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One of the big benefits of our timber framing trip

One of the big benefits of our timber framing trip to upstate New York was our proximity to my brother, who lives in New Jersey. We got to visit each other a bunch of times over my six weeks of work— the most we’ve hung out in person since childhood. It was fantastic! We cut down an awesome twisted dead tree with my tools, and cast things from silver with his. Turns out we’re the same kids we used to be, just with the strength and resources of grown men.

A month and a half ago I loaded a few hundred poun

A month and a half ago I loaded a few hundred pounds of tools and my whole family into our minivan and drove halfway across the country to build this timber frame. The central structure with the steep roof was designed as a Gothic arch pavilion by @timberframehq. The client, David ( @earthdancefarmny ), needed more space for the cabin he has planned, so I designed a pair of lean-tos that effectively double the footprint.

Every piece of this frame was felled, milled and joined right on this property. It’s a strange experience, working every day for more than a month on one very specific project, away from home. No chores, no school drop offs. My world became extremely focused.

It was a massive adventure, a ton of work and deeply satisfying to complete. And the frame is gorgeous. The red of the oak and nearly white maple complement each other incredibly well. The joinery is clean. And the view— I mean, it’s comically beautiful. From the front porch of this frame, you can see 180 degrees of the Catskill mountain range. What a thing. I’m very proud of this one. I can’t wait to see what David does with it!

At the end of the second very long day of raising,

At the end of the second very long day of raising, this timber frame is up. I installed the last roof beams as the sun slipped below the horizon. I’m completely delighted with the result. And tired. I’m the sort of tired you only get after a raising, when all the joinery you spent a month cutting has fit together as you intended, and your back muscles are as spent as any muscle ever was. A great feeling. Tomorrow morning, I’ll head back up and clean and tidy and take a bunch of glam shots.

At the end of the first raising day, most of the t

At the end of the first raising day, most of the timber frame is well up. I’m delighted with how well the joinery is going together, and how massive the vaulted roof is feeling. Tomorrow I’ll raise two lean-tos, which will effectively double the building’s size, and turn it from a tall, narrow gothic pavilion, into something more like the old Scandinavian style barns I grew up around. Stay tuned for the completed pictures!

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