Without good beams, your house would fall down on your head. Beams are important parts of any structure because they support the roof. Often beams are covered by the ceiling but many people enjoy the aesthetics of exposed beams. Hand-hewn beams give an interior an especially rustic look. Hewing beams by hand takes time and work but if you have logs lying around then carving the beams yourself will be much cheaper than buying them. Once made, you can install them like any other beam.
Instructions
1. Prepare your log. Lay the log on top of the 4-by-4's to get it off the ground.
2. Mark the beam dimensions. Use the level and pencil to mark the dimensions for the beam on each end of the log. Make the dimensions in a square or rectangle.
3. Score the ax. Use the felling ax to chip away all the bark on the log. Turn the log to get all sides of it.
4. Hew the log. Use the felling ax to hew the wood into the shape of the beam. Start at one end and work all the way down one side at a time.
5. Install temporary supports. Measure the height from your floor to the ceiling then subtract the width of the beam from that. Cut three 2-by-4's to that length. Use the drill to screw the 2-by-4's against the floor joists where you are going to install the beam, to form temporary cradles for the beam to rest on.
6. Install the beam. With the help of a partner, lift the beam up to rest it on the cradle. Nail the beam into the blocking on your wall. Bolt the beam into the wall studs.Remove the 2-by-4's.
7. Treat the beams. Two to four weeks after installing the beams, paint them with an indoor wood stain to protect them from termites.
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