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Small Cabin Forum / Member's Projects and Photos / Timber Frame Cabin
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danielgraff
Member
# Posted: 22 May 2012 15:49
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Our Cabin in south central Ohio

I have been building this cabin for the last few years.
(okay make that 6 years, two kids and owning a business has slowed the process a little)

It is white oak timber frame. 37' x 14.5' with two 'sleeping lofts' on each end. Located in the middle of hardwood forest on roughly 9 acres of land.

I plan on adding solar and maybe wind power. A system for water, either a cistern or rainwater collection. A detached bathhouse / storage shed and firewood storage.

I finally shot a video and uploaded it to YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeNtKws2eO4 I just started documenting the process, I could kick myself for not taking more pictures and video earlier in the process.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for watching, your comments and feedback are greatly appreciated.

Best Regards,
-Dan

MJW
Member
# Posted: 22 May 2012 17:39
Reply 


Hi Dan,

Nice place.

How are you planning to work the solar? It seems kind of shady there to be able to make much use of panels.

Nice place, though. I like it.

MJW

oldbuddy
# Posted: 22 May 2012 20:10
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Daniel.....I really liked your video. Yes, I watched the entire event! I never really thought about a video while we were building, probably because I wouldn't know how to get it on the forum. If I did do a video, it would only take a few minutes because our cabin is on 12X16 with a 12:12 pitch roof for a loft.

Fortunately, we have taken hundreds of photos during the entire process and I think we have nearly 150 on our forum site "12X16 on a hilltop in Ohio." You sound like you're in the Ross, Pike, Scioto County area but you kind of threw me when you talked about the amish. I didn't realize they were that far south. We're in Jefferson County just a few miles due west of the Ohio River.

Your cabin is huge by our standards. You really are in the woods! I would love to have more hardwoods around our camp. Mostly we have ash and sycamore and some cherry, but little oak. Are you high on top
of a hill or not? Is your road easy to get to your cabin or do you have to use a four-wheeler like some of us in the bad weather?

Old Buddy and I have put quite a bit of time in and it has truly been a labor of love. We both are anxious for hunting season this winter to get a nice fire going in the cold weather and get the grandsons up there takin it all in.

Get yourself (if you don't already have one) a digital camera and start snapping pictures. You'll be surprised of how many you'll have. Whenever I fill up an 8 gig card, I just keep them and put a new one in the camera. I'm looking forward to your future posts. Congratulations on a really nice cabin.

Old Old Buddy

Nirky
Member
# Posted: 22 May 2012 20:37
Reply 


Wow what a big, involved cabin. Talk about sq footage. Looks like a nice location also. Solar might not be your best option with all the surrounding trees, maybe diesel generator. Keep the pictures coming.

SonnyB
Member
# Posted: 22 May 2012 22:57
Reply 


Looking good! How big are your lofts?

danielgraff
Member
# Posted: 23 May 2012 14:41
Reply 


Thanks for the feedback.

MJW: Yep the solar is going to tricky, might have to make a small (okay, large) clearing

OLDBUDDY: Not really up on a hill, we enter the property and drive up a slight grade for a few hundred yards. One side slopes up and the other starts down and then really starts falling off. At the bottom of the cliff is a large creek. We are in Adams Co. around the Miller's Amish community. Kind of odd, if we head south west away form our property we never see Amish. If we head North you have to take ever sharp turn in the road with care as not to hit a horse and buggy. When I wrote that I have not been documenting the process. I was joking a little, I have taken a few dozen photos. But not as many as I wish I had. (I found more today, see attached)

SOONYB: The foot print is 37'x14.5" divided into three equal "bays" the two end bays have the lofts and the middle bay just has a tall ceiling. To answer your question the lofts are 12'-4" x 14'-6"

Thanks for the feedback.

Best,
Dan
My site, view, and the beginning of the foundation (Jan. '05)
My site, view, and the beginning of the foundation (Jan. '05)
Beginning of the foundation (Jan. '05)
Beginning of the foundation (Jan. '05)
Foundation (Jan. 05)
Foundation (Jan. 05)
First floor framing
First floor framing


danielgraff
Member
# Posted: 23 May 2012 14:47
Reply 


And a few more photos. These are from the spring and summer of 2005
just a few timbers
just a few timbers
shouldered dove tail
shouldered dove tail
Rafters with lap joint
Rafters with lap joint
Bents assembled waiting to be raised
Bents assembled waiting to be raised


danielgraff
Member
# Posted: 23 May 2012 15:01
Reply 


And finally the raising...

The frame raising was on September 8, 2005. We started at 6:00am and were finished by 3:00pm. It went pretty smoothly and almost everything fit perfectly. With the exception of a few mortises that had to be sweetened up with a few chisel swipes.

The only "holly cow" event was a 6"x8"x12' long rafter slipping out of it's sling and falling from about 35 up. We used a boom truck to aid in the raising. The operator, who owns a tree service company, was great. He picked and placed my timbers with precision.

Best,
Dan
Raising the mid bay Ridge and columns
Raising the mid bay Ridge and columns
Setting rafters, 6"x8"
Setting rafters, 6"x8"
Final frame assembly
Final frame assembly
12_bedroom_loft.JPG
12_bedroom_loft.JPG


trollbridge
Member
# Posted: 23 May 2012 15:50 - Edited by: trollbridge
Reply 


I love your place! Congratulations! Where have 6 years gone huh? LOL!
I really like the design of your place, the open layout, 2 lofts and roof line plus the double entrance doors are awesome with the nice wide steps and the setting in the woods...simply gorgeous!!! A lot of work!!!! Oh...and don't you HATE the cleaning/packing up on Sunday afternoon??? Sometimes that job seems overwhelming in itself after already working so hard all weekend!
We did some thing similar with a good part of our siding...since budget is always on our minds we used treated plywood which we painted and used treated 1x3's (I think they were) for battens also painted the same color.
I will enjoy watching the rest of your place come together! Congratulations again and welcome too!

danielgraff
Member
# Posted: 24 May 2012 10:30
Reply 


trollbridge
Thanks for the kind words. I have to agree that packing up on Sunday afternoon is a bear. I never start early enough, then I'm exhausted which just makes matters worse.

fpw
Member
# Posted: 24 May 2012 14:10 - Edited by: fpw
Reply 


Barr chiesel, eh? Nice.

Looks like you splined the plates into the posts. Where the plates squared off? How much shoulder did you cut into the post?

danielgraff
Member
# Posted: 24 May 2012 14:16
Reply 


fpw
Yep, worth every penny!

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