Petrie Building floor joists for Brothers Brewing

Floor Joist reclamation

The brothers of Brothers Brewing saved these pieces of floor joist from the dumpster

during renovation work on The Petrie Building in Guelph.

It was a truly frustrating time during the brewery's construction.

Delay after delay of the building renovation.

A totally incompetent contractor hired to build out the brewery had to be let go.

The Brothers took on the roll of contracting themselves and did much of the work as well.

So finding little gems like this was a welcome diversion from the stress of building a brewery.

They stashed two of these 135 year old diamonds in the rough away in The Farmers Barn.

 Now with Brothers Brewing open, finding the time to work on projects like this is tough.

So here is where The Father er ah .. The Farmer comes in.

Firstly the two boards must be separated.

They have been one for 135 years so this might take some effort.

The Farmer felt a bit of guilt at splitting these besties up.

It only took a hammer, though the sledge was close by.

Once the space was large enough to double up the wedges it was easy going.

Sand and bits of small gravel fell from between the two boards.

Hard to believe that it was from the boots of customers of the old pharmacy.

135 year old dirt tells no tales so The Farmer plodded on with the task at hand

Time to remove the hand forged iron nails that bound these boards for all these years.

They would make short work of The Farmers sanding belt.

A few hours later the sanding is complete.

Here is side A

Here is side B

One board flipped to hide the cross brace cut out for the mortis and tennon joint and 

there you have it.

Fairly flat boards that await being made into a stand up bar.

No longer structural support taken for granted by those who stand above.

After 135 years being burried under foot, these beauties will be part of the party.

Customers of Brothers Brewing will now welcome them as they 

support their libations and nosh.

While enjoying Brothers Brewing's many fine beer flavours, take a moment to 

view the edge of these fine boards.

You will see the lines where each floor boad lay for over a century.

The faces of the boards show the saw cuts that turned a stately tree into supports for a floor that stood strong for 135 years and will surely last for 100 more.

Minus these pieces of course. They will support libations and nosh for 100 more.

Cheers from The Farmer.