Also be sure that joists are securely spiked to header. Try, as far as possible, to make headers of one continuous piece of material. If this isn't possible, be sure to join pieces over center line of one of piers.

Joists members are what your flooring will rest on. The sizes applicable to each building are shown in sectional and plan drawings. In most cases they are 2-by-6-Inch members laid 16 inches on center. I have tried to design all camps so that it will not be necessary to cut most of joists.

They are standard lengths which you can purchase from your local lumberyard. Because joint spans are short, it isn't necessary to bridge members. However, if you want a really good job, put l-by-3-inch pieces of lumber between joists as shown in sketch at side. You can also buy metal bridging if you would rather use it.

Bridging is usually done every 8 feet along length of joist. The floor joists are typically designed to take a uniform load of 40 pounds. The fiber stress (f) is 900 or over. Don't worry your head about these figures.

What it means to you is that you should use Douglas fir (Coast Region or Inland Empire), West Coast hemlock, Western larch, Southern yellow pine, redwood, oak, or any other wood having necessary characteristics. Most yards carry either Douglas fir or hemlock for framing purposes.

You'll find that each blow from your maul tends to loosen joints. Tell Junior to give pipe a twist after each blow. When it gets too difficult to drive assembly any more--use a tripod over well. Suspend a heavy block from apex and use a rope and pulley to drop block on top of assembly.

Sometimes water appears in pipe, but more often you will have to lift pipe out to see. When point has been driven far enough, lower suction pipe and foot valve into well. Hook up a pump and test flow of water. You may find that flow of water is small at first.

The point is probably clogged. It will probably clear itself as you continue pumping. After you have finished driving well, slip a reducer fitting over suction pipe and screw this to top of drive pipe assembly to cover gap. If small opening of reducer will not fit over suction pipe, file it.

Any of pumps mentioned before will be satisfactory for this installation. In accompanying illustrations I have shown important details of such a system. A jet or reciprocating pump is used.

This is one type of well that you shouldn't try to do yourself. If water is too deep to be reached by any other method, or if rock lies between surface and water level, you may have to use a drilled well. But this is a job for a professional. Find out from your neighbors who has a good reputation--then hire him.