Frame raised! updated Dec 8. Baby is here! among other goings on...

bigshow · September 21, 2009, 11:09:29 PM

In the foreground you can see my first timberframing project - sawhorses. You can quite clearly make out the second in the background.

Wall SIPs are on! as always...more detail on my blog....

beenthere · September 21, 2009, 11:29:54 PM

Well done.
Looks great.

Are they all framers in the pic, or some 'helpers' ?

fishpharmer · September 21, 2009, 11:35:53 PM

Very impressive.

I looked at your blog. Interesting combination of timberframing and metal 8)

Rooster · September 22, 2009, 01:15:10 AM

Looks great!!

How did you get the Black Lab to hold up the middle of that beam? eh?

Rooster

Jim_Rogers · September 22, 2009, 04:20:13 AM

Nice job.....

bigshow · September 22, 2009, 08:31:21 AM

Beenthere,

In this pic...there are two professional framers from Northern Lights Timberframing that I had come down to orchestrate the raising. Otherwise, my wife and I cut the frame.

Stephen1 · September 22, 2009, 01:24:52 PM

very nice, always great to see some pics. Keep us updated.

Brad_bb · September 23, 2009, 02:08:35 AM

Is the frame to be your home? Or? Fill us in on some details if possible. Looks nice. Must be one of those log dogs I hear about in the Sawing/milling board.

witterbound · September 23, 2009, 02:30:06 AM

Nice looking frame. I met Lefty when I was up at Northern Lights taking a course. Nice guy.

Doug_D · September 23, 2009, 10:44:30 AM

WOW! Nice job, but your missing one thing in the picture after a job like that.....cold ones

Raphael · September 23, 2009, 01:44:27 PM

Awesome!!!
Looks really good.

bigshow · September 23, 2009, 04:46:37 PM

Quote from: Brad_bb on September 23, 2009, 02:08:35 AM
Is the frame to be your home? Or? Fill us in on some details if possible. Looks nice. Must be one of those log dogs I hear about in the Sawing/milling board.

Yup, this will be our house...In the picture you can see one of two log dogs: Bob. Wally (the other log dog) must be scaring up game at that point. Details...hmmm...I think if you skim thru my blog you'll get the gist of it. I dont really have a floor plan on the blog I dont think. But I designed the frame, my wife did the floorplan, and we cut the frame. I started out learning log construction, but I had to go back to my first love....timberframing. I took a couple courses (Grand Marais Folk School Timberframing Class, and Timberframe sawhorese trestles), started asking questions here, TFGuild, and got to know the nearest local professional timberframers, went to a TFGuild conference....just absorbed as much info as I could for a couple years. Its been awesome..and the Mrs wants to definitely cut another one....

fishpharmer · September 23, 2009, 04:58:53 PM

Bigshow, It looks great. How many square feet of floor space are you planning on?

Just try to get a perspective on the size.

Brad_bb · September 23, 2009, 09:17:38 PM

Your wife is that into cutting a frame? Man, that would be awesome, but I think the chances of me finding a girl like that in the Chicagoland area is a real longshot. They're all obsessed with life in the city :-\
Didn't see your blog link, but now I'll check it out. Cheers.

bigshow · September 23, 2009, 09:49:15 PM

Quote from: fishpharmer on September 23, 2009, 04:58:53 PM
Bigshow, It looks great. How many square feet of floor space are you planning on?

Just try to get a perspective on the size.

Main level is ~1300 sq ft + a mud/laundry room
2nd/loft is ~ 700

roof peak is ~24' tall

The longest wall of the house is 42'. Which we raised in one piece..it was awesome. The NLTF guys made it go real slick.

Alexis · September 24, 2009, 01:57:42 PM

nice job!

how long did it took to cut the frame?

Alexis

bigshow · September 24, 2009, 04:07:25 PM

Quote from: Alexis on September 24, 2009, 01:57:42 PM
nice job!

how long did it took to cut the frame?

Alexis

Alexis,

This is roughly the time frame:
June 2008-Nov 2008 to cut most of the major posts, beams, and rafter members.
I took Nov and Dec off b/c i work an office job during the day - and that messes with your back. So, I took off two months to rehab 2 ruptured discs - trust me, its not from timberframing. Labor and activity only do great things to your back as long as you keep your outriggers out and your back straight ;)

Anyways - So, in January I worked only on kneebraces. In March/April I cut 8 principle rafters, 2 valley rafters, 6 jack rafters, and some floor joists.

So, basically 9 months of actually building the frame. But, throw in the weather, back rehab in winter - then it was basically a year. I had absolutely no shelter to work in at all - so, I was at the mercy of weather. Would've been way faster if I had shelter of any kind to cut in, illuminate, heat, and didnt have to put in 40 hours a week at the factory!

Stagerig · September 24, 2009, 07:33:15 PM

Excellent work! We have been cutting our frame for 2 yrs and we hope to raise it the end of October. The day job really cuts into my framing time. Did you ever decide what you are going to use for the roof?

bigshow · September 25, 2009, 11:23:25 AM

Quote from: Stagerig on September 24, 2009, 07:33:15 PM
Excellent work! We have been cutting our frame for 2 yrs and we hope to raise it the end of October. The day job really cuts into my framing time. Did you ever decide what you are going to use for the roof?

I hope to have the SIP order finalized Monday. 10" SIPS on roof, 6" walls. I'm gonna try to go with a concealed fastener metal roof - but, the pricepoints..my goodness.

Alexis · September 25, 2009, 04:24:02 PM

Did you find that any timber had moved too much and you had to recut them?

Alexis

Brad_bb · September 25, 2009, 08:47:53 PM

Given the thicknesses you mentioned, I'm assuming that they are polystyrene sips? I have not had the chance to work with sips yet, but Iheard that they are using ones with urethane foam now that are thinner for the same R value. Did you compare and if so, what was your deciding factor(s)? I've also heard that someone is making them fire retardent too -self extinguishing. Any info on that?

wkheathjr · September 27, 2009, 03:32:43 PM

Brad,

Interesting info you shared and now I am intrigued on the SIPS and that would be interesting to know it is flame-retardant as this would be something I will want on my home and for future multi-purpose building I have in my mind for the campground.

Hopefully Big Show can share details on that..

bigshow · September 28, 2009, 11:01:48 PM

Prepare to be underwhelmed by my SIPS info! I only priced out the two panel companies close to me. One appeared to want to do business more than the other. Both were the same price - So, I just chose the one that had a more of a fire under their hind quarters.

typical EPS...though the FAQ of my panel manufacturer mentions PolyIso!..huh, I never got any info on that.