January 29: Fitting the First Roof Truss

The first truss is assembled in the future living space. The test fitting is successful!

A closeup shows the chamfered end of the hammer beam
and a through-tenon extending from the queen post.

After weeks of working on the main walls, things seem to be progressing faster. Timbers were cut and test-fitted for the first of four hammer-beam style trusses. Work continues to create the other trusses and lift them into place sometime in February.

January 22: Next...the Floor Joists

Floor joists are in place.
See entire album.

To finish this phase of the timber framing, floor joists were seated in the housings on the summer beams. The joists will support the floor of the master suite and remain exposed in the kitchen below. For more views of the floor joists and the raising of the walls, click here.

January 20: An Exhilarating Day

The east wall is lifted, guided and seated on steel pins.

Both east and west walls are up and braced; a summer beam flies in from the right.

Rex is at home in the living space.

View more photos in the Picasa album: Timber Raising

It was an awesome sight on Wednesday as a crane lifted the timber walls. The results were thrilling for everyone involved. Careful calculations, cutting, shaping and pre-fitting of joints meant only two last-minute adjustments needed to be made as all the elements slipped into place, plumb and level as could be. First the east wall was lifted and temporarily braced, followed by the west wall. The summer beams were fitted, along with their knee braces, completing the structure by tying the girt walls together. Meanwhile, temporary braces were removed. An awesome sight indeed! Click here for more photos.

January 15: Stacked and Ready to Lift

Soon the crane will lift the walls into place.

Strongbacks reinforce the girts during the lift.

The east wall is now assembled - on top of the west wall in mirror image - and ready for the crane lift next week. 'Strongbacks,' the 2x material screwed to the outside faces of the girts (horizontal structural timbers), have been attached to add a little stability during the lift - they will then be removed. Hoping for good weather for Crane Day on Wednesday!

January 13: West Wall Comes Together

Admiring the west wall assembly.

After weeks of cutting, shaping and fitting timbers, the west wall is assembled and ready for the crane to come and lift it into place. Before that happens sometime next week, the east wall will be assembled - on top of the west wall but facing the other direction, a mirror image.