Next up. The timber-frame sections are covered with stress-skin panels.
These modern inventions are extremely strong (some folks build house walls out of nothing but these.) They are cost effective, provide incredible insulation values, a finished interior wall and a nailing surface for any exterior covering.
Originally posted 2015-07-10 14:09:21.
I find that my eye is always drawn toward, and entertained by, roof rafters. I’m not sure why… maybe it’s their simple repeating geometry.
Notice also the exterior stone entry into the basement has been moving along…
Originally posted 2015-07-09 21:28:20.
I really love the point where the old timber frame and the log cabin came together.
There was a sense of tremendous strength in those corners.
The owner of this home will never fear the wind.
Originally posted 2015-07-09 14:56:43.
The timber frame additions each had antique hewn rafters that we would expose on the interior.
The log cabin though would have an attic space which would be used for personal storage and air handler equipment, so we would build a roof here using new lumber.
I’ve never assembled a roof using “engineered roof trusses”. I know, all the paperwork says that they are just as strong, or even stronger, than properly sized rafters, but they look wrong, they eat up the attic space, and well, I simple don’t trust them to hold up for centuries.
Originally posted 2015-07-09 14:40:16.
Isn’t it nice, on those days when you could use an extra hand, that someone just floats in to help you out?
Originally posted 2015-07-09 13:54:22.
The timber-frame for the ktichen is now complete.
I can count on one hand the number of vintage timber-frames that I have seen that have impressed me as much as this one. Just take a look at the size of those corner posts!
Originally posted 2015-07-08 14:16:08.
The logs are now all set in place.
The crew begins work on the prep work so that we can install a roof over the cabin.
Originally posted 2015-07-08 14:07:14.
OK… here’s the last photo of the log cabin partially assembled… I thought there were some details here that I ought to point out (for those interested).
You can clearly see the tags that are nailed near the ends of the logs that tell us which log goes where (remember this cabin was pre-assembled on a wood yard… there are several benefits to doing it that way)
All the messy plastic that you see is to protect the newly laid stonework from freezing in the cold night air. It makes a big difference. If fresh mortar freezes before it sets it will fail and crumble out just like sand.
Originally posted 2015-07-08 14:00:11.
Just look at all those cute little logs laying on the plywood decking… they are all notched, numbered, and ready to be set into place. They are so short because a window is close to the that corner.
I call these logs… “bragging logs”. It never fails that the man who gets to lay a corner like this will do so quickly and then brag about how great he is because he once set three courses of logs in five minutes… by himself.
Originally posted 2015-07-08 13:48:04.
No one will ever call me a purist.
Now, I have done my share of historic restorations, but my preference is building new homes that are traditionally designed while also incorporating antique and locally available materials wherever I can.
Here we see in this photo huge 19th century oak logs, nearly eight inches thick and each well over a foot in height. And, you can see plenty of new lumber as well. I use the best of materials that are available, from whatever era they were made.
And, the same strategy holds true for the tools we use. If you look closely you will see a modern chainsaw, and next to it a Japanese hand saw, then on top of a log you will see a large antique chisel known as a slick, for the fine shaving of large pieces of wood such as the notching of a log cabin. And next to that slick, is a large sledge hammer for those times when a log needs convincing who is the boss.
Originally posted 2015-07-07 21:50:13.
