Bond Beams and Door Bucks.

Leonardo inserting a log screw.

Himself working on bond beam.

Bond beams, 6" x 10" wood beams that run on top of all the adobe walls, are attached using 15" log screws.  The log screws are employed every 3-4 feet to make sure the walls are secure and give the ceiling beams something to rest on.   Here, Leonardo is inserting one of the log screws.  Below, even himself gets into the fun.

John files the door opening.

One of the great attributes of an adobe wall is if it is a little out of shape or an opening is not wide enough just get out the adobe file pictured here and shave a little off.  Here, with the door opening a little narrow at the top, John rubs a little off.  The door bucks are 2" x 8" rough cut fir timber that frames the door opening and will eventually hold the pre-hung doors.  It is all starting to feel like a real home now.