A rendering of the Albertson Cottage, prior to the addition of a loft.
We have been pulling inventory and pre-fabbing structural bents for a 1000 square foot home in Potosi. The beams, rafters and columns, as well as much of the trim work, will come from our forest. The exterior siding was sustainably harvested near Ontario. This week, our crew is fashioning parts of the stunning staircase that leads to the loft area (see below).
This home was scheduled for erection this winter, but we sadly missed the chance to pour the foundation by about 36 hours– when we received the first DUMP of snow (8″) that stalled us until Spring.
Sexy Carport Column, the first thing to see as one drives in.
Joinery work on a black locust carport column.
The exterior columns in the carport are all of black locust, a rot resistant invasive that we’d rather not have in our forest.
Derek describes, through interpretive dance, the way in which a car will enter the "eyelash" of this curved exterior.
Rafters prepped with Timbor and Urethane, await their next incarnation.
Rafters, primarily aspen, elm and some basswood.
The stairway will be flanked by a gnarly-turn niche box elder.
The stairway's box elder "stringer" (supporting side beams of the stair).
The stairway's stringer from another angle. Again, an invasive species put to a better use.
The central interior bent has a dramatic curved, black locust beam and American elm columns.
The central beam and columns in the Potosi Home, to be erected on site come Spring.
Loving the organic forms and the back to basics of whole logs and straw roof insulation systems. In the past this is the way buildings where made. Now unless it has been machined, comes out of a wrapper or a bucket the building department starts to look at you crosseyed. What is your experience with code officials and owners? Are the poles rated? Is an engineer required? How do you find voids in logs? Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Comment by Erik Ost — March 2, 2010 @ 5:44 pm
Thanks for the interest. We do get funny looks form the code people (and the banks) but we work with an engineer and this all qualifies as timberframe so they usually rubber stamp it in the end. We look at all their questions as a chance to educate them about the possibilities. Its well worth the process in the end!
Comment by admin — March 3, 2010 @ 10:23 am