New Garage Beam

In further strengthening of the house, the guys have put a new beam in the garage.  Apparently, there was some roof sag.  Or some such thing.  Anyway, with the sturdy new beam, ceiling joists, and braces, we shall have no more problems with the roof.  That I know of anyway.

Heres the new beam.  Thats the old beam just in front of it.  So small.

New beam and ceiling joists.  You can also see the braces up to the roof rafters.  There they are - see that board that runs on top of the ceiling joists?  The braces are going up to the rafters from that.  Now you see them, don't you?

Heres Chris and Dan.  Chris seems to be doing something with the electrical wiring over the garage door.  I can't see what Dan is doing.

Nope, still can't see what Dan is doing up there. Chris is still wiring.
See those metal straps on the bottom of the ceiling joists (where they attach to the beam)?  Those are called joist hangers.  Because the  joists rest in them.  The straps are nailed into the beam and the joists.  Apparently much more secure than just nailing everything together.  All the better for earthquakes.

This is a nailgun.  Sometimes the guys use the gun, and sometimes they use hammers.  Depends upon what part of the job they are on.

Here is is from the other side.  Scary.

These are the nails it eats.  When Chris shoots the nails into a board, the little plastic bits that hold the nails together fly out of the gun.

Just thought you'd like to know that.