Timber Frame Hybrid Home - Owner Builder

[jk96]

I've been able to get a lot accomplished in the last few weeks. Outside timbers are done with the exception of the small accent timber on the front of the house. I need a lift to get to it, can't reach it with a ladder due to the entry overhang. Here's a before and after.

We also were able to get the front concrete steps sealed, dirt around them graded and seeded. We really need some rain. The rest of the yard is more brown then green right now.

 

[jk96]

Carpet is done in the basement now. I will probably start on trim next week.

 

[tkappeler]

I've been away from TBN for awhile but your build is the first thread I wanted to catch up on. Great job Jeremy! It continues to get better and better!

 

[jk96]

I've been away from TBN for awhile but your build is the first thread I wanted to catch up on. Great job Jeremy! It continues to get better and better!

Thanks Tom. This seems to be the house that just keeps on giving. Some day it will be done.

For the basement, I'm trying to decide on a projector or tv. Lights can be dimmed and we only have one window to cover if needed to control light. Anyone here using a projector? It would be used primarily for movies and kids video games but I know nothing about them, what to looks for, lumens needed, etc, etc. If you've got one what do you like or dislike about them?

Jeremy

 

[EddieWalker]

The stain looks great!!! Did you have to sand down the timbers before staining them? What stain color and brand did you use?

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Jeremy, that looks great! Couldn't have picked a prettier color for the stain.:thumbsup:

I don't have a projector, but earlier this year I picked up a 60" plasma for about $700 OTD. Fantastic picture, and I had to move the couch back to easily see it all. :laughing:

CNET.com has some how tos on video, and one of the things I remember them mentioning was noise from the projector fans. Bulb life is also an issue, and most are fairly expensive, like $75 - $100. You may get by with using a wall for a screen, but their advise was to invest in a real one, but that's more $$$.

 

[BitChin1]

Thanks Tom. This seems to be the house that just keeps on giving. Some day it will be done.

For the basement, I'm trying to decide on a projector or tv. Lights can be dimmed and we only have one window to cover if needed to control light. Anyone here using a projector? It would be used primarily for movies and kids video games but I know nothing about them, what to looks for, lumens needed, etc, etc. If you've got one what do you like or dislike about them?

Jeremy

Looking great, but good luck on "someday it will be done)!

I have a dedicated media room in my house with an Epson 5300 projector - depending on your desired size it is much less expensive than a flat screen. My room can be totally darkend, but we often watch sporting events with lights on and I find the projector to be plenty bright in this case. Movies are just like going to the theater, with a big perk of being able to use the pause button. There are some good forums (I mainly use AVSForum) with others experience. Start with screen size and sitting distance (blue tape on wall helps to visualize). I picked up a DIY screen for low cost from www.carlofet.com, but there are other options (just more expensive or more work - lowest cost seems to be using spandex on a wooden frame, I have not tried this but several threads over at AVSForum). Lumens; there is a tool on Projectorcentral, that will give you lumen output vs distance/screen size for most projectors available. For gaming you need to be concerned about lag time - I don't game on our projector so I did not look into this much.
One word of warning though - once you get the home theater bug it is very difficult to cure!

 

[jk96]

The stain looks great!!! Did you have to sand down the timbers before staining them? What stain color and brand did you use?

Thanks Eddie. I can't express how glad I am that the timbers are finished. I did a lot of sanding to get them ready for stain. The wood to the inside was not bad, just a quick touch up to clean off dirt and slight weathering. The timbers facing the outside that caught most of the sun and rain took a lot more work. The rain had raised the grain slightly requiring some heavier sanding to clean them up. I used Pittsburg Ultra in a semi-transparent cedar tone. It is supposed to have a mildew resistant component as well as UV and waterproofing. I'm hoping it it last for a few years. I used it on our old house about 4 years ago and seems to still be holding up fine.

 

[jk96]

Redneck I've got a 65" panasonic plasma upstairs now and love the picture. The larger movie like picture from a projector has me intrigued though. BitChin1 thanks for the info, a lot of what I was looking for. I forgot about the AVS forum, haven't been on there since we bought our plasma several years back. I'll get on there and do some reading. I do have a portable projector for training classes we put on for future pyros. I may bring it to the house to get an idea of screen size.

Jeremy

 

[BitChin1]

What dimensions are your room? How far back will seating be arranged?
My room is rather large (bonus over our garage) - I set up three rows of seating with a 144" wide (16:9) screen - my Epson 5030 works great for this. A friend has a newer/lower cost (2030?? for sub $800) and works great with his room which is more of a family room setup with some windows behind curtains - 110" diagonal 16:9 screen.

If you watch many movies at home you will enjoy the larger format - I picked my screen size and seating distance by going to local theater and watching a movie from several different seating locations (I like a very enveloping viewing angle - so I watch movies from front row, most sporting events I watch from 3rd row which is setup as bar top)

How smooth (which grit paper) did you get the timbers before applying the stain? I am re-doing mine next month with same stain you used (but redwood). finish still beads water, but the hail marks took off the color.