Now that the interior framing is finished, Kenny, Nathan, and Sławomir are prepping and setting the beams. These 6″ x 10″ rough sawn timbers are ponderosa pine that is logged and milled here in New Mexico (we buy them from Wholesale Timber and Viga in Bernalillo; they usually get the logs from the Jemez mountains or the pueblo). Kenny will select the nicest ones for prominent spots, though there isn’t too much choice, since we’re not ordering any extras. The beams are sanded with a grinder and cut to length before being lifted into place. There will be two different ceiling heights in this house. In the smaller rooms the beams sit directly on the bond beam. The ceilings in the kitchen and living room will be 12″ taller. We get the extra height by stacking these beams on top of the lower ones, or by setting them on wood blocks. Thanks to @sunbeltrentals for the telehandler — definitely makes for a safer operation! In the coming weeks we’ll be wrapping up the adobe (blocking between the beams), building the kiva fireplace, and framing the exterior portals.

Sep 29, 2021