Unique buildings are where we really shine, here at Vermont Timber Works. Yes we do simple trusses and barns and pavilions but (at least in the engineering department) the ones we find most enjoyable are the ones that make us stop and scratch our heads. Sometimes we stop and scratch our head because we just aren't sure how the timber frame incorporates itself into the rest of the building. Other times the frame is really unique and is a one off situation. Sometimes it's a combination of the two, which is the case for the frame pictured above.
The frame pictured above is a residence. I could not have drawn it without the help of the architects bid documents, imported dxf file, or pictures of the balsa wood model that was created. The floors step up and down and even though it's hard to see, each roof surface has multiple pitches to it. The other aspect that is difficult to draw is that none of the walls really line up on top of each other. All these complications combine to make it hard to track the loading thru the building down to the foundation. This is when us engineers stop and scratch our heads.
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