Timber Frame Tractor Home

[khd]

Kevin,
On the steel roofing... Is that the standing seam metal? If so you can get that stuff in lots of nice colors... My neighbor did an outstanding barn with it and the roof is green... Really nice. I think it runs about $300 a sq. But it's good for like 75 years.

Metal Shingles - Steel Shingles from Metal Roofing Wholesalers

Copper really ages nicely... I'm going to put up a tastefully sized Coupola with a copper roof and weathervane...

Take a look...

Country Cupolas - The Country Gentleman ® - An American Tradition.

When I say tastefully sized, of corse I mean approved by my wife...

Regards,
Chris

Chris:

The roof is just plain grain crib on purlins set 12" o.c. no colors on the roof for me. The finished building will be minimalistic. In fact the siding will be left to weather at least for the first year and the hardware, currently unproteced steel and cast, will be heated and beeswax applied, then allowed to rust over time and then oiled .

While the siding is weathering, I will decide on the final finish as I see how it ages. If it ages well then it will be oilded to maintain it and I might choose waste motor oil for the oil. Of corse I will test peices before I commit. If not it will be painted barn red such as yours. My only concern is UV protecting the siding. I'll watch it closely and make sure it doesn't get any dry rot or sunburn.

I have been contemplating a cupola myself and still might. At one point I almost decided to put a 48" square tower on the front rafters flush with the front wall but my time in finishing will be hard enough to come by let alone a custom timber accessory such as a tower. There will be a 4"x4" oak lifting corbel/jib above the loft door that I will cut myself. I had the framer throw in a bunch of 10 and 12' - 4"x4"'s for finishing detail. (see the attached "sketchup' rendering attached). Anyway back to the cupola, I saved this link Cupola with copper roof he appears to be doing special requests at decent prices but I would shy away from his economy copper roof as it is just copper sheets folded and attached with copper nails.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Thanks for posting this. It's great to see some timberframing going on. The Soben frame is overbuilt, but it feels exactly right when you stand inside it, so I expect you will really like the finished inside.

Just a note, if you've got blind holes, don't put oil on the pegs before you drive them. The pegs are red oak rather than white oak because red oak is long grain porus and will allow the air to escape as you drive them in. If the holes aren't blind, It doesn't really matter.

If this project gets anyone in the urge to do some timberframing, you don't need to start this big. Take a look at my old thread here:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/38774-tiny-timber-frame-wood-shelter.html

Cliff

 

[khd]

Thanks for posting this. It's great to see some timberframing going on. The Soben frame is overbuilt, but it feels exactly right when you stand inside it, so I expect you will really like the finished inside.

Just a note, if you've got blind holes, don't put oil on the pegs before you drive them. The pegs are red oak rather than white oak because red oak is long grain porus and will allow the air to escape as you drive them in. If the holes aren't blind, It doesn't really matter.

If this project gets anyone in the urge to do some timberframing, you don't need to start this big. Take a look at my old thread here:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/38774-tiny-timber-frame-wood-shelter.html

Cliff

Cliff:

I remember your wood shed thread; nice job. Didn't you take your TF course down in Blissfield, MI.?

Thanks for the tip on blind pegs, I'll keep an eye out.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[Cliff_Johns]

. . . Didn't you take your TF course down in Blissfield, MI.?

Yes, that was me.
Cliff

 

[khd]

Well, it was another full day on the barn, out at day break finishing up some undone work.

Started by pulling the lean-to sills so I gould drive the last 2 pegs. Then reset them and finsished up the the tin. The lean-to sills are wrapped as they will only be semi-protected. This is all exposed and will be seen.

Kevin

 

[khd]

Then it was on to raising the lean-to. This was lighter work to start but a little more time consuming as it had to be put together while standing.

Pic1 shows the end wall up and the plate being readied for lift. Pic 2 shows the plate in place. This was lifted with only two people. Me hoisting and the other back and forth on ladders positioning. It took everything I had to do it. Just carring the timber on the FEL almost tipped the tractor and two carrying from fell to horses the comment was made it was like carrying a tree.

Kevin

 

[khd]

Figured the loft joists would be the next logical choice as it will give a good platform for raising and setting the rafters. After hoisting the lean-to plate neither of us had much left so this was a chore. The joists probably came in at 75 lbs each and since there is no electricty at the barn they had to be carried to the garage have the ends squared and cut to length, then carried back and walked up a ladder and driven home.

Pic one shows the joists started. Pic 2 and 3 shows em all in and a view from above. The two uprights you see on top of the plate are the loft door framing as I was trying to get a sense of overall hieght.

Kevin

 

[khd]

Here are some shots of how it looks tonight. Supposed to be 54 tomorrow but a chance of rain so I might take the day off and let the knees rest.

Kevin

 

[dillo99]

KHD -

Wow - that barn is going to be standing 300 years from now. Nice job!!! It is going to be beautiful!!!

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Wow - that barn is going to be standing 300 years from now. Nice job!!! It is going to be beautiful!!!

The key to having a barn still standing after 300 years is keeping a good roof on it and having a dry foundation. The key to the dry foundation is to build it right and put it in the right place (well drained). The key to keeping a good roof on a barn over hundreds of years is to make the barn so sweet that future owners will sell the shirt off their back to keep that roof in good shape. Looks like this barn will meet these criteria.

Cliff

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Supposed to be 54 tomorrow but a chance of rain so I might take the day off and let the knees rest.

So, did it stop raining yet? We're yearning to see more photo progress.

Cliff

 

[khd]

So, did it stop raining yet? We're yearning to see more photo progress.

Cliff

Sorry Cliff, the rain has been on and off. Last weekend would have been great but X-mas took every free second I had. The frame still stands as is. Got another long weekend coming but calling for rain all three days. Keep your fingers crossed that I get to work. I'd almost prefer cold and dry to warm and wet.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[BTDT]

That is an impressive building. I think a plaque of some sort is in order, saying when erected, by whom, etc. Would have been nice to have shop class from school come see how they "used" to do things. Very inspirational.

 

[Egon]

Interior brands on the beams?

 

[weldingisfun]

I'm sorry that the rain is keeping you from working on your project. If you can figure out a way to do it, send that rain down my way. We are having the driest year in the last ten.

 

[khd]

That is an impressive building. I think a plaque of some sort is in order, saying when erected, by whom, etc. Would have been nice to have shop class from school come see how they "used" to do things. Very inspirational.

Thanks BT. I am planing on carving (as in carving chisels not whittled) the date in the center of the back girt. My debate now is should I use 2006 or 2007 since I am crossing years here.

On the shop class note, I have been very suprised at the younger generation's reaction to it. I am constantly getting comments like "oh your building a pole barn". Even after explaining that it is timberframe and no nails I still get bewildered looks of not understanding. Maybe because I have always had a passion for this I just understnd it's significance.

Sad to see an ancient art slowly dying off.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[khd]

I'm sorry that the rain is keeping you from working on your project. If you can figure out a way to do it, send that rain down my way. We are having the driest year in the last ten.

El Nino (sp?) Good for me no good for others.

Kevin

 

[BTDT]

Thanks BT. I am planing on carving (as in carving chisels not whittled) the date in the center of the back girt. My debate now is should I use 2006 or 2007 since I am crossing years here.

On the shop class note, I have been very suprised at the younger generation's reaction to it. I am constantly getting comments like "oh your building a pole barn". Even after explaining that it is timberframe and no nails I still get bewildered looks of not understanding. Maybe because I have always had a passion for this I just understnd it's significance.

Sad to see an ancient art slowly dying off.

Regards,
Kevin

You should send some snapshots to one of the magazines that does that kind of thing, maybe they would come do a story on your building. I did that with my suspension bridge (local newspaper) and got a lot of interest. Show kids there's something other than an I-pod and X-box.

 

[khd]

Interior brands on the beams?

Branding makes me think of tatoos....me and tatoos don't get along. Plus the thought of putting anything else but the year on it makes me think about those 50's fireplace chimneys with the integrated brick monograms. It prevents someone else from making it theirs someday.

Kevin

 

[EddieWalker]

I like the idea of haveing the completion date on the building. I know most shops are never one hundred percent done, but when you start movng stuff into it type of being done. Month and the year.

I like the look of carving it in. Seems more permanent and old world.

Eddie