scgwhite
Established Member
Morning all!
I've been lurking on this forum for a few months and have learned a lot in this time - I thought some members would be interested in a building I've put up in our garden. It was originally intended to be a multi-purpose building - we would leave it open plan in order that we could host our planned wedding reception in it, and then convert it into a garden room / office, a workshop and a double garage, with a covered storage area for car stuff and an external log store. This was the inevitable Sketchup model that I used to mark all the beams.
Screen Shot 2015-06-13 at 23.33.23 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
We decided to use a green oak frame as it is such a beautiful material - and very much in keeping with the quiet corner of rural north Hampshire that we occupy.
This was the timber single garage and lean-to horror that we inherited when we bought the house. I actually rebuilt this garage elsewhere in the garden as a big shed. There was also an oil tank behind this shed that needed to be moved, and about 20 scrappy trees that needed to be felled.
DSC_7284 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
Owing to a poor clay soil and the trees, our site was identified as being prone to heave. This necessitated a beam and block suspended slab in order to satisfy building regs. This was the only professional service I employed on the build.
GOPR0969 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
The concrete was poured - I specified a power float finish, but the groundworker used a self-levelling product that didn't work quite as well as either of us had hoped. Still, the finish is pretty good and we got a 10% discount on the overall bill from the groundworker - so a satisfactory outcome. The slab closest to the camera has insulation under the slab as it will be habitable space.
DSCF4507 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
As soon as the slab was finished I had an initial order of oak delivered. This was enough to build all 28 curved braces, the log store and the sole plates that would sit on the brick dwarf walls.
DSCF4661 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
Sole plates were rattled out quite quickly - DPM under them in addition to damp proofing in the slab, and a lime mortar under the sole plates to account for any movement as the oak dries.
DSCF4663 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
A brace production line was launched in my temporary workshop. These are all asymmetric - slightly taller than they are wide, which in hindsight was an overcomplication!
Braces by Scgwhite, on Flickr
Second oak delivery arrived in February, and the weather was remarkably fair so I cracked on. All work was outside from this point owing to the weight of the oak.
IMG_0383 (1) by Scgwhite, on Flickr
Things soon started to come together - I test fitted and drilled holes for the draw pegs with everything upside down, as I had no facility to lift the wall plates into place at this stage.
IMG_0462 (1) by Scgwhite, on Flickr
All the 'long' beams were joined with scarf joints and double draw pegged - there are four beams that make up the length of the building.
IMG_0436 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
I joined the wall plates to the wall tie beams with a shouldered dovetail joint that worked pretty well - it also had to accommodate a 10mm size variance between beams. This was my test piece to check the jig I made.
IMG_1969 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
As I finished with uprights, they were manhandled into their mortices in the sole plates. I didn't drill and peg at this stage in case i had to accommodate and mistakes in the wall plates - they were held upright with lengths of batten. Building this 'forest' of uprights also cleared the site and created some useful space for the forklift.
Uprights by Scgwhite, on Flickr
When I'd finished with uprights, I hired a forklift to ease the wall plates and tie beams into place. What a great machine!
Forklift by Scgwhite, on Flickr
This was a great moment, when the shape of the building could really be felt.
IMG_0508 - Version 2 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
After the main frame was build, I moved onto the roof. I chose a supported ridge beam design so that I could incorporate some more curved braces into the vaulted ceiling in the garden office and workshop.
IMG_0575 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
Two vellux windows and a chimney flashing were installed in the roof before I started on the cedar shingles - I had 108 m2 of shingles to lay, and I estimate I used about 5,500. All were stapled in place using a pneumatic staple gun and stainless wide crown staples. Despite the cherry picker it took a full seven days to finish the roof - and was the most miserable stage of the build.
DSCF4765 by Scgwhite, on Flickr
Roof done, and the groundworkers came back to dig and lay hardcore for a terrace and path to the barn, while I started with the oak cladding.
Groundworks by Scgwhite, on Flickr
And that was pretty much it! The glass arrived and was installed to create a glass corner in the garden office, and the barn was decorated for our wedding.
Windows by Scgwhite, on Flickr
I deliberately omitted any insulation or breather membrane so that the beauty of the materials could be seen from inside the barn - they will be added in due course. A bit more work but definitely worth it...
Barn wedding by Scgwhite, on Flickr
Hopefully someone can take some inspiration and enjoyment from these pics, as I have done from other member's threads.
Simon
I've been lurking on this forum for a few months and have learned a lot in this time - I thought some members would be interested in a building I've put up in our garden. It was originally intended to be a multi-purpose building - we would leave it open plan in order that we could host our planned wedding reception in it, and then convert it into a garden room / office, a workshop and a double garage, with a covered storage area for car stuff and an external log store. This was the inevitable Sketchup model that I used to mark all the beams.
Screen Shot 2015-06-13 at 23.33.23 by Scgwhite, on FlickrWe decided to use a green oak frame as it is such a beautiful material - and very much in keeping with the quiet corner of rural north Hampshire that we occupy.
This was the timber single garage and lean-to horror that we inherited when we bought the house. I actually rebuilt this garage elsewhere in the garden as a big shed. There was also an oil tank behind this shed that needed to be moved, and about 20 scrappy trees that needed to be felled.
DSC_7284 by Scgwhite, on FlickrOwing to a poor clay soil and the trees, our site was identified as being prone to heave. This necessitated a beam and block suspended slab in order to satisfy building regs. This was the only professional service I employed on the build.
GOPR0969 by Scgwhite, on FlickrThe concrete was poured - I specified a power float finish, but the groundworker used a self-levelling product that didn't work quite as well as either of us had hoped. Still, the finish is pretty good and we got a 10% discount on the overall bill from the groundworker - so a satisfactory outcome. The slab closest to the camera has insulation under the slab as it will be habitable space.
DSCF4507 by Scgwhite, on FlickrAs soon as the slab was finished I had an initial order of oak delivered. This was enough to build all 28 curved braces, the log store and the sole plates that would sit on the brick dwarf walls.
DSCF4661 by Scgwhite, on FlickrSole plates were rattled out quite quickly - DPM under them in addition to damp proofing in the slab, and a lime mortar under the sole plates to account for any movement as the oak dries.
DSCF4663 by Scgwhite, on FlickrA brace production line was launched in my temporary workshop. These are all asymmetric - slightly taller than they are wide, which in hindsight was an overcomplication!
Braces by Scgwhite, on FlickrSecond oak delivery arrived in February, and the weather was remarkably fair so I cracked on. All work was outside from this point owing to the weight of the oak.
IMG_0383 (1) by Scgwhite, on FlickrThings soon started to come together - I test fitted and drilled holes for the draw pegs with everything upside down, as I had no facility to lift the wall plates into place at this stage.
IMG_0462 (1) by Scgwhite, on FlickrAll the 'long' beams were joined with scarf joints and double draw pegged - there are four beams that make up the length of the building.
IMG_0436 by Scgwhite, on FlickrI joined the wall plates to the wall tie beams with a shouldered dovetail joint that worked pretty well - it also had to accommodate a 10mm size variance between beams. This was my test piece to check the jig I made.
IMG_1969 by Scgwhite, on FlickrAs I finished with uprights, they were manhandled into their mortices in the sole plates. I didn't drill and peg at this stage in case i had to accommodate and mistakes in the wall plates - they were held upright with lengths of batten. Building this 'forest' of uprights also cleared the site and created some useful space for the forklift.
Uprights by Scgwhite, on FlickrWhen I'd finished with uprights, I hired a forklift to ease the wall plates and tie beams into place. What a great machine!
Forklift by Scgwhite, on FlickrThis was a great moment, when the shape of the building could really be felt.
IMG_0508 - Version 2 by Scgwhite, on FlickrAfter the main frame was build, I moved onto the roof. I chose a supported ridge beam design so that I could incorporate some more curved braces into the vaulted ceiling in the garden office and workshop.
IMG_0575 by Scgwhite, on FlickrTwo vellux windows and a chimney flashing were installed in the roof before I started on the cedar shingles - I had 108 m2 of shingles to lay, and I estimate I used about 5,500. All were stapled in place using a pneumatic staple gun and stainless wide crown staples. Despite the cherry picker it took a full seven days to finish the roof - and was the most miserable stage of the build.
DSCF4765 by Scgwhite, on FlickrRoof done, and the groundworkers came back to dig and lay hardcore for a terrace and path to the barn, while I started with the oak cladding.
Groundworks by Scgwhite, on FlickrAnd that was pretty much it! The glass arrived and was installed to create a glass corner in the garden office, and the barn was decorated for our wedding.
Windows by Scgwhite, on FlickrI deliberately omitted any insulation or breather membrane so that the beauty of the materials could be seen from inside the barn - they will be added in due course. A bit more work but definitely worth it...
Barn wedding by Scgwhite, on FlickrHopefully someone can take some inspiration and enjoyment from these pics, as I have done from other member's threads.
Simon
