Komara - Siding

We started to install the siding. The pattern that I like to do is a little complicated in that it is a mix of horizontal planks, board & batten and a third material that is either cedar shakes or poplar bark. I like to mix materials to give a depth and character to the home. It is one way to make a simple structure more unique. For this house we use a cedarmill hardiboard material for most of the siding, wood for the trims and we will be using poplar bark for the accent areas.

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

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

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.

Komara - Foundations

The new foundation required engineering because the existing foundation consisted of a continuous footer of approximately 4" x 16" and a 6" block wall that did not have the cores filled. I'm always amazed when I see how houses were constructed many years ago and consider the myrid of changes that have occured over the years in order to build a better house, unfortunately it also means a more expensive house.

With engineering we had to dig pier pads around the house, digging under the existing footer and below the frost line, that was reinforced as a column was formed over each pad, all cores were poured solid and a continuous bond beam with rebar was formed around the entire block perimeter. Part of the old wall was torn down because it was not level or plumb and replaced with a poured concrete wall.

Komara - Demo

Starting the demolition on the existing structure. All of the demolition was done by hand which takes longer. I've been told that in larger cities there are groups of people that will do the demo for you and recycle the materials, using them for habitat house. I think that is a great idea. I wish that we had the ability to do that in our town but our habitat drop-off closed this year.

All that is left is the existing foundation and existing fireplace with chimney. We had to keep some part of the existing structure so that we could continue to use the existing septic system. The new house was designed to retain the existing footprint and keep the same number of bedrooms, otherwise we would have had to install a new septic field.

Komara - Existing Structure

We are starting a new renovation project.  The existing house will be almost completely demo'd down to the foundations and keeping the existing fireplace.  As you can see from this photo the house was built below the grade of the road so our plan is to make this level a basement and add on another floor.