August 16: Admiring the Timber Frame

 First, in the evening...

 and then in the morning...

With the green branch in place, it was time to stand back and admire the beautiful timber frame structure in all its glory. Too soon it will be covered with roofing and siding...so Harry and I photographed the timbers in evening and morning light.

August 15: The Green Branch

Scott holds the ladder as Erik climbs up with a live Douglas fir bough

Erik and I admire the beautiful barn framing.

It's an ancient tradition to attach a green branch to the highest point of the completed timber frame. This ritual brings good luck and fortune to the structure, to the owners, and to those who have worked so hard on the project.

August 14: Lifting the Shed Roof Walls (Video)

The long shed roof walls were assembled on horses.

The walls are ready and waiting for the crane to arrive.

First, the crane lifts the final beam to support rafters on the south side.

Erik nudges it into place.

The crane lifts the first shed roof wall - a span of four posts, knee braces and a very long beam.

Erik hoists the connecting girt...

And holds it as Scott sets the Timberlinx connection. After this,
they used crane power to hold heavy girts in place while making connections.

 

Video: A beam flies into place, knee braces are fitted,
and the wall is snugged up for final connections.

The barn is designed to have generous shed roofs on three sides. This requires two massive timber frame walls to support the structure. A crane lifts the walls, which are then connected with girts. This is the last time we will need the crane as the entire timber frame structure is now in place.

August 6: Lifting the Roof Trusses

The first truss begins to rise to the top of the timber frame.

The crane holds the west truss in place while each top chord is secured and braced.

Removing the loops from the crane hook.

Securing the east truss.

Preparing to lift the center truss.

Documenting the truss lifts on video.

The crane hoists one of the ridge beams.

Tweaking a ridge beam connection.

Making final connections after the crane leaves, with Beau supervising.

During July, Erik and Scott started work on the roof trusses and the long walls designed to support the extensive shed roof. They assigned timbers to certain positions, cut them to length and routed out housings for intersections of posts, beams and knee braces. Once the three trusses were assembled, it was time for Dave to bring the crane back to lift the trusses and ridge beams. Everything went up according to plan!