I'm interesting in this build on many levels. For one, I'm down the shore enough that it's possible that I'd be able to see your build live and in person at some point. Secondly, I love timber framing - in fact, I'm visiting a local timber framer next weekend to see how he works through a project. Third, I work in West Chester - if you're ever over this way to visit your buddy's plant I'd love to tag along and check out their operation.
Are you in the trades for a living?
This building will be built by memorial day because after that my offshore fishing season really kicks in and I am running charters with my free time! What shore point do you frequent when you come down? I love timber framing as well, and Pocopson's Glulam system is so precise I will be able to build almost all of it on the pad I pour, and raise it with a lull, and have the whole skeleton raised in 2 days. Then after all the large timber is installed, the entire building is sheathed with 2x8 T&G. I will def. snap some shots the next time I am over at the shop, watching the CNC machine reach into a rack and put on a 40'' saw blade and precisely make a cut hands free is pretty amazing to watch. I will keep you posted. Yes, I am in the trades, I was, and still am a master carpenter by trade, but over the last few years I have gotten more skilled in the mechanical fields, I do plumbing/electrical/and marine stuff too. I am a USCG licensed master and run offshore fishing boats in the summer, so I am kind of all over the map. I dreamed of owning my own homebuilding company when I was in college, but now I just go where the work is, and try to learn as much as I can wherever I go. Thanks for your interest in the project, I am really looking forward to smelling the wood! I have about 3,000 board feet of doug fir to stain, so sure you can come help out ! haha!
I'm a sucker for timber frame structures as well, so I look forward to following along in your build. What is the cost differential between a standard wood framing job and a timber frame build? I would love to see your buddies operation as well. Can you take some pics when you are there to post up?
Thanks, I decided on the Timber style mostly because my friend gave me the option to do it. He had planned these barn style structures mostly to entice the equestrian crowd, but got little feed back so far. So he had a load of wood from another huge job, and decided to build his as the first, and I am doing mine as the second to expand the system to the south Jersey area. I am as excited as you guys are to work with the system, because It is my first time as well. The cost is more than tradition stick framing a box with 2x6's and getting 2x4 trusses, but this will give me the 'natural' timber framed barn look, while using Glu Lam timbers made up of 2x douglas fir material which is glued and pressed in a one of a kind machine. I opted to eliminate two 'trusses' from my building and instead spread two apart further and added substantial purlins in between to support the load.(I did this to cut down costs) I was at first bummed because I love the trusses, but then I began to like the idea of the purlins to give the space 3 full bays of full building height between the trusses, and I think the purlins give it a cool look. All timber will remain exposed in my garage, the bottom of the trusses are at 10'9 1/4'' and the peak is 19' It should give me a lot of air in the place and the feeling of a larger space. I can't wait.
Well, for being 26, you are on a great start! I wish I could have found something similar around here to purchase and update/fix up/finish. I can't wait to see the timber framed shop be built. Have you picked out what kinds of timbers you will be using? Cedar? Pine? Oak? I may have missed that earlier in the thread.
Thanks a lot, I really appreciate that. I have been working hard since I was a young kid. I had 55 lawn accounts at the age of 15, and have been building stuff since I was a child, so its really in my blood! I got really lucky on the house, my fiance and I searched and searched and could not find anything close enough to the beach, and quiet enough with enough land that was in our price range, and this one popped up one day, and the day I looked at I put an offer in....! The entire second floor of the house is unfinished..It's huge up there, but it is just the two of us and we have 3 bedrooms downstairs and 2 baths, and when my garage is built I may never go back inside! So I am saving up for the upstairs down the road, right now it is simply attic space. It screams for a big shed dormer off the back!
Also, The Timbers are not actual old growth timbers, but laminated 2x Doug Fir. If I didn't tell you, after they are stained and installed, you would have no idea. They look awesome. Thanks for the comments!
