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Small Cabin Forum / Member's Projects and Photos / Thumbs up or down on my latest upgrade?
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rmak
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2015 19:03
Reply 


Hope it's thumbs up, since I don't know if I want the hassle of taking them off.

I have been thinking about adding these braces to the 4 X 4 overhang supports for a while. They are pretty cosmetic since the roof has held for 20+ years.

Now that they are up, I have mixed feelings. It does add some interest to the cabin, but it really says "OVERHANG" now. I get a little of the WWII German Bunker feeling. I think they might look a lot better after I paint them green like the roof.

Anyhow, gang. Thoughts?
SubstandardFullSizeR.jpg
SubstandardFullSizeR.jpg


bldginsp
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2015 19:14
Reply 


I think details like that go a long way toward adding to the character of a building. Other people won't look at it as closely as you, they will take in the overall impression rather than scrutinizing a particular element, unless a given element is grossly out of place or proportion. Yours is neither, the braces go well with the siding, IMO, and give the place a rustic and craftsman appearance simultaneously. I prefer something to dress up even the smallest buildings to keep them from looking like plywood boxes.

German bunker? Last thing I would have thought.

turkeyhunter
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2015 19:19
Reply 


were they needed or just cosmetic...??

sometimes less is better...the only one that looks OFF is the corner one.....you asked for opinion's...and remember your's is the ONLY one that counts!!!!

neb
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2015 19:31
Reply 


Two thumbs up for me! Looks good and adds some character.

OliveSheep
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2015 19:38
Reply 


I think they look good. Try to picture in my head, without them there, and it seems like they were meant to be.

rockies
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2015 20:08
Reply 


Rip them off as soon as you read this! lol

The problem is that your roof has different slopes, so the braces hit the wall at different heights. I especially wouldn't want to be looking out of that corner window and seeing those sticks in the way of the view. Even if you took off just the center one it would look better, but it still seems like a couple of sticks stuck on the side of the cabin for no reason (do you have to duck your head to get around that corner one?)

BURN THEM! BURN THEM NOW!

bldginsp
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2015 21:54
Reply 


Now Rockies, take your meds

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 13 Jun 2015 22:21
Reply 


??? They may be the first things to fall off and hit you on the head in an earthquake.....

Gary O
Member
# Posted: 14 Jun 2015 08:26
Reply 


I just can't quit looking at your gorgeous cabin...braces or not...sorry rmak. Too good lookin'.

Please post more pics

creeky
Member
# Posted: 14 Jun 2015 08:35
Reply 


maybe if you painted them a different colour? the dark colour really bounces around off the gold wood. a bright white might be nice.

great looking cabin btw. if you take them off I need some braces. can you send them to me?

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 14 Jun 2015 08:47
Reply 


Rmak, no offence but IMO they detract from the clean, good looking build. If they are not necessary I'd remove them, if they are needed, then maybe something that matches with the log siding in colour & form so it blends in more naturally.

Just my opinion.

rmak
Member
# Posted: 14 Jun 2015 10:08
Reply 


Thanks everyone. What a great site! I appreciate all of the input. And Steve, I will never take offense.

I'm going to try two more things because of the suggestions. I will build out the one corner with the long one to match the others so there is more uniformity in length of the braces, and I am going to put one on the peak.

Ill post one more photo. If things don't look good, they may come off. I would only have to fill in a few screw holes. If that happens, I'll send them to creeky (if you pay postage )

A few years ago I would laugh about an earthquake around NE Ohio, Don. But with all the fracking going on the whole area might just cave in!

rmak
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2015 07:44 - Edited by: rmak
Reply 


OK, taking the offered advice I worked on my braces yesterday. I rebuilt the corner so that all braces were the same length. I also added one to the peak for uniformity. I think things look better and I'm going to paint them and live with it for a while. Input and suggestions always welcome.
SubstandardFullSizeR.jpg
SubstandardFullSizeR.jpg


ColdFlame
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2015 11:44
Reply 


rmak,

My personal opinion is that although they look nice, I think it would look better without. Perhaps if your overhang was another foot or two out, they might fit in better, but to me, they seem like an after thought.

Irregardless of my (or anyone else's) opinion, you have a beautiful cabin - with, or without.

rmak
Member
# Posted: 15 Jun 2015 12:43
Reply 


You are no doubt right, ColdFlame, but it's my nature to keep messing with things. I'm a landscape painter too and my wife is constantly telling me to stop and leave the paintings alone because I've been known to screw them up by overworking.

rockies
Member
# Posted: 23 Jun 2015 20:27 - Edited by: rockies
Reply 


AHA! I suddenly know why the braces don't quite work! They aren't "bracey" enough. lol.

Actually, what was bothering me was the way they connected to the wall. It seemed like they were just sticks stuck to the side of the cabin, so I looked up "eave braces" on google and found these. There should be an extra piece of wood against the wall to transfer the load over more of the wall, and preferably another piece of wood at the top under the eave for the same reason. Although your braces are decorative, they were designed this way to help support the roof overhangs during excess snow load.

TADA! Now I can sleep.
Eave brace
Eave brace


AK Seabee
Member
# Posted: 23 Jun 2015 23:07
Reply 


The cabin looks good and so does the gator👍

Gary O
Member
# Posted: 24 Jun 2015 10:10
Reply 


I'm with rockies on this.

However,

Please post more pics of that gorgeous cabin....can't get enough...truly inspiring

creeky
Member
# Posted: 24 Jun 2015 15:38
Reply 


sorry rmak. I don't like the braces. You'll have to take them off and mail them to me. Hate to take advantage of you like this but it's got to be done.

That yellow and green bench is all wrong too. So might as well throw it in the box with the braces. Not sure how them seats is attached so throw the attachment in also.

no worries. I'll split the postage.

rmak
Member
# Posted: 24 Jun 2015 17:47
Reply 


Hey Creeky,
I got about three cords of firewood and a 2011 Ford truck. Any chance you could take this stuff too. They are just cluttering up the yard...

creeky
Member
# Posted: 24 Jun 2015 19:37
Reply 


dang man. i don't think my trailer can handle both. i tell ya what tho. I'll bring the trailer behind my 2001 150 with the gas guzzlin' I mean sweet v8 and off grid package and leave it behind just in case you need some haulin' done. take no notice of the odd wear pattern on that front left tire. that only started after I ran over the bear. but I digress.

did just put new plugs in the truck tho. I got em on sale so what say I let ya toss in a case of beer to keep things fair. wait. you'ze got that american beer. maybe make it two.

Oh, and I'll bring the broom so you'ze can clear up that yard real nice after I leave.

rmak
Member
# Posted: 24 Jun 2015 20:01
Reply 


Man, you're all heart, creeky!

creeky
Member
# Posted: 25 Jun 2015 09:48
Reply 


awww shucks. just tryin' to be neighborly.

rmak
Member
# Posted: 11 Jul 2015 12:49 - Edited by: rmak
Reply 


Last photo. I promise.
I took rockies' advice and made the brackets more "brackety". I am all in with the brackets so they stay now. I actually quite like them. I should mention that the brackets are functional. The 4 x 4's that stick out 20 inches under the overhang are part of the original post and beam skeleton. They haven't bowed or sagged over the years, but extra support can't hurt.
SubstandardFullSizeR.jpg
SubstandardFullSizeR.jpg


creeky
Member
# Posted: 11 Jul 2015 15:06
Reply 


the
Quoting: rmak
more "brackety"



rockies
Member
# Posted: 11 Jul 2015 20:34
Reply 


EXCELLENT! Now those look nice. Well done!

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 12 Jul 2015 10:43
Reply 


RMak... Now that looks much better being more "brackety"... Gosh, now I'm thinkin of these things.... dang distractions...

LoonWhisperer
Member
# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 10:51
Reply 


Quoting: rockies
EXCELLENT! Now those look nice. Well done!


Yep.. nailed it! But then again you had me at Gator. I so want one of those

ColdFlame
Member
# Posted: 13 Jul 2015 10:55
Reply 


Much better now - I retract my original opinion now that you've made them "more brackety".

rmak
Member
# Posted: 14 Jul 2015 08:12
Reply 


Quoting: LoonWhisperer
But then again you had me at Gator.

I bought it used. One of the best purchases I've ever made. I couldn't imagine carrying stuff back and forth to the cabin site or managing the upkeep of our land without one now. My wife Diane says it looks like the Beverly Hillbillies car (for those old enough to remember) I carry carpentry tools and sawhorses, pruning, trimming and weed eating tools, fertilizer and seed, shovel, rake and post hole digger, step ladder, tarps, screws, nails and other fasteners, etc., etc., plus any lumber and supplies for current projects. Even with that I usually forget something and have to run back and forth to get a job done. The gator is a real workhorse. Hope you can find one yourself. You won't be sorry.

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