New joinery, old wood
Here’s closeup of “a wood intersection” on one of the barn frame’s trusses.
Timber frame roof trusses
There is no better feeling than that felt at the end of the week in seeing what has been accomplished.
Laying out a timber frame roof system
For this particular timber-frame structure I believe 90% of the work was in creating the complex joinery in the top plates and the rafter trusses that would set upon them. The exterior walls of this building were, after all, merely a collection of posts, cut to length, with simple tenons protruding on the upward ends.
Obviously it made sense for us to cut and assemble as much of this roof system on the ground as we possibly could. So, we began by laying out the top plates as seen in this photo.
I cannot express the giddiness that carpenters feel when given the opportunity to put together something like this. For us, it was Christmas in July. (Of course, being men, we wouldn’t let anyone know that we were giddy… that wouldn’t be very manly would it? lol )
Building with antique wood
I needed a large pile of antique timbers to create this barn frame. So, I began calling all my suppliers to see if anyone had something I might use.
I was tickled when one had just gotten in a load of hewn 9by9″s out of Canada. The salvager had just enough to meet my needs. Sweet!
Timbered roof trusses
Here’s the ceiling of the barn addition…
The challenge of designing a barn addition
The architect for this home struggled with the challenge of adding a barn to an existing home… in not overwhelming the house, yet meeting the client’s vision. She was concerned in what size barn I may be able to find.
I fully understood her concern.
I freed her of the limitations of the dimensions of an existing barn by assuring her that I could adapt antique barn timbers to whatever barn dimensions she felt was most appropriate for this home.
Here is a photo of that barn addition, per the architects design, assembled by my crew. I’d like to share with you over the next couple of days the construction of this barn addition… I think you’ll enjoy the process. 🙂
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.
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.
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.
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.