit over the top maybe but it looks pretty neat.

The long ones will have to be prepared yet to let the perpendicular beams slide in their permanent position.