Timber Framing!

Whoa! What a whirlwind couple of weeks. We were shooting to do the timber frame this last weekend, but we knew there was a great deal of prep work that had to be done before we could get to this. The schedule was hampered somewhat because the concrete was done later than we expected!

So, over the last week, we have hung the drainage panels (platon), put up 2" of extruded polystyrene insulation (Owens-Corning familiar 150), and backfilled. The plumbers have installed all of the sub-grade (under-slab) plumbing in the basement. The deck (re-claimed barn lumber for flooring, reclaimed schoolhouse joists for joists) has been installed, and the timber frame raised. The circus atmosphere was probably epitomized last week when Heidi and I were working outside with headlamps on the foundation until 11:30.

Anyway, all was done by Saturday in time to raise the timber frame. We corralled about 12 folks to help for the day, and put the timber frame up (see pictures below). What an awesome experience... I wish everyone could have seen that come together. Our timber framer (Mike Yaker) did such an awesome job putting the frame together. It was truly marvelous to see these gigantic pieces of wood coming together to make a house.

By yesterday afternoon, we were too exhausted to do anymore. We should get the rest of the frame (rafters and some other details) up by the end of the week.

So... on to the straw-clay walls. We're shooting for three weeks from now. In that time frame, we need to get our well drilled (this week?), get larsen trusses up, have the electrician run the conduit in the wall cavity for the straw-clay section. Should be do-able, but we will definitely continue with a tight schedule.

Here's hoping the weather cooperates!

Timber Frame 4 

Timber Frame 3 

Timber Frame 2 

Timber Frame 1

Hanging around the firepit. 

Yikes!

What a week it's been! The focus of this week: FOUNDATION.

So, the first big lesson I will share with anyone considering taking this on. Review the plans with the contractor BEFORE any major work begins. Way back in the winter, I had given some plans to the concrete contractor at our initial meeting. Some changes were made that somehow never made it onto his plans. Whose fault it was is irrelevant. Bottom line, the footings were poured about 8" short, with the walls set to be poured short as well. Could have been a MAJOR problem. All the metaphors for "foundation" took on a new meaning this week... Essentially that 8" difference would have DRASTICALLY changed our house. Since the structure is a timber frame, there is very little "wiggle" room in the design.

Anyway, fortunately I caught the mistake before the walls were formed. The contractor was able to correct the mistake, and things SHOULD be back on track now.

Ugh. Big stress.

tomorrow and this weekend will be spent:

- cleaning the re-claimed lumber that we have acquired for our flooring
- putting up a drainage system (Platon system) on the foundation walls
- working on the drainage around the perimeter of the foundation.
- getting ready to frame the garage and basement knee-walls

Oh, the other exciting parts of the last week has been the weather. We are now staying out at the job site in a pop-up camper. In true Wisconsin spring fashion, it snowed several nights (it is May now), and the temperatures went down into the high 20's. Now it's nice again.

Seriously, on the cool side, there are a couple of barred owls in our woods. They make quite a racket at night... That's been pretty neat to hear. We also hear a lot of pheasants, geese, ducks, and sand hill cranes. We've seen several great blue herons, and tonnes of songbirds.