I got call from Raymond in March. We met at the Abbotsford show in 2008. Project site was in Princeton, it was a bid too far to drive down to discuss opportunity but I had good feeling at initial contact and I decide to take chance to visit.
He had ranch, recently purchased. Beautiful property, looking down the hay field. Over look the river if we clime up the hill. He was happy for the property they got but not sure what can be done to make the living space into more their style. They needed to see the wood in, that is why he called me up. After explore the choice he had, we decide to replace the wall that gives them a view of the property, with timber and glass.
I was exploring the way to place the glass right into timber. Instead of putting window frame. So this was perfect opportunity to explore and journey began.
The challenge on this project was to fit frame in without damaging the existing finish. At the first visit, I did careful survey but only enough for me to place the concept of the design, I had to drove down one more time for actual measurement. We aimed to fit right in to existing so I did not allow even 1/8″ for the clearance, but because we had one short wall in between which is jogged, this became the adjustment cushion to do. It was also fortunate that who ever build this original stick frame, it build good and solid.
Frame itself took only a few days because we use 80 feet wide giant machine to cut frame but it took us much more time to deal with detail that to have glass fit in.
Material need to be very stable and grain orientation better to have vertical grain facing to visual side since timber frame become the window frame.
when we arrive the site, Raymond already managed to had walls out with telescope supported the truss. I knew he could handle this work but I become aware of Raymond talent again after seeing this. He is business owner not the carpenter, 63 years old, his shape is better than me. While I was on site setting up, we had lunch and suppere together, went to hot tub every night and I questioned him a lot and it was very valuable ideas he shared with me. Great time.
Frame put up and in place include all beams in 1.5 days. Up till this is done, I was very nourvous about my measurement but it did fit and no extra finishing work would required, he can just sand the wall surface and paint with new magic color that Susan has been trying to decide. The rest of half day to place the glass into frame, thanks for all the crew worked on this, it did fit great, squareness of the frame did not even required extra 1/8 gap we place in a slot.
Next day, we spend morning to fit all the trim and head back home. We stop at Arrison lake for fishing on a way back, we saw dozen of fish shoring and both of us got fish to bite the fly but we did not able to manage to bring to the shore, it was big!
My review on this project is that we still have room to explore the way to install the glass. We have cut the slot to place the glass from out side and covered with trim but this seems so much of time to deal in our shop. If we develop the tools or let giant machine to deal with slot a bid more, it may be good way but placing trim inside and out is definitely efficient way, perhaps better looking from inside as well. View from inside seems a bid too clean.
Glass was tripple glazed double low e glass with smart spacer. Total width is 1″. Smart spacer height is 7/16, we allow 1/8 gap filled with gascket so total slot depth was 5/8.
1/16 closed cell double side adhesived form between glass to timber and trim for inside and out side and we left Raymond to cover this 1/16 gap to calk.
This frame is made out of three same unit so it can move later. Due to moving, I made it to 12×12 in size. To maximize the floor space, we made bunk bed and good storage space at the 6 feet and 7 feet high. Also making window with nook to utilize space. Window was purchased from Wayne Morstad at Colbe window 250-215-3292. I asked if he has any left over window and they did have one cancellation of the windows that I could use 90% of what they had. Very helpful and knowledgeable parson, I will recommend any one to contact him for any windows also folding windows.
This is my new try out timber frame, I am hoping to complete by my daughters birthday.
The concept of this unit is that it will be part of our new home when we are ready. So 3 12×12 separate unit is connected with through bolt only. All joinery is made so we can lift the unit.
Ceiling beam was new system, it seems very strong.
Floor and ceiling with 3″ styro form.
To utilize the floor space, I made ceiling height to 10′, making bunk bed at 6′, connection whole way for kids to craw in at 7′ height with 1″ plywood.
Glass into the timber. This is one of the detail I wanted to finalized for while. Now we have made sample. Yes, we made mistake. Now we know what to watch for it.
We got one real project to put entire wall with glass into timber. Our next move is to integrate the opening mechanism in.
Tree house was little on going project when I visit light house on Valdes. This was my second visit on island after frame set up.
All hard work experience moving from boat to location seems disappear and only memory comes back from visit. Jim and Karl did great job finishing the exterior and I can feel how much fun they had doing so. Winter are cold and short day light but great opportunity to enjoy the sun rise and sun set. Island cottage life seems very relaxing moment, I hope I can give this opportunity to my wife and kids life.
We spend four days weekend on Valdes island and we had to have something to do, so we decided to build tree house.
We could plan noting until we gets to island and find the potential tree to build tree house. After we got on island, we started thinking about building it on three trees that will make stable platform also was a bid easy to access. But, we found arbutus tree that near the ocean and kind of high place to locate tree house, so we decide to challenge on this one.
I made very quick structure idea in my head and we discussed about it. Every one left decision to me, and Kyle showed me his collection of drift wood so we said, lets put one and think next step after one is up.
First one is to bolt beam horizontally to falk, this was nothing but heard to lift. No scaffold to stand on, one hand to hold the piece. Drift wood is well preservative so good materials to use but very heavy. My hand start to shake while holding in place so we had to use brain not just muscle. Using rope to lift, rope to tight in location secury but I think we were working on edge all the time. Just tried not to make stupid decision and move.
Second day, we put three pieces in place. Only three pieces but satisfaction after the task was pretty significant. V-shape tip beam that neck sit on fist beam, connection was pre-cut on ground but putting that in location without support was not easy. We managed this by locating beam on ballance point, hold one end with rope from under, start to push piece our bid and bid.
Tree were amazingly stable but still moves, and this little movement makes a fear for me to tip toward out side to reach the connection. I don’t know how we did it, but V-shaped beam with knee support got up. Once all connection secured, I was not confident to stand on tip yet. It was even scared to see Kyle jumping to test the structure. I thought about connection over and over, what can fail this structure? All my answer was positive, it will support but still no guts to tried out.
Then we put some platform board on top, and start to reach to tip as I needed, more I do, start to losen my fear and trust the structure.
Then we went to hunt for more material that give us t
he imagination where we can go next. We found one curved piece and I had idea where to put it right away. I had to put this in place even we were not ready to proceed so I can start to think about next process. That is all we could do in three days, looking forward to go back to play with this again.
Having no plan, cutting without lay out or scale of tape is just like we made little fort when we were kid, we forgot about our task, duty or any thing that pressing our life during this activity and we went back to childhood.
On a way back, ocean were so calm almost reward from our challenge work, dolphin alsojoint nature congratulate our venture!.
Kiyo and I just came back from raising Richie frame. Frame went up in three days, weather was not great but had one good day to raised most.
It was good set up, very good client Richie and his son Karsten and contractor Jay who I respect as very hard work timber framer, we all worked very hard to set this up and get done in short period time.
I felt many things during set up, I thought we worked hard without any jokes and just kept working, I was wondering if I was doing all right but I seem do this every time, always concern to spend time, want to get it done quick.
Kiyo is my apprentice he said he was not able to enjoy the set up, not because of hard work, he did not know if he was great help, this was his first frame to set up. We went over many things during drive back and we know what we can do better again next time.
But, what matter is, either we get job done, build good frame and client are happy. We got job done, we believe it is great strong frame and Richie and his family are happy! This is right size of house frame for me, and Jay said it is clean design that I agree. Price was right, we could worked on without interruption and I am happy about result.
First day, unload lift with fork lift, build bent on floor without any equipment. Me and Kiyo is not as strong as others, it was a bid hard for us.
Day 2, rain, no crane, Jay wanted to raise it without crane but I resist, so half day working.
Day 3, crane came! Put all bent up to plate.
Day 4, all purlins and rafters were up left to home around 1:00 PM. Total 167 pcs, 9,000 bdft, so 55 pcs, 3,000 bdft a day for set up.
I would not use any green material to build frame unless there are good reason to.
But the price of KD material and green materials are double the cost and sometime I have to find a way to build frame with lower budget.
Fortunately, we have good forest surrounding and we can source reasonably dry dead standing material. Limitation of these materials are sizes of logs that we will not able to get FOHC on bigger and longer materials.
So we applied kirf on timbers to focus all check in top to prevent it to check on side. Timber with boxed heart, it will tend to check where ever close face of timber to center so most likely, it will check on side.
We had one project that had time in between so we applied kirf right after we received this dead standing material, put bigger dannage under also side to air can go through to dry timber while waiting. We had about 10 days to leave this timber in our shop and this is the result.
M/C was average 18% when we received material and it came down to 16% at the time we start to plane.
Kirf need to be apply before plane so kirf on top can open.
We have seen the kirf opens average 1/4 inch so it is working.
We have planed 4 side after so timber is square with open kirf on top of beam, no side check.
We will be checking this timber next while to see if the system works.
This is renovation project in Sun Peaks, design by Karl Willms. Building is not too old but style seems a bid old. Almost every house in this Ski resort uses timber in some way, often see full timber frame in this area. Our project was not big so we focused on quality, furniture quality to see if that makes difference in appearance. I presented locking mechanizm with wood joinery that is not used in any aspect, just came up on my head, but I have done similler kind of joinery in a past.
The challenge was to fit in existing roof, but it went easier than I thought. Mibroc guys are always great to work with, support us greately. Our crew Kiyo and Eiji stayed late a couple days to get this done, I was up set up main frame only one day and left the rest of work to crew, too cold!
I have not seen it completed picture yet but our work is done.
This is the light that we bought from IKEA and made into kind of sign where people enter to the restaurant. Light is very cheap only 40 dollars and rock are from my house. Made logo in Illustrator and traced well because the light behind. Waxed paper were not easy to penetrate the ink but it gave the effect that made more interesting. I definitely will do this again.
My daughter Mizuki always admire my work, she gave me such a good time in my life. Kiyo is new crew that reach his hand to where I need, thanks Kiyo!
Sanuki is one of three famous udon noodle place in Shikoku island. It is all self serve, the boil the noodle only and we put stuff even broth by ourself, but taste great. One noodle cost less than $2 all our familly got full with $8 buck from pocket. Kids loves this noodle.
Me and friend spend two days fishing. We aimed yellow fin that only one my frined caught in a past. This is the fish usualy fish from the boat but my frined believed if we run the bait on tide, live bait will swim amoung the tide and it will reach to the spot. He did caught one so we tried.
First, we fish the live bait (Aji) horse mackerel, lots of fisherman comes to this island to fish this. It taste well. Once we cought ten of them, keep it alive in a closed bucket and sunk in a ocean to keep alive. Hook through the norse and through into the tide and let it swim towards the wide open water.
10 hours of same action and we took coffee brake. This was only the brake we took in two days and after we went back from this brake, fish was on a hook already! Shit, lost the strike feeling. Took back to accomodation and eat them all, it was great taste only cost us $6 including ferry!
Right across from ship yard, 5 minutes from the boat, there are very small island call “Kurushima”. Seventeen people still live on this island. This was main island for pairate about 600 years ago. There is big straight surrounding this area and lots of big island but this straight call “Straight of Kurushima” The reaso why the pirate were on this island was that water moves so fast and these people had skills to build boat could across to island. I think that is why the ship yard is right by this island, it is the bunch of pirate continued and become one major shipyad since.
That is why so well made rich temple is in such a poor small island.
This is island we did fishing, weather was not cooperative this date, it was pour rain but I kept fishing.
We spend two night in Shikoku with frined fishing yellow fin. Departure are in area of ship yard. This is one of very old ship yard in Japan, still building for all over the world. Big and dynamic. Once thing I notice here in Japan, is things are right in a peoples life. Place like this will be very protective in Canada but here, fishermans and people lives around share the same bay no border.
It is my favorite to go public bath. Since every house build private bath, this kind of place got less on time but it is getting popular again. Tubs are big and water are very hot, but also they provide cold water tub also. I soak on hot one then jump into very cold tub, I continue this about three times and it gets really reflesh. I think Japnese are really liking to soak on hot tubs, people here least spend half to one hour every day for the bath. It is partly because the climate are so humid and sweat well during the day.
While I am in Osaka, we stay at my sisters place. She has extra two rooms that becomes our bed room and my office and kids play room. She has bakery business so every morning we have fresh coffee ready and some good bread. They work long hours, from 6 oclock till mid night when Christmas get closer. Location of her bakery is right in old shopping arcade. This kind place is getting less and less by big shopping place opening around, this is one of last place still very active in Osaka area.
I made her new shop almost 8 years ago. Wrapped steel post with logs, made furniture and floor. Floor was utilizing left over from log work and it turned out great. Width are un even width, but placing boarder in legth, it worked very well and looks great. Used ordinaly nail also left some wayne to make look rustic.
My yourger sister also display her work in this bakery.
We all hear how bad human is making inpact on earth. Yes, we are destroying the environment but while I trip in Japan, it also remind me how great work human do. Non of other anumals can make tools to make the bridge, building and a lots more. Night ilmination are all over the place in Japan this time of the season, we took kids to USJ, enjoyed great show. Amazing seeing the creativity of the show in this kind of place.
I visit two house that I build in Japan. Both house were kept in good shape and my customer are still in love with house. It remind me the purpose of doing this job, keeping people happy. The timber frame house need some maintenance on stain, originaly put Sitkenz and I will never use this product. It takes so much work to take old stain off from timber, any product I use, must able to put coat of stain right on top with just gentle soak wash.
This log house was my last work with log building. I spend three years to complete this house that basic settling maintenace were done before I hand the house to customer. 7 feet overhang protect house as I wished without putting any stain. The house looks like a bid temple because of this roof shape. I think these temple roof meant to protect the house from humid and wet climate in Japan.
I had been talking to indigo die factory for couple month in Okinawa to make T-shirt I designed. When I got to Japan, I checked to see the posibility to visit them. I found the tour trip, two night leave in early morning and come back with last flight so total of three whole day trip, include the hotel and car rent for $400 canadian dollors. If I take only fright, it cost me about $600 for round trip. I am not sure how this is working?
However, it was very nice trip. every minute while I was there, it was very valuable. People are friendly and I was very impressed with their way of keeping own culture on island. One of benefit they have is weather to be warm, that makes big difference in life style. House takes no effort to build compare to Canadian environment and easy life.
Tour included hotel but I did not stay there, I picked back packers to start and second place was falk house on norther island. Un believable place, whole things are un touched and not many people visit this place. It is only one minutes walk to beatiful beach and walking pass is sorrounded by the tree that they plant three hundred years ago to protect from wind. I heard there was one property for sale, I could not believe this kind place is still available to purchase. This is one of the best place to have private house, I don’t think any place I have been in Canada can beat this one.
If anyone plan to come to Japan, I strongly recommend to visit this main island in Okinawa, it only takes three days direct flight from all majour city in mainland Japan.
People stop swimming for winter, water tempreture are only 15 degree that any Canadian can still swim in winter. It is so beautiful. No industry in Okinawa, only polution is military base which is very big one that US military also Japan self differnce army has base on this island.
There is also world biggest aqualizm tank on this island. I could spend all day in here. So many fun live that we never seen in real action before, the one I liked too much was eel, I would like to pet this in my place. The three eels I was watching, they down in hole and up so smooth and watching us, one start to bother other, this one ignored this for about one minutes then start to fight. They opens mouth so big and mouth rap around the body but it seems just playing, none seems getting heart. This is the direction I recommend to go. There are several aqualium in Japan but seems none in BC.
Original residenial building seems using same floor layout. I visit the seceral old building and they were all same. Front space is 5.5m x 2.7m which is only 160 sqft that is half of the building so whole building is only 320 sqft. It also contains porch around and door are left open until they get sleep. That is what makes this space feel so relax and open even in such a small size. This is well desined layout that I want to make one up in Canada for summer cabin.
One key factor for copying this building is to keep the ceiling height in same. The beams are only in 6feet heigh but I am 5″10″ so not problem for me, may be problem for many of my friend.
Timber are 100mm x 100mm, it is small for Canada, may need to increase to 5 inch. All joinery are traditional joinery, that uses locking mechanizm. Material seems oak to me but no body could answer this, they have not seen any wood since the war burned all trees on this island.
Sanshin, it means three stringer. It is main instrument people use. The note for this music even wront in kanji charactor. Most songs are the words from people past that teachs things, ideas and enjoing life, it contains so many meaning, without knowing language, it is hard to understand. It is not Japanese language, so I would not understand it, but sounds are so reluxed, I was not able to leave the place for while.
Okinawas is very rich in their culture. They live in their own language, house style is different and eat and drink different, also they loved to sing and dance.
Shisar is the two set of lion that protect their house always on their gate to the house. They also have this on roof. Desing of these are all different some are very serious look but mostly very comical look.
It is not common for Japanese to stay in back packers but there are some available. Okinawas is part of tropical, worm all year round. It is not like Canada, they do not need to worry about snowload or insuration. All house seems very small in size but feel lots of space becuase they open their windows and doors all the way.
This back pakcer is pioneer for Okinawa area and I knew their place before I go. People were very frinedly and I met the guy who roast the coffee in a morning. It was very fresh and deep taste. By the way, guys smoking Drum, glass is prohibited in Japan.
I visit Okinawas for my T-shirt. I am making hand died T-shirt for my staff. Okinawas has very unique indigo that only hearvest on this island. All T-shirt will be die and dry, about 10 times, all hand work, very expensive! Push the cloth into indigo bucket, and squeeze without letting it touch to air for about three minute, once it lift from buket, it is green but only takes minute to change color to indigo blue.
This indigo is alive, they need to stair the bucket every day and add honey and “Awamori” Okinawa vodka in it. Awamori is only liquor they drinnk and they use it for many application, even as medicine.
Making white back ground was much simpler than I thought. The glue “chemical” just washed out once it drys up. It was very fun trying out. $70.00 a piece, I hope I have enough money left to give out to all my friend.
I heard about Chase bandshell I designed last year and build this spring, was on commercial from three people, so I was watching TV to find out. Yes, there was! So I searched web to see if I can see more, then I found one very easy.
It is the project that BC is promoting, they call “Spirit Square” seems like trying to build people to get together and fun funded by provincial government. It was my mistake and my stupidity that had no press release or even job site sign on this project. Many people I meet they talk about this building without knowing that I actualy design the building and build this one.
But, today, I got call from Victoria office about bandshell for Victoria. They asked me if I can send picture. I hope they will ask me more than just picture!
Click picture to check the film, there will be more opportunity for other local people to build theirs!
Shin also pronounce as “Kokoro” It describe heart, mind, ideas that comes out from sprits. But it also gives image of honesty, sincerity by looking at character. I am taking this as design in our activity.
Gi also pronounce as “Waza” It is skill that achieved from long continuous discipline, that experts from normal skills. This is part we are taking and I have to admit I still have long way to go.
Zai means material. This one character also combine from two character which is “Tree” on left side and “Talent” on right size. I should take tree is excellent versatile materials.
I have been separating Design, Craftsmanship and material to be separate factors so we can focus to target higher achievement as we move on. This concept that I had for while came together more definite by writing in three character in Japanese.
Especially, material is important. We are cutting tree, finishing their life. If we do not make good use of this, we might just live in plastic house. Now, our mission is to design with the heart, train ourselves so we do give another good life to trees.
The picture was given by Designer Karl Willms. He described the three days of assemble on island and put all guys working on the cabin in a picture. He won over twenty award in just last year. He can sketch and paint very well and same talent goes into building space design. He still draw plan on table, use tracing paper for all his ideas. We do not want to lose this kind of ability by using computer too much.
Shuswap has been good weather up till we started putting this frame together this summer. Traditional style timber frame, all frame will be covered to protect from the weather and fully exposed inside house. It took almost 8 month by the time we started design the frame to complete set up on site.
I was very pleased with fiber quality and drying result. All tight grain, no loose knot and dried evenly with RF kiln, moisture content between 12% to 14%.
Main feature of this frame is hammer beam truss and beam with corbel and steel integrate in. House is not finished, no picture for the steel yet.
After a lot of study from past hammer beam truss, anyone knows the structural system, they will not say yes to design and build this truss without tension support system in place. Tension rod for this truss were very ordinary which is okay but I would wanted to put a bid more thought and twist the idea a bid but my idea was not supported this time…..
All fits well, some place needed to be adjusted a bid on site but nothing major. I am not 100% clear but I think there were about 400 pieces in this frame and it took 8 full days to complete assemble.
Jay is free timber framer, his trade name is Blue Water Timber Framing. I got him helped us raising one complex frame and I was very impressed. I am in this business 20 years and I have set up buildings so many. With him, I found that raising are going much faster than my usual pace is. He is so efficient, think a two steps ahead, he is in good shape, he goes up and down so fast and does not afraid of height. I can strongly recommend him for any assemble and I will not hesitate to ask high pay for him, it will be great addition for raising team any time any circumstance.
John is my most important business partner that I can share my issue also satisfaction with. He is intelligent and reliable parson. I have been learning a lot from him especially how to look at the things, reality and fairness. Between me and John, our brain storming will bring up un expected result. Ingrid welcomes me and my family all the time, she shows me the joy of life, teach me fun of life. They become more than just part of business, they will remain in my heart does not matter what is going to happen to me. I thank that I met them,and also became the part of their life.
This trellis bracket can hang the huge weight as long as wall can keep the bracket in place. Steel are not decorative, it is structural. Timber looks a bid dirty, but this is patina effect. Timber are sand blusted and prepared patina finish. Actual aged look finish goes on top of this, recipe are complicated, John did hard resurch and test to acheive the result client a happy with.
Impel rod were installed behind steel where moisture can capture. Impel rod will release the chemical once moisture content raise more than 20% to prevent wood to rot.
Installing curved brace and fitting steels went well without any trouble. Though, I simulated the process of lay out, cutting and placing for a couple of days before I went to the site.
The most important factor that need to be consider is the twist in a curved timber. I can not assume the flat on curve timber are really flat, they are twisted. To deal with you, lay the piece on saw horse and set flat in level on both X and Y direction. If you find all the surface is level after, it means piece is flat, but you will see if you set one side level then other side will not, so find happy medium.
Then lay out all with level, square on line does not work! I used several trick to lay out this also drill the hole in a corner without jumping drill bid all over the place, but I did not had opportunity to take picture.
How will you drill end to end of timber 6 feet long? I had project that 1″ rod needed to go through the beam to install tension rod for hammer beam truss. I had to drill 18 beams, so what will be the efficient way? Some one said, I can do that free hand, I believe he can but I can’t.
So, I bought simple lineal guide from 80/80, took genius drill guide from my muffele drill stand, and put the long drill guilde together. It worked okay, not perfect for all the piece. If I do this again, I will make long drill bid first.
Light house shaped cabin, design by Karl Willms. No public road to the site, transported all materials and raised all by human power! No gas burned, only cans of beer runs the crew for hard work.
No one in a team complained, we all seemed enjoyed the time, part of this is because all the work and result were, slept out side, no electric, all work acheived by old fashion, end of the day, tired body gave good satisfaction each day.
After this raising, it gave me idea that I may want to continue doing this kind small cabins after I retire.
I have been blogging in Japanese, trying to share what I learn from real project in timber frame. I would like to do same in English, any comment are welcome. Anyone capable read Japanese, here is the link. http://timberframe.dreamblog.jp/
