Modified Post & Beam Garage Build

[seth928]

Hi guys....totally new here...just registered today....but have found your forums very helpful over the last few months...long time lurker. I would like to share my current project with you all and would like opinions on setting up the inside when it is completed.
Let me start with a little about me.....I am not a builder, I am a Landscape Contractor self employed now for 10yrs....I have alot of equipment and have been getting by with a glorified shed (many additions added to it) for years. I also really have a passion for anything with wheels. Well I have wanted to build myself a barn/garage for the past 5yrs. I was robbed of equipment out of my shed 3yrs ago and that sealed the deal...I started my prep work then. I wanted a real post and beam but didn't think I had the patience to build a true one or the time. I am building this for the most part myself...I do get help from friends but if I am working on it I am not making money....so time has been the hardest part to find. My actual construction start date was Nov 19th 2011....but prep was 2 yrs ago...so I will start with some pics of that... I had all the wood milled out for me from native white pine that I dropped of at the mill myself.

 

[seth928]

There were many trips to the mill with logs but I figured a couple of pics would get the point across. I know it will be asked eventually so I will answer it now.......having the wood milled cost me one third of buying it. The obvious downside was I had to wait for it to dry properly etc etc..that was about two years!

 

[Jagmandave]

Seth, what part of the world are you located?

 

[seth928]

So in November I got started....first I had two big trees to take down...and I had to lose my shed (I jacked it up, what could be saved, and gave it to my neighbor). I am renting 2 large shipping containers to store all my equipment till the build is complete...my toy car is actually in a clients garage....good client. I planned this whole thing with a strict budget in mind...and what I could do myself I did to save on labor etc. So I excavated for the foundation 4' frost walls and then had a form company take care of the rest....the floor is the very last thing I am doing. The Barn is 30'x30' with a second floor 19'x30' with a shed dormer...ceiling height on ground level where the second floor is is 11'...then the back bay is unobstructed all the way to the ridge 21' and change (for my future lift)...there will be 3 overhead doors....2 on a gable end 10x9 ea...and one on a sidewall 10x10.....so here are some pics

 

[seth928]

I am where all the friendly people live.....New England of course........large amounts of sarcasm intended

 

[tinbender 66]

That's cool you could use your own trees for lumber! A lot of the lumber for my house was milled on site from trees removed for the house. I didn't build it, the PO did but it's kind of a cool feeling.

 

[seth928]

Technically they were not my trees....a tree climber who I sub all my climbing work out to informed me that when the economy went south the mills were not giving anything for native pine....he could either give it to them or give it to me.....I met him everytime he had "large takedowns" and hauled the logs away for him....saved him the aggravation....and I got it for just my time.....all of it came from within 20mins away so its as native as it gets....and it is a cool feeling I agree

 

[fergus]

EPIC. FIRST. POST. This kind of build is a far off dream of mine. Subscribed. Welcome to the forum.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Did the mill dry the lumber for you ?

 

[seth928]

Did the mill dry the lumber for you ?

No i stacked and stuck it after it was milled....stayed in stacks around my yard for almost two years.....probably moved the stacks 3 times to keep warping to a minimum...

 

[seth928]

Thank You Fergus....and the only way you are going to do it is just start.......then you get committed.....I wasn't 100% sure I would do it till I saw the concrete truck haha

 

[seth928]

some more

 

[Nighttrain]

Very nice start! Will be watching this one.

 

[seth928]

yet more still

 

[DoyleDee]

Nice build! and welcome to the forum !

 

[colt zantop]

very nice build! welcome! keep those pics coming

 

[dwaynerz]

large amount of sarcasm noted. nice build.

 

[seth928]

a few from the inside....

 

[quick60]

Very nice, awsome craftsmanship especially fram a part time builder full time landscaper.

 

[NASMAN]

Just a word from a former New Englander, nice job.

 

[seth928]

To everyone...I cant say thank you enough....words of encouragement go a long way as far as motivation is concerned....spent the day out there today trimming some windows and freezing my *** off at the same time.....I look at some of the builds on this site and my brain starts whizzing like a drunk bumblebee...yet then the realization sets in that this project will never be finished....ever....there will be things that seem ok in the beginning...and then one of the members here will post something totally genius....and I will be like "why the hell didn't I think of that....or that's the way to do it you idiot!" and on and on....but for now....I will pretend there is an end in site....haha

 

[seth928]

Just a word from a former New Englander, nice job.

Thats a real compliment after looking at your project....and being from the most friendly part of the country thats like saying "well it doesn't totally ****"...haha.... much appreciated

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

seth928, what a great project your have going on there. You are indeed brave soul to build this post and beam as a first timer; you must have done some serious head-scratching each and every day of the build.

If I may ask, what resources (books, plans, internet sites) provided the most helpful instruction for your project?

 

[dave67fd]

Seth,
Nice to see another NewEngland build. Love the "raw" cut post and beam. I can't wait to see how she turns out. Keep up the good work.

 

[seth928]

seth928, what a great project your have going on there. You are indeed brave soul to build this post and beam as a first timer; you must have done some serious head-scratching each and every day of the build.

If I may ask, what resources (books, plans, internet sites) provided the most helpful instruction for your project?

No I don't mind at all...I have been involved in several landscape projects that revolved around historical preservation's (the homes) and I have met some really interesting characters.....well on two of these large scale projects I worked with a really interesting one......he was a post and beam / historical preservation genius of a guy...but he was old school....really really old school...because I was there on the job he had asked if I could swing some oak beams into place over the course of his project .....I obliged and learned more about this type of construction from the seat of an excavator than I would have reading any book....I just watched and made some mental notes.......then 3yrs later we ended up on the same job again.....I told him that I wanted to do a Modded P&B build.....well he didn't like the modded part (if it didn't have pegs and everything M&T it wasn't the real deal)....but I just kept picking his brain and asking questions.....well on this job it just so happens he was restoring a 200+ yr old barn and the house was even older...In short I learned a great deal from him....when it came to the codes and particulars I had to get an engineer's stamp....I also had a great deal of influence from a good friend of mine who is a custom home builder (very high-end homes) and although he had never done this type of thing he knew how to go about certain issues that I had no clue on.....so in a round about way my help with the head-scratching was all from talented individuals....

 

[NASMAN]

.....I told him that I wanted to do a Modded P&B build.....well he didn't like the modded part (if it didn't have pegs and everything M&T it wasn't the real deal)....

M&T , exactly what does Mickey Thompson have to do with it ? Just kidding, but not all the readers are going to understand that it is Mortise & Tenion. Hope you are ok with me pointing that out.

What year is your 928 ? How long have you had it ? Back in another life when those were only a couple of years old I used to build repairables. Did two of those, fun cars. Don't see those much anymore.

 

[seth928]

M&T , exactly what does Mickey Thompson have to do with it ? Just kidding, but not all the readers are going to understand that it is Mortise & Tenion. Hope you are ok with me pointing that out.

What year is your 928 ? How long have you had it ? Back in another life when those were only a couple of years old I used to build repairables. Did two of those, fun cars. Don't see those much anymore.

no...point out whatever you like...........the car is a 1987 928 s4 5spd 70k......i have owned several p-cars over the years....this one has been mine for 5yrs...its fun when i get to use it which isn't often

 

[thewrenchkid]

Awesome awesome work! Being from NH i love seeing build's like these, i am on the young side of things but once i am out of college then ill hopefully doing something like you are. looking forward to see the progress!

 

[seth928]

Awesome awesome work! Being from NH i love seeing build's like these, i am on the young side of things but once i am out of college then ill hopefully doing something like you are. looking forward to see the progress!

Thank You.....and my two cents........do it when you are young the beams don't feel as heavy....haha

 

[jktruck150]

Looks great!

 

[seth928]

Ok so here is a good one guys......I had a convention to attend today for some work stuff and was gone all day which I usually, even when working, pop home at some point to either grab equipment or eat lunch ..whatever....well today, no I was gone all day....I pull in my driveway maybe 45min ago....there were two people standing in the middle of the Barn/Garage!!!!.....now if it was a neighbor....or someone I knew hey no biggie.....but NOOOOO I do not know these people at all!!! and they are unphased as I get out of my truck and basically say "umm who are you and what the hell are you doing?".......there response "Oh we drove by several weeks ago and saw this going on.....we were in the neighborhood and wanted to see the inside, are you the builder?" my response "Yes I am the builder.....and I am the homeowner and you are tresspassing at the moment soo please leave and you are not welcome to come in and just look around! How would you like me to go to your house and check out your kitchen!!!!".....they looked at me as if I was a lunatic and quickly headed to there car....they left. Now is it just me, or is there sooooo many things wrong with what they did?????

 

[fergus]

Yeah, I wouldn't just walk onto somebody's property, then go look inside their building. You just stay off other people's land period, unless you've got a legitimate reason to be out there. Pisses me off when people use my driveway to cut through the field.

 

[Sawbladz]

If I wanted to drop in and see someones project, I would wait till they were home and then ask them to show me around.

 

[Doug B]

Seth, Welcome to the GJ ! Glad you found this place....lots of good information here(and some useless info,too!) Love your build. Nice design, and great re-use of trees.
My garage,while not a timber frame, was also built by myself and a few friends using locally milled pine lumber,and B&B siding. That saved me about 3k on the build.The logs came the same way,thru a friend who is a tree cutter.He would call me when a job wasn't big enough for a logger to come take to the mill. One of the nicest logs was a blowdown I cleaned up for a guy. Got 3 12' by 30" dia. clear pine logs for free!
Anyway, Good luck with your build,keep the progress pics coming !

 

[schwalby]

Now is it just me, or is there sooooo many things wrong with what they did?????

Going on someone's property like that around here could get you shot.

 

[Tom_20m]

Maybe it's time to post some "No trespassing" signs.

 

[seth928]

Going on someone's property like that around here could get you shot.

same here

 

[seth928]

Maybe it's time to post some "No trespassing" signs.

with my house being 45' away you wouldn't think I would have to but maybe you are correct

 

[Omphaloskeptic]

seth928, as far as the trespassers are concerned, some people have no sense of propriety. You would think 'NO TRESPASSING' was a given on a homeowner's property, but some people need to be reminded by posting a sign. Not sure, but doesn't posting a sign provide some additional legal protection for the homeowner in most municipalities?

Thanks for the reply and additional pics. It sounds like you've been blessed with some good mentors for the building arts. Work safe and keep us posted!

 

[seth928]

battens and more battens spent the day out there putting battens up and doing my soffets....had a very good friend help me out with the dormer area.....progress is getting slow....kinda odd it looks like its no time to complete ....but then you realize all the nitty gritty......finishing the inside just scares me at this point