Komara - Windows

We have installed most of the windows and doors for the house. I usually specify a window that is aluminum clad outside and pine wood inside. I like the aluminum clad because in my opinion it is one of the most weather resistant materials to use. We have temperatures here that can swing from hot to cold (more cold then hot) and the aluminum clad hold up to temperature changes and retains the color well with very little fading. I also like to use a casement window vs. a double hung. There are occasions that a double hung is preferred, like space issues outside if a window opens up to a deck, but a casement window is more energy efficient than a double hung.

10/19/2011

Komara - Framing

For the carport in the front of the house we used locust post as our support. The client wanted the front of the house to reflect the fact that it's build in the mountains. Locust is a tree with a dense wood grain and is one of the most weather resistant woods to use in it's natural state in our area. Most of the time, clients like to see the bark on the wood when used outside but unless the locust tree is cut when the sap is down, which means colder weather, the bark is likely to fall off the tree after a year or so.

Attic trusses were used to frame the roof of the carport. An attic truss is built with a larger bottom cord to allow for the additional weight of items being stored or someone walking on the floor. The area in the middle of an attic truss is left open for storage. This type of truss is more expensive than a standard truss with no center opening or beefed up bottom cord.

10/19/2011

Komara - Framing

The handrail on the back deck is a standard 2x2 picket with top and bottom rails but the client wanted something special inside the screen porch area so for that section of handrail we used mountain laurel pickets. Mountain laurel is a natural growing flowering shrub in our region and the wood is very dense. The shrub is all over but typically if any laurel is growing on a lot that I am clearing, I have it cut down first and stacked to be used inside the house if the client chooses to use that detail. Cutting the laurel is very hard, the wood is dense and the branches are curvy so if you haven't worked with it before it can be dangerous to cut if the blade binds up as your cutting the wood.

09/27/2011

10/13/2011

Komara - Framing

The roof connection of the back porch and house was framed using exposed valley rafters. The client wanted to see that vault in the roofline inside since the fireplace and chimney would be built up the wall toward that porch roof peak. It also allowed us to install two triangle windows on either side of the chimney. Building exposed valley rafters is a more expensive framing technique both in lumber and in labor. The valley rafters use a larger framing member and the labor to cut each rafter with a compound miter is more time consuming.

10/09/2011

10/09/2011

Word - Framing

It took a while of back and forth to decide what the roof of the connector was going to be constructed from, antique beams or lumber that we cut ourselves. Of course we knew that we would save money if we could cut the lumber ourselves or have it cut at the local lumber yard but could we achieve the look we wanted and match the exising antique log cabin that everything has been built around. After several test of lumber scraps and solutions to make the timber look older we decided we wanted to do it ourselves. That allowed the most flexibility and I think the end result was perfect. The color matched the existing log cabin exactly and the look is exactly what we were going for in that it looked like it was built years ago from the materials that were available with local materials. I decided to leave the natural edge on the bottom to give the beams a more authentic look.

09/28/2011

10/06/2011

Komara - Framing

Setting the glulam beams that support the roof. I used a structural roof support system called perlins. Perlins support the roof, not at the ridge but down lower on the rafter length which requires two beams instead just one ridge. In this case we were unable to use one ridge because the span was so great to size one ridge beam would have been impossible. The perlins were sized by my supplier's in house engineer. I often feel they over estimate the size of beams like this but if you factor in the cost an engineer charges to size the beam and sign off on the paperwork, the cost difference could be minimal. If the size of the larger beam is a problem then I would suggest getting an engineer to size it because they will likely be more accurate as to what is needed for your specific application.

A crane was used to set the perlin beams. The site is very tight, trees around the house and a narrow drive. There wasn't much room in front of the house to stage the crane and the beams on the truck but we are used to working in difficult circumstances so everyone works together to get the job done and making sure no one gets hurt.

Komara - Framing

The exterior stud walls and interior stud walls are going up and properly braced in case we get some heavy winds. The exterior walls are 2x6 studs with 1/2 osb sheathing. All window openings are in with proper headers. We build our headers by sandwiching (2)2x's with sheets of blue board or rigid insulation in the middle. That helps cold air from being able to transfer easily through a solid wood header.

09/14/2011

Komara - Framing

Monday was Labor Day and Tuesday rained almost all day so this has been a short week at the Komara job.  Despite that the main floor framing is completed and by the end of the week, so is the main level back pressure treated deck.  Everything is looking clean and organized.

9/8/2011

9/8/2011

Word - Framing

The crew is continuing to install the fake rafter tails around both structures while we wait on the antique timbers which, are due in next week.  The process is time consuming but things are moving along.  The bedroom wing is nearly completely protected by felt paper and almost ready for window installation.

 9/08/2011

An inside view of what is the living room and the dormer that will let in much needed light. 

 8/31/2011

I met with two engineers at the site concerning the concrete retaining wall for the driveway.  It's been a little bit of a hurdle but I think we are on our way to a resolution and hopefully we can start to form the concrete walls this coming week.

Word - Framing

We are about to hit a stopping point or a bottle neck.  When working with antique timbers you have to be ahead of the game when determining what you need to order because finding antique timbers and getting them to the site to install is not a task that happens like ordering studs from the local lumber yard.  We have a couple of sources that we work with but it seems that speedy response time is not a characteristic common in the antique lumber business.  So we are trying to get our timbers for the connector porch and the porch off the kitchen but more importantly then both of those is the tie-logs that the client has decided to add to the inside of the timber structure.  Those have to be installed before the final roof goes in so we can use the structure to help pull the timbers into place.


In the meantime we are trying to coordinate the final foundation retaining walls for the driveway.  The site is so tight it's hard to coordinate lumber deliveries and getting work done around the excavation work that is needed to pour the last wall, not to mention the dreaded engineering that is needed.

Komara - Framing

The new floor deck is installed using 14" TJI's and Advantec. The new pressure treated deck is built from 2x10's and bolted to the house every 16". That is more than is required by code but we want to make sure that this deck will withstand any party the client wants to have. The walls are constructed from 2x6 studs and 1/2" osb with house wrap. Soon we will be on to the next level, things are moving along quickly.

Word Project - Framing Phase II

I skipped a few photos but we finally finished pouring the footers and walls for the second phase of the construction, the bedroom wing.  We have started to frame the floor system and walls.  The bedroom wing is at a different level then the main part of the house.



8/23/2011

8/25/2011

Word Project - Framing

The floor deck is framed using an engineered 14" TJI joist with 3/4" Advantec.  I have used other products over the years like 3/4" osb with a waterproofing sealer or a competing product to Advantec but I haven't found one yet that performs like Advantec.  I feel similar about using a TJI floor system.  

   

6/29/2011

We started to errect the antique log structure.  The structure was taken down, cleaned, fumed for bugs, labled and shipped to our site by a company out of West Virginia called Antique Cabins and Barns, http://www.antiquecabinsandbarns.com/

7/10/2011

6/30/2011

The log cabin is finished and looks great.  Some of the timbers are as thick as 22".  No major problems getting the structure up except the top cord is a little bowed and out of level.

7/13/2011

We started the stick framing around the log structure.  To the left is the kitchen and the right is the connector wing for the bedroom wing.  Things are moving along.

7/20/2011

7/29/2011

Starting the roof framing using 2x12 rafters so that we can insulate according to the codes in our area.  The large clear story will allow a lot of light to fill the living room and a bump out window will provide seating for the loft window.

 8/04/2011