My brother in law, Buddy Carriere single handedly fabricated and installed this very well executed beam work. The acute angle of the knee brace produced a distinct look. The braces are slid into notches made in the header and post.
The key to this type of joinery is keeping the pieces in tension which requires exact measurement and perfectly square cuts. The beautiful grain of the long leaf pine is strikingly accented by the curved cuts of the braces.
Buddy hired me to make his first mantel with him then he made another one just like it. The fireplace in the living space is directly across from the previous beam work so he wanted to use similar elements. It was a great chance to work out the process of cutting the larger elements. What I love about Buddy is that he knows exactly what he wants.
