Timber Frame Hybrid Home - Owner Builder

[jk96]

Pictures 53-56

Footings are in, however in reviewing the plans it looks like they have a couple of post support pads and another required footing for a support wall missing. Heading to the site today to discuss with the contractor.

Footings could probably support a commercial building at 36" wide.



Support pads for point loads that will be carried down from the timber frame. Looks like a couple are missing according to plans that will be discussed today.

 

[Larro Darro]

I originally thought the timbers were resting on the ground which is why I figured they would be rotted. Looks like they are actually sitting on some square stone blocks. A lot of the notches and cuts are really neat to see on this building, especially since they were done without power tools. Not sure yet what type of wood it is.

I have been working on a series of stories set in 1718. Had to do a ton of research. Here is a book I came across. It offers an amazing look at the tools of yesteryear. This is the 1703 printing.

Mechanick Exercises: Or, The Doctrine of Handy-works. Applied to the Arts of ... - Joseph Moxon - Google Books

It shows the tools and give a short description of their use. The sizing marks you see in the beams were probable made by the same felling ax used to get them on the ground.

 

[Larro Darro]

Great looking location and plans. Is it going to be partially underground, or is it just going to have a basement? You are making me want a new house. We built a two story ten years ago, and now I wish we had gone underground with the lower level.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Sure appreciate the photos. I love to see a chronological set of construction pics showing the progress. Thanks.

 

[jk96]

Great looking location and plans. Is it going to be partially underground, or is it just going to have a basement? You are making me want a new house. We built a two story ten years ago, and now I wish we had gone underground with the lower level.

It will be two stories plus a basement. The garage will be part of the basement. Thanks for the link to the book and great timing. I spent yesterday and today salvaging what I wanted to keep from the old barn. Now I just need to get everything cleaned up and figure out what I want to do with it. Some of the larger pieces of lumber are really nice. I found 3 more buried today while cleaning up my mess that I didn't even know was there. Pics to come when I get a chance.

Sure appreciate the photos. I love to see a chronological set of construction pics showing the progress. Thanks.

No problem Kyle. I figured it would be a good way to record our progress and steps and give us something to look back on at a later date. I also wanted to get feedback, ideas, and another viewpoint as we moved forward. Thanks to all who have contributed so far.

Jeremy

 

[Larro Darro]

Thanks for the link to the book and great timing.

Joseph Moxon published his Mechanick Exercises for the first time in 1683. He took a lot of grief from the trade guilds for exposing their secrets. I have three different editions of it. [electronic, of course]

A month or two ago on 'This old house' on PBS they had a house being built using really big timbers. There is a company close to the Great Lakes that is tearing down those huge old grain elevators and reusing the timbers. They were doing joint mortise and tenon with them, but the tools were a little different than the ones used on your old barn.

 

[jk96]

Pictures 57-61

Here are some pics of a few of the timbers from the barn we salvaged. We also started the long slow process of staining the tongue and groove. We've done one pallet out of four so far.

Our foundation contractor was a no-show last week. Pulled off to take care of one of his main builders. They were back today dropping forms at the site. At the end of the day about half of the forms were set. It looks like the plan is to pour on Monday.






This one will probably be used as our fireplace mantel.

 

[Larro Darro]

Love those sizing marks on the old timbers. Glad to hear things are getting going. The stain looks good. Hope you have good weather for the pouring.

 

[Piston]

Those are some really nice timbers, it's nice to see them being re used and not scrapped. I love the look of the hand hewn timbers, it's amazing how much work that is. Did you resaw the timbers and then stain them? Or are those different timbers in the "stained" pics?

 

[jk96]

Those are some really nice timbers, it's nice to see them being re used and not scrapped. I love the look of the hand hewn timbers, it's amazing how much work that is. Did you resaw the timbers and then stain them? Or are those different timbers in the "stained" pics?

The "stained pic" is the 1x T&G for the ceiling. The timbers are still sitting as I found them. One of them will be cut shorter to use as a fireplace mantel. There are three others that are also in good shape that I'd like to use somewhere. I'd like to possibly hang them horizontally from chains with some lighting as an accent piece under the back outdoor overhang. If not they may get used in the ceiling of the MBedroom.

 

[jk96]

Pics 62-64

Foundation walls are up. I wasn't able to get away from work for pics of the pour but here are a few of the finished product.









Below is the reason I missed the pour. Not related to the home build but thought I'd share a few pics from work this week. (Most photos from Alistair Photography) We spent most of the week rigging the roof of Sporting stadium with pyro for the MLS All-Star game. This was probably one of the hardest contracts we have done. There wasn't anything easy about this show. We had 30 custom boxes we had to build to fit the pyro for both the roof and field. Nothing flat to launch from so we had to custom build to launch from the beams above the roof deck. Roof was slanted from both sides and only one access point. We spent 3 full days on the roof for this one.

 

[EddieWalker]

Very impressive fireworks!!!

What are the eyes, or metal rings coming out of the foundation for?

Eddie

 

[jk96]

Very impressive fireworks!!!

What are the eyes, or metal rings coming out of the foundation for?

Eddie

Those are the ties or spacers holding the concrete forms together. They will be removed on the inside.

Edit: outside will need removed as well before waterproofing

 

[jk96]

Pics 65 - 69

We can't seem to catch a break on the build. Ground work for plumbing was set to start tomorrow and here's what I woke up to today. I did find a use for the tractor. It took about an hour to pump everything out.

On a positive note things are moving along with the timber company. The frame is being cut and fitted. I've got several pics I'll try to get up shortly.












Here's everything that was pumped out.







And what was left behind.

 

[jk96]

Pics 70-82

Here are the pics of the frame so far.


Purlin pockets for the rafters





Labels will be added to this king post then ridges will be fitted next.











Marking out the rest of the cuts on the brace tenons.



Four post bent being fitted. This is the bent that will go where the fireplace sets.



King posts with cuts made ready to be fitted

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Neat stuff, I like those joints.

And the fireworks were cool too!

 

[toyotadriver]

Everything is this thread is awesome!

 

[jk96]

Everything is this thread is awesome!

Thanks. Things are finally moving along. Ground work for plumbing went in today. I found one drain that was laid in the wrong location for the mechanical room. It will be corrected in the morning. The foundation was also waterproofed, drain tile and gravel laid, and some of the backfill started. The basement floor should be poured next week weather permitting.

Pictures 83-85

 

[jk96]

Pics 86-87

We've got the basement floor ready to pour. It's raining here today but depending on how muddy the site is the basement floor will be poured tomorrow or wednesday. The timbers are set to be delivered and stood up Sept. 2nd and 3rd right now. If all goes as planned the work on the subfloor will start next week. We also moved a little more dirt around have started getting things closer to a finish grade around the foundation.

 

[jk96]

A few more updates. The frame has been pushed back one more week however we supposedly have a firm date now of Sept. 9th for delivery. The truck for delivery has been scheduled and crane and operator scheduled as well. They plan to deliver, layout the frame, and begin assembly on Sept. 9th. The crane is scheduled for Sept. 10th to raise. It should be finished by the end of the day on the 10th.

We took a trip to the timber frame company on Tuesday to see the frame in person. Some of the timbers are really impressive and pictures really don't do them justice. The sill from the old barn that we plan to use for the fireplace mantel was dropped off with the timber company as well. They are going to cut it to length for us and deliver with the frame. I also took one of the old barn sills that was half rotted and cut out the good section of lumber. I've sliced it into sections that will be planed down and used for inlays in the wood floor.

The basement floor was poured on Wed. It turned out great and we are very happy with the finish. I couldn't get a good picture of the finish because they had already cut the control joints when I made it out the next day with my camera. Below is a pic of the basement as well as a few more of the timber frame being finished.

Pics 88 - 94

Finished Basement Floor




Finished Knee Braces




Part of the second story floor and loft area being assembled and fitted




Another section of loft with the railing posts. The posts still need an end detail cut.




John is unloading our sill from the old barn to be used for the fireplace mantel. For comparison to the loft timbers, the old sill is approx 9"x10".




Here's the good section of wood that was cut out of one of the old barn sills. The grain from this wood is really nice. The second pic is one piece after its been sanded and coated with a clear polyurethane. I plan to cut several of these and use as an inlay in our wood floors in a couple of places.