Blog - Handmade Houses with Noah Bradley

We are currently working on the creation of the Timber Framing Academy!

The Coronavirus can’t stop us here at Handmade Houses! It has made things more difficult… and it has certainly slowed progress down though. But together we are going to make it through these challenging times… and create an amazing Timber Frame Academy course… and demonstrate the construction of small home for you soon!

If you dream of owning your own Handmade House you have found the right place!

If you want a handcrafted home… one made of log, timber, or stone… We can help you!

If you want a home that blends into the environment, one that compliments the landscape… oh yeah!

Here you will find a TON of free insights that you won’t find anywhere else… from our videos… to our FREE newsletter!

Originally posted 2019-06-26 19:42:04.

We are currently working on the creation of the Timber Framing Academy!Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:31:41+00:00

A Writer’s Cabin

I once had a well known writer ask me to build her “a little primitive shed where I can get away from the main house to collect my thoughts and do a little writing”.

And this is what I built.

And she loved it.

And we all lived happily ever after.

And no, I cannot tell you who she is. lol

One final thought of the day…

I am so thankful that so many unique individuals have come into my life, each wanting me to build them something special to meet their dreams. I’ve built barns, timber frames, silos, log cabins, stone homes, mills, and yes, sheds and outhouses. From two thousand dollars… to two million dollars.

All my projects share a common theme. They were all built to last a century or more, and they were all designed to look “as if they had always been there”.

Thanks to all for coming along.

Originally posted 2015-03-09 15:44:07.

A Writer’s CabinNoah Bradley2019-06-29T11:18:48+00:00

A stone home with a barn addition

The owners of this stone home wanted to have an addition added that would serve as a large great room. They envisioned an antique barn frame, with massive timbers, and interior views clear to the peak of the roof.

Originally posted 2015-07-18 12:30:56.

A stone home with a barn additionNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:39:40+00:00

A stone home restoration

We once restored a stone home in Northern Virginia… it was a mess when we began, and a beauty when we finished.

Originally posted 2015-07-18 12:22:35.

A stone home restorationNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:39:39+00:00

Log cabin chinking… part 5

There, that’s better. The cabin will not need any more attention in my lifetime. And should now stand proud for another century or two.

Originally posted 2015-07-17 15:06:51.

Log cabin chinking… part 5Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:39:38+00:00

Log cabin chinking… part 4

You know, the funny thing is that it often takes no more effort, and cost no more money, to do the job right the first time.

But, it sure costs a heck of a lot more to do it wrong, and then undo what was done wrong, and then repair the damage created by doing it wrong, and then in finally doing it right.

I REALLY don’t like coming in behind others and fixing their messes. Chinking is my least favorite part of building a cabin, but it’s crucial in building an attractive cabin that will last for centuries. I only undertake repairs like this for the love of the cabins… I hate to see them lost.

Originally posted 2015-07-17 14:56:25.

Log cabin chinking… part 4Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:39:37+00:00

Log cabin chinking part 3

Originally posted 2015-07-17 14:44:44.

Log cabin chinking part 3Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:39:36+00:00

Log cabin chinking… part 2

The builder who put this cabin up made two major mistakes in caring for these logs. His intention was good, but his experience was lacking.

First he installed the chinking so that the top of the chink joints were flush with the log above it, instead of recessing it, and thus creating a drip edge for water to run down the house instead of finding its way behind the chinking and then rotting the logs.

The builder’s second mistake was in painting all the logs with a clear sealer, which was unnecessary, and which gave these historic logs a “plastic look” changing their patina from antique grey to god-awful orange. This plastic coating did not aid in protecting the logs but rather hid the damage that was occurring under the surface from the faulty chinking.

Originally posted 2015-07-17 14:20:15.

Log cabin chinking… part 2Noah Bradley2019-06-29T10:39:35+00:00

Log cabin chinking

The greatest number of requests that I get for our service is for chinking. Most of these requests are to remove and replace improperly applied chinking done by others.

Here I am in this photo inspecting a beautiful oak cabin that was originally built in Pennsylvania in the mid-1800’s and moved to this site in northern Virginia about twenty years ago.

Originally posted 2015-07-17 14:05:12.

Log cabin chinkingNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:39:34+00:00

I encourage everyone to consider building their own home!

Let me close out the tale of this project with six last construction photos.

So much of the wonder of having a home is in the building process itself. These moments in one’s life of building a home should be a treasured time. I encourage you to join in on the process of designing and building your own home as much as you can.

Maybe… build the home yourself… why give all the fun to someone else? 🙂