Inching Along
Last week.
Today. I was able to drop the scaffolding lower!!!!!!!! I can now work on the huge center window, and the adjacent curved windows. Young Brian stopped by, fortuitously, and so was able to help with the scaffolding. I love a man with good timing.
Last week. The rotted bracket.
Today. My wonderful neighbor Eric let me use his bandsaw and I was able to recreate the rotted end of the bracket. It still needs some fussing and sanding but I am THRILLED! Thanks, Eric!
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Progress! Beautiful, beautiful progress.
LOVE the LOVELY bracket!
The Great North Wall is nearly vanquished! Huzzah!
Hey Ross, I just want to say it was wonderful to meet you on Sunday…. thank you again for such an amazing tour of your beautiful house! I learned so much!
I have run out of adjectives to describe how just simply amazing and marvelous your home is! It’s so wonderful what you have done for this place and your community with your restoration work!!!!
Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference, huh???… Even if it’s just a reconstruction of a simple but beautiful bracket!
Wonderful progress! With the scaffolding gone it’s a thrill to see those restored stained glass windows.
You just blow me away with how hard you work. The house is beautiful!
Nice job on that bracket! I can’t wait to see it up.
All of the detail of the Great North Wall is just gorgeous and the crowning jewel is the piece above the large dining room window … it really draws everything together when you compare the two pictures. I imagine you are beyond thrilled as are we voyeurs! The intricacies of the work above the curved windows is amazing … adjectives are unworthy.
The house looks so good! The stained glass really pops with the new paint scheme. You are amazing.
Do you see how the wood grain on the original bracket is horizontal and on the new piece you cut it’s vertical? I’m concerned that as the original wood expands and contracts (parallel to the grain) it will simply break off from the new piece. Ideally you want to match the grain orientation to make the piece as ‘one’ as possible.
Yes, I did notice…after I was finished!
The pieces are so small though so they should be OK. I hope!
Unfortunately, I don’t think that they will be Ok either. I have made mistakes like this so often that I am pretty sure that you should redo it now. The only thing that I can think of that is more frustrating than taking the time now, while the pieces are still down and unpainted, to redo the new part, is to paint and install it and then have to redo it anyway after the scaffolding is down. You will also need to use some kind go joinery to connect them because end grain does not glue to anything, and metal fasteners in wood do too much damage to the wood to be useful. A couple of 1/2″ or bigger dowels from the sides of the new piece into the old one would be best. When attaching pressure treated lumber to old wood, it is best to use a piece that has had time for the excess moisture to dry out of the wood. A new piece will shrink as it dries. It may become too thin and it will not take the glue well when you insert the dowels either. Think of it like painting window sashes immediately after puttying in the glass. Sorry!
Hi Stewart!
The brackets are made from four thicknesses of wood. I only removed the rotted outmost layer.
I will reattach the original outer layer to the three sub-layers. I will then attach the new piece to the three sub-layers. The new piece and old piece will not actually be attached.
I am not worried that this will work out just fine.
That will probably work. Sorry I went into lecture mode.
Your comment did not feel like a lecture. It felt like advice.
I am glad it struck you that way. Thanks for letting me know.
Awesome progress!! How wonderful to have a helper!!
Also so nice to meet you Saturday & see Cross House in person–I loved that I was able to see the dining room stained glass w the ewer/fruit & also the wonderful progress to date! The house is magnificent in person & I am so glad I had the opportunity! You were so generous with your time.
It was a delight to meet you at long last, Sandra! And I have been enjoying the DELICIOUS white chocolate you brought!
I thought it was dark chocolate– but glad you liked it!! You deserved a special Andre’s confection!! Also I have prayed specifically for all your concerns & I feel very hopeful & paricularly expectant!! Of course answered prayers are in God’s time & not necessarily our time!! At least you have been safe in your restoration efforts & work & for that I am very thankful & grateful!!!