Over this long spring, we’ve been so elbow deep at the Pennell project in Brunswick that I’ve been remiss in writing about it. The James Pennell House, on Pennellville rd., is a two-story Greek Revival house built in 1838. It is a high-style home, with the later addition of cupola and ell. The project…
Arbor Day is everyday down at iFarm this spring. Brian and Shawn have been building an arbor that will support fruiting vines, like arctic kiwi, on this permaculture farm. Serpentine in layout, the arbor is constructed from black locust saplings with simple half-lap joinery on full-round material. Black locust is a choice species for use…
With spring in sight, it’s easy now to look back with pride at the frigid months spent repairing the frame of the Todd Farm Barn. Shawn Perry, Jesse Turgeon, Reese Crotteau and Brian Cox worked diligently to repair posts, tie beams and undercarriage of this large transitional frame in Rowley, MA. When all contractors have…
The NH Old House and Barn Expo was a great success. To be honest, I expected what I’d seen at other “old home” trade shows: booths hawking fiberglass steeples and plastic decking. Instead, I was inspired by the level of craftsmanship and care on exhibit. Sometimes it can feel like we are alone in the wilderness,…
Here’s one to please our 11-year-old selves, and the folks over at Low-Tech Magazine: we raised the Carpenter’s Shop using a gin pole. This is a simple and traditional method for raising a timber frame by hand, and straightforward solution to a site with little crane access. It’s constructed from a long, straight pole with a block…
Tie Beams are the defining component of a timber frame. They tie a barn together better than The Dude’s rug ever could. A tie beam crosses the gable at or below the plate (eave) level, and prevents the eave walls from spreading under the outward pressure of the rafters. Tie beams, more than any other…
I think most people on the crew have come across a frame that made them stop, and think, “Man, that’s the frame I’d build for myself.” I think I’ve found mine. It’s one of what will be three barns on a piece of property in Poland, ME – a horse barn, dairy barn and carpenter’s…
Last week, Arron and I saw a neat roof framing detail at a Greek Revival home in Brunswick. The rafter was joined to the tie beam with a birdsmouth and pinned with a trunnel, the tie overlapped the plate and supported a flying purlin, and the plate ran past the gable end post to create…
PTF began work on the undercarriage of the True-Randall barn in November 2012, and recently completed a comprehensive timber frame repair of the house, barn and ell. George and Karin Look, owners and custodians of the True-Randall Farmstead, researched the history of their property extensively and are deeply committed to ensuring its preservation. The following…