timber frames are designed to support vertical or gravity loads not lateral loading from wind or seismic loading. you will have to think about designing some of the stud infill walls as a shear walls. you will not be able to get R-20 with 2x4 constr…
Hey Chris, I LOVE DSCN0082! This is exactly the look I want. Now to keep the gaps from appearing. I guess that is the money maker right? I have heard of a new foam seal on the market but have not been able to find any info on it. If dry timbers are…
Hey Ron,
There was a company called Maine Post & Beam that built this way in the 70's and 80's---mostly in the colder drier winter climates and the effect of "vapor drive" and rot on studs and timbers became apparent during renovations/additions to…
Ron: I posted four pictures of our house in the photos section this week. You can see a lot more on my personal blog: Enjoy, and would love to hear comments. WES
Preferred wood in the area is Douglas Fir, usually consisting of 8X8 for post and beam construction. For the exterior finish I was thinking of Hardie Planking. There would be enough thickness to use 2X4 construction with a spray foam insulation givi…
What is the preferred timber wood in your area? Woods other than oak normally demand thicker dimensions. This could give you more wiggle room in terms of allowing the showing off of interior timbering. What kind of exterior finish do you have in min…
Thanks for the reply Wes. I would not say I am opposed but do like the idea of enjoying my work from the outside as well as the inside. We are not in an area of oak timbers so do not have that option. As for being harder to create the joints when dr…
Why are you opposed to "surrounding the house with another structure?" Do you want a half-timber effect? If you want efficiency, least construction work, high R value and the maximum interior space and view of a timber frame structure, SIPs are defi…
I am about to build a timber frame house but am very opposed to surrounding the house with another structure.I understand that there might be issues with warm/cold but wonder if starting with dry wood could solve it. My idea is to use standard 2X4 o…
August 10, 2009
Ron Mulligan is now a member of Timber Home Nation