Work continues

The next week I took Tuesday off and was able to build and mount the middle and outside beams. Instead of drilling holes into the concrete footings with a masonry bit for the bolt that could hold the bases of the posts in place, the contracter convinced me to get a Hilti, which is a popular brand name for a "powder actuated fastener."

Essentially, it's a gun that uses .22 caliber shells with no slugs, and a nail at the end of the barrel. The one I got is a single shot $20 deal but it's still pretty cool, and after fastening 7 posts to concrete I'm no longer afraid of it, but still respectful.