A Curved Truss?

Once again we are working on a unique project with a series curved glulam trusses with douglas fir struts.  As you move back into the structure the span of the truss decreases and the roof slopes down.  So, because of the curve each truss is similar in appearance but unique.  The architect on this project came up with a truncated cone on it's side for the geometry.

Here is the outer most truss on it's own.  The rods that you see sticking out of the top of the truss are there to attach the rafter system to.  When finish the roof system will also be curved.

This image shows the rest of the trusses in the structure.  You can see the change in the geometry in this picture as well.

I just wanted to share something unique that will be going through the shop.  As always, visit Vermont Timber Works website. 

A Sampling of Timber Trusses

Well, it has been a while.  Things have been busy, which is a good thing.  So, to catch up have put together several images of the truss that we have been designing.  Many different shape and sizes and that's what keeps my job interesting.

This truss is actually a bent view of a cedar pavilion that we did.  Even the curved pieces are cedar.  Actually, they are cedar glulams.  You can see at the end of the top chords the slope of the roof changes pitch.  We accomplished this detail by cutting the top chords down out of a larger timber.

This is a very traditional scissor chord truss.  These trusses are still in the design process, that is why you don't see any pegs or bolts on the surface of the truss.  This job is out of rough sawn white oak.

 Here is another more traditional scissor chord truss with the joinery shown.  This truss has a more shallow pitch than the previous truss.  Douglas fir #1 or better was used.

This is a decorative truss that we designed out of pine.  This is also a scissor chord truss but the bottom chords don't extend out to the exterior wall.  This truss also has a could of decorative finials.

Here is yet another scissor chord truss out of douglas fir timbers.  I guess I didn't realize how many scissor chord truss that we have done recently but that's okay because they are all very different.  They all do vary in size, material, loading, and configuration.

So, that's a little look at what we have been up to.  There are many more barns, homes, restaurants, and pavilions that we are working on.  Make sure you check out Vermont Timber Works and see what's new (besides the website).

Dutch Barn Concept

An old Dutch barn has inspired an owner and his Architect to create a modern version for his residence.  The home will have high vaulted ceilings and the great room will be vaulted for two stories.  What would have been the hay loft will be second floor bedroom and common space.  Because of the larger spans douglas fir was selected for a species.  There is still a lot of work to be done on this one but it can be very interesting yet traditional.

Unique Timber Frame Home

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.

Douglas Fir Saltbox

It's quiet this week in the office.  Almost all of the people in the shop are down in Connecticut raising some trusses for a church.

 

So, while they are away I'm working on a Saltbox on an island in Canada.  Even for being a smaller frame all of the walls have lots of glass so I'm sure that the views on site are incredible.  Seismic loading is going to control the lateral design of this frame.  So what is a saltbox house?  Well, read this Historic House Blog to get more information.

 

I f you want to see more styles of timber frames like this saltbox, visit Vermont Timber Works.

Timber Truss with Double Chord

This truss has a double top and bottom chord and all of the webs and steel are sandwiched between them.  Because this truss is located in an area that has high wind loads, the steel was changed from rods to pipes.  The pipe can take the compression forces when the truss reverses in a high wind situation.  The truss material was specified as number 1, closed grain, redwood.  Are you wondering what the difference is in open and closed grain?  Check out The Nature of Wood for more information.

If you want to see more trusses like this, visit Vermont Timber Works.

Timber Pavilion

This week I'm looking at timber pavilions.  Well, it's actually one pavilion multiple times, 5 to be exact.  This frame is going to be located in New Jersey and is going to have a canvas roof over top.  This is the third structure I've done in the last couple of months with a canvas roof covering it.  Canvas roofs seem to be a unique challenge.  On these couple of projects there hasn't been a lot on information on the roof system and how it's attached.  There are a lot of assumptions made on how the canvas with behave in rain, high winds, and snow if it is accidentally left up.  So, to keep it short, I have a lot of load cases in my design software to analysis the different loading scenarios.

For more ideas on pavilions and other structures visit Vermont Timber Works.