Important Construction
Notes:
To make something of your own design is far easier than to make a copy
of almost anything. If you make a mistake using your own design, then
you may simply state that you intended the result to have that certain
appearance. Make a mistake on a copy, and you have but three
choices: Live with the mistake, correct it, or worse case, start
again. In order to make true and exact copies (the finials you
see below ) we began with a full scale drawing. Material selection is
yet another matter in today's "fast growth" market. Trees aren't what
they used to be. Lumber is imported, or locally grown so fast that the
wood grain is soft. I must admit that we began this project three times
before getting the right wood. Making a copy, after all that, wasn't so
much of a problem. Skill, or perseverance more or less makes for a good
result. On the porch, second floor, are the originals. On the
gate posts are the copies, made to last longer than the originals.
Two finials at the entrance gate
in Yanceyville.