Week 6

This week we started the timber frame and the stonework! The framers selected all the posts, beams, and tiebeams. Which is easier said than done seeming as how there are about 200 logs to choose from! They also cut saddle joints in the top of the northern posts to recieve the beams. The stonework went great with the help from ken the mason. Its great fun and an even greater challenge to build the wall, its like a giant 3-d jigsaw puzzle!
IRISH STONE WALLS
Anatomy of a wall-
Through stones- have 2 faces, as they are the whole width of the wall. they go right through.
Bond stones- go 2/3 of the way through the wall. One face only. Very important element of ANY wall.
Face stones- Form the main face of the wall.
Quoins- Large stones at either end of the corners of a wall.
Pinnings- Stones that help to hold in place/ keep level larger stones: and to stabilize the whole wall. These should be added from the back.
Core/Hearting- these stones have no use on the face of the wall but are essential in stabilizing.

GUIDELINES FOR BUILDING-
A bond/through stone should be placed every meter in a stone wall.
Sort the stone by eye before you begin, then select your quoins, through stones, bond stones, face stones, core/hearting.
Lay stons on their natural beds.
Lay stones level and plumb at the face, with the bed lenght on the face greater than their hieght. EVEN IF UNEVEN IN SHAPE.
Keep an area of 2feet on either side of the wall.
Stones of equal height should not be placed beside each other unless they are low/thin stones.
Break vertical and horizontal running joints as soon as possible.
keep horizontal joints level.