Lee, Chuck and Scott install a deadman under the barn's corner post

True-Randall Farm: Post of Posts

Nov. 15, 2013 – When I tell people what I do, I sometimes run into the misconception that preservationists are single-minded, inflexible, and uninterested in innovation and design.  It’s true that at Preservation Timber Framing we think that if a frame stands strong for 200 years, it probably has good design to thank, and that…

Roof framing, exploded

No Worms in this Birdsmouth

Last week, Arron and I saw a neat roof framing detail at a Greek Revival home in Brunswick.  The rafter was joined to the tie beam with a birdsmouth and pinned with a trunnel, the tie overlapped the plate and supported a flying purlin, and the plate ran past the gable end post to create…

Dave, removing floor joists at the end of a long two days

David Ewing to present at 2013 National Preservation Conference

PTF’s own David Ewing will present his paper, “Moving Historic Properties: A Valid Method of Preservation” at the National Trust for Preservation’s 2013 Conference in Indianapolis, IN.  Inspired by his experience dismantling the Demeritt-O’Kane house, the paper reviews the history of moving buildings and includes the example of a Boston apartment building which was moved at…

Finished panel, finally installed

Marrett House: Magic and a Time Machine

Last week we assembled Marrett House‘s 15 foot frame and panel wall and installed it.  The day felt like a mini-crane day, with shoulders instead of cranes, and a mini-rush of adrenaline.  When the day was over, and we’d reversed the effects of last April’s drunken car crash, I realized that time machines are not made…