Blog - Page 25 of 123 - Handmade Houses with Noah Bradley

The wonders of house wrap

Here we have the harsh contrast of the old, and the new. The best of what once was, with the best of what is new.

Tyvek is a wonderful product, (although a royal pain to install on a windy day). It repels moisture from reaching the wood, yet allows the wood to breath beneath it. And it’s low in cost compared to the value that one receives from it.

It’s not very pretty to look at though… I’m not certain why the manufacturer feels it so important to blast their name brand all over it. Even so, I try to apply this house wrap so that the wording is not upside down or at an angle. I’m funny that way… I don’t want salvagers centuries into the future thinking that I was a sloppy builder.

Originally posted 2015-07-10 14:51:29.

The wonders of house wrapNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:55+00:00

The bad thing about stress skin panels

The downside to stress-skin panels is… well… they don’t make a house look any better, at least not a timber-framed home. What was a piece of art on the landscape is then quickly converted into a new wood box.

It always saddens me a bit when we reach that wonderful moment of having completed the assembly of a vintage timber-framed home and then we immediately start to cover it up.

I have built timber-framed homes for clients who never saw the finished product “standing for the world to see”. It seems that everyone is always in a hurry to witness the finished product and so many fail to enjoy the wonderful fleeting moments along the way.

Originally posted 2015-07-10 14:30:24.

The bad thing about stress skin panelsNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:54+00:00

The good about stress skin panels

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.

The good about stress skin panelsNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:53+00:00

An exterior basement entrance

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.

An exterior basement entranceNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:52+00:00

And the two shall become one

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.

And the two shall become oneNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:51+00:00

Log cabin and timber frame rafters

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.

Log cabin and timber frame raftersNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:50+00:00

A heavy lift is a valuable tool to have on site

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.

A heavy lift is a valuable tool to have on siteNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:49+00:00

A timber frame kitchen comes together

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.

A timber frame kitchen comes togetherNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:48+00:00

Ready for a roof

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.

Ready for a roofNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:47+00:00

Log cabin construction details

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.

Log cabin construction detailsNoah Bradley2019-06-29T10:18:46+00:00