Touch the Earth Ranch-House
Picture Story
Framing
We
framed the upper section first. A template was fabricated and the rough
dimensions were established for joists and window struts. Because of the
irregularities in the log beams, considerable shimming was necessary.
Because the upper level windows are turned horizontally (90" wide x 46" high), a doubled 2" x 6" was used as the window strut on all edges of the upper windows.
The window frame was constructed and tipped into place. When the window frame is leveled and in the correct position, a temporary frame support was nailed into place at each end, securing it. Then the joists were nailed to the headers in four sections, and one by one, they were tipped into place and nailed.
All plates were lag bolted to log beams, where applicable.
After the basic framing was in place on the upstairs level, we finished the installation of 2" x 8" treated plates and bond beam on the lower level, repeating the process as above.
Joist length downstairs: 5' - 0"
Joist hangers were applied to all joists.
Joist length upstairs: 6' - 0"
Rough framing completed in two weekends. A good friend with an air compressor, air-nailers and myself. $3,100 in materials.
Now, with a little more framing, the windows can go in. Being a rookie at this at the time, I thought that a built-in drain would supply the drainage that the Michael Reynolds' designed roof appeared to lack. Michael Reynolds had just changed his designs to the slope to the south variety and hadn't come up with any way to drain the roof efficiently, as yet. He later devised the 'cricket' to do this. My design attempt was a failure, as the already in-place piping leaked and was later abandoned there.
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