The Forestry Forum

Hello All,
First question on forum. Been learning from you all for a couple of years now and thank you for all the information that so many of you have provided. I have been apart of a few small frame builds and everything I know has come from these pages. I have for the most part been able to find answers to my questions on here. My question today is about doing centered braces with 1/2" deep pockets. I know the concern about being able to accurately measure the pocket depth on rough cut timbers has come up because these pockets are on none reference faces. I am going to build a four post frame for a house entrance, picture is below. Normally using square rule the two outside faces of each corner post would be my reference faces. On this frame could I do just the opposite and have the two inside faces of each post be my reference faces. By doing this my pockets would be a true 1/2" deep and plumb/square with the other reference face that also has a brace pocket. The only draw back I can see from doing this is my exterior outside faces of posts and plates might not be flush to each other. There might be a little "lip" where two members meet if they are not exactly 8" dimension. To stay uniform I guess I would have to use the inside faces of the ties and plates as reference faces too. I wont be putting siding on this frame and could touch up those little lips on the outside if needed. Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks 
  

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/52560/Frame_.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1627520040)
 

If you use the same reference face for your braces, that you use for your posts and beams, then you should be fine. Whether it's outside or inside.