We have started decking the bridge: the decking planks give a bit disconcertingly: but hopefully once the whole structure is knit together this will be less. I’m used to building with oak and cedar, the choices down in Oklahoma. Fir, a common choice up here, bends. But worse—one of the big curved side timbers which have been laboriously produced over a two year span—cracked, along the line of screw holes, not, thank goodness, in the other direction. We caught it and stopped the crack, which is about 8″ long It was the long deck screws, we suspect, in 2-year-dry wood. We are going for shorter ones, we glued it, clamped it, and have screwed in some reinforcing plates. We also discovered leaving our decking boards to dry has caused the last-painted side to ‘pull’ the other side and cause a little inverse warp, which we can cure by flipping them and letting the sun heat the other side for a bit. Precision carpentry, eh? But the only terribly serious thing was the linear crack, which is now stopped, glued, clamped, and no way is that going any further: it was a case of a series of too-long screws hitting the grain and wedging it a bit. Shorter screws will do, and I’m going after them.
Ysabel is starting to bat Shu about when he needs it and is eating. We’re doing fine now, and she thanks you and we thank you for your concern and expressions of caring. She knows she feels better. She came up for a snuggle before brushing (she didn’t want to be brushed the day we took her to the vet) and we were so scared it was going to be like Efanor, but she’s doing great, her bloodwork is fine, her organs are functioning except those chancy kidneys, which she was born with, and she’s just feeling happy again—as happy as an old lady can be who has a rowdy teenager on her hands.
“Get off’n my lawn!” *swats at ShuShu*
You might consider pre-drilling for the screws (with a smaller diameter bit of course). I’ve found that helps prevent splitting. It also helps with the occasional problem where a screw hits a knot or something and doesn’t want to go all the way in. Good to hear that Ysabel is feeling better !
We predrilled the slats, but not the big arch timber: we’re doing okay with the lighter screws, so far, but we are certainly on the watch for it and we definitely will do that if we have any more trouble. I think this was a case of a major piece of grain ‘surfacing’ near the screw line.
Glad to hear Ysabel is feeling better and swatting problems away. My own kitty has gone more off his grub and is still causing significant concern. Sigh… such furry heartaches they can be.
My kitty turned out to be a respiratory problem I hadn’t detected. Might have a vet give a listen with a stethoscope: this one sure wasn’t evident; and take a look at teeth: the owner can do that, at the risk of fingers!
Very glad to hear Ysabel is doing better. All those are healthy signs.
I am determined to find some way to boost the amount Goober is eating. He has never been a big eater, and the owner who had him as a kitten trained in a couple of unneeded habits, or Goober picked them up and has never shirked them. Then add that he lets Smokey nose in on his food. So Goober is not badly thin, but thinner than seems good, and I want to find a way to give him enough and fair amounts and chances. Meanwhile, Smokey is snacking whenever he can, a holdover from life as a street kitten. Both little guys are fine, though, and they (and I) really enjoyed playing hookey this weekend. (I’m blessed that both are not overweight, and they’re both young.)
You bridge building skills are way ahead of mine. I hope that major arch timber is fine after bracing.
2 of ours started slowing down on their food intake; bad teeth was the problem. One had 3 out, the other one 8!! They’re now speaking to us again.
Glad Ysabel is on the mend. Her name reminds me of “Ysabeau” the name of Michelle Pfeiffer’s character in “Ladyhawke.”
Oh good. so glad to hear re Ysabel.
We have some huge oak beams in the guest room which are noticeably warped. The person who installed them, who owned our house two owners before us and who is a neighbor and friend, told us that he put the beams in before he roofed, and the one day they had in the sun warped them. But that did not affect their weight bearing capacity. thank goodness 🙂
wonderful news! long may she continue to keep the young’un in order .. 😀
So very happy for all of you that Ysabel is feeling well and able to discipline the upstart when he needs it.
This reminds me of when we got KikiLaSois who was about 18mos. We still had Kezar who was 18yrs. and on thyroid medication. Of course Kiki was all “Let’s play while Kezar was “I’m old and I want to sit by the fire!”
Wood seems to have a mind of it’s own at times. It sounds (reads) like you have found good solutions. Looking forward to pics.
(((hugs)))to all
Well, I can explain why the deck boards give when you step on them: they’re too thin. from the pictures on Jane’s site they’re 1×4 which means they’re 3/4″ thick, not thick enough for the apparent span. They should be at least 5/4 (1″ thick) stock and 2x would be better.
Phil Brown
Phil’s probably right. 1×4 pine of any decent span will probably give. Dang, I don’t have your pictures handy. There is a way to retrieve the situation without buying thicker new wood, but it will a a fair amount of work: I would suggest screwing a 1×2 (or maybe 1×3) on edge the full width of the plank, leaving just enough of your plank to screw into the side supports. I’d use at least five screws on each plank, so I’d also recommend you go get a screw bit that includes the countersink and relief hole along with the pilot hole. That will give you a sort of tee-beam, much stronger than the flat plank.
I should go look at your pictures some more, and maybe I can dig up a picture on Amazon of that screw bit I’m talking about.
Do we have any real carpenters (or wood engineers) here? I always overbuild my projects — but then again I and my friends are a little over-built, too.
If you really want to buy new planks, I’d recommend poplar instead of pine, even if it is more expensive. I don’t want any of you falling through and scaring the koi.
OK, it looks like the planks are about 30 inches wide, so I’d go with 1×2 reinforcement. Of course, now that it’s all screwed down, you don’t really want to take it up again. Maybe just put a ‘Load Limit’ sign on each end like all the county bridges have, and then tell people like me to walk around… 🙂
Well, what we’ve got is about a 27″ separation, 30 inch fir boards with a slight overhang outside the two main beams, but a curious thing has happened: while the boards were creaking and singing until Jane’s application of decking crossed the high point of the arch, they have now settled down considerably, and it’s steadier and doesn’t creak. We’re still not sure about the weight limit, but we’ll just tell any guest who feels ‘give’ underfoot it’s probably a good idea to back up. Because the bridge is so heavy, any underneath bracing will have to be while standing in water. We do have four cross braces holding the frame together.
Personally, being from the south, I’m used to damp oak, which works fine if you put it together and then paint it, because it will set as it dries, and you’ll play hob getting a screw out ever again. Fir is new to me, and does seem to have a natural spring to it. So this is a materials-experience gap, though I think a center brace might have been a good idea. Hindsight always works, eh? But so far, so good.
Here’s an easier way to strengthen the boards and you won’t have to take anything apart. Glue a reinforcing piece under them. I’d rip a 2/4 in half so you have a 1 3/4 by 1 1/2 piece of stock and carefully fit it underneath the board with a snug fit. Not loose but just a light tap in. You don’t want to spread the stringers but you don’t want a gap. Put some construction adhesive on it-Dap makes one that you won’t have to clamp-and tap it in snugly. Let it dry and your bridge will be as strong as the Bay Bridge here in The Bay Area. Oh wait, that one fell down.
Never mind.
Phil Brown
And if the kittehs get into the back yard and start sharpening their claws on it, the fir will start flying?
(Blame BCS for putting me into pun-mode…)