One day the walls are white, with streaks of tape and mud…the next day they are primed with low VOC primer and the following day they are washed with a wonderful “clary sage” (Sherwin Williams) low VOC paint. The difference is night and day! They will finish the first coat of paint today and tomorrow the hardwood floors will be going down. It’s coming together. Building a timber frame is quite possibly the most rewarding work in the world!
Notice the secure door lock.
The Pickartz security
Well, I knew this, but as the home nears completion, it is sort of like motherhood all over again. The front steps are now in and the tile guys and painters (gals) are ready. The floor is sitting patiently waiting to be laid and the interior and exterior doors are in place. We are really getting with this old new house project.
Welcome to the Pickartz
Okay, I’m slow (well, only three months or so) and I’ve neglected this blog, but other things seemed important (like picking colors and appliances).
I took this exterior photo today on my way to work. Notice the front steps (the ladder). Think it will pass code. Actually, just got off the phone with the contractor and they are pouring the footers. Interior paint next week and then flooring. Getting there.
Notice the old tin roof. The exterior doors are oak…salvaged from a home built in the 1800’s. The interior doors are also over a hundred years old.
The eyebrow dormer is absolutely charming!
Pickartz Timber Framed Home
I guess you can say that Harold goes to new heights in this shot. Harold Pickartz (87 years young) topped out the frame on Monday 2, 2009.
Topping Out the Frame
The Advantech sub flooring was installed yesterday. It’s almost ready for the frame to be raised next week. You can see the tie downs (if you look closely) for the frame. These are Simpson straps that are poured into the concrete that fills the block.
The house plan and a 3D model of the house can be viewed at ExploreTimberFrames.com . You’ll need to download the 3D viewer there, also, to open the 3D view. You can also see the plan by going to the bottom of the page and clicking older posts. It was one of the first posts here.
Sign up here for directions and raising information. Hope to see you there!
Might look like not much is going on, but Cecil, Jay and Josh got all the I-joists installed today and are ready for the subflooring. They’ll be ready to install the porch decks after that!
In the background of one picture is a stack of panels covered with tarp. These panels will provide an energy efficent shell for our new timber frame. With R-24 walls and R-40 roof, it won’t take much to heat and cool this house.
Raising day is scheduled for February 28th. Ya’ll come on down. There is nothing quite like an empty subfloor in the morning and a timber frame in the afternoon…well most of one, anyone.
Stay tuned!
That's not Mr. Snuffleupagus in the background , that's insulated panels.
These are the floor joists ready for the subfloor.
Pearson helps to install the sill plate!
Who says construction isn’t exciting? Today they waterproofed and insulated our “soon to be conditioned” crawl space and the floor system construction was started.
Waterproofing was sprayed onto the block and j-drain installed around the perimeter of the foundation. Insulation was installed and sealed on the inside. A membrane will be installed on the floor after the subfloor is installed.
The I-joists and LVL’s will be installed and the Advantech will finish off the subfloor. Treated southern yellow pine 5/4 boards will make up the porch decks.
Boring? No, exciting! We are finally seeing progress. And on February 28th when we raise the frame, things will really heat up!
Conditioned crawl space is waterproofed and insulated.
I-joists (I beams of engineered wood) and LVLs (laminated veneer lumber).
Today the fat trucks rolled again and the blocks were filled with concrete. The blocks will be insulated Monday as part of the conditioned crawlspace process.
This house isn’t going anywhere sitting on 8″ and 6″ concrete blocks filled with concrete. Of course, a solid foundation is critical to a home.
Stay tuned for photos of the crawlspace insulation process.
