I wanted to make a short blog post about this project I did in the southwest of France together with my friend Emmanuel in August and September of 2011.

This house and barn had been a dairy operation up until the 1960’s.

And had subsequently fallen into ruin.

Our job was it to cut a frame to be able to roof it again.

We had budgeted six weeks.

It turned into an epic.

With improvisation…

…determination…

…much excitement…

And pleasing results.

It turned out that six weeks were not near enough.

Though I’ve never worked harder in my life.

The long version:

When we arrived we found plenty of fresh milled white oak waiting for us.

Both in the font and the back of the barn.

We had no time to waste and went to work. Measuring, redrawing plans, making sawhorses, sorting timbers.

We started with the four center posts at the bottom of the frame. Simple enough, yet the weight and size (25cmx25cm) introduced us to the challenges that would accompany us through the project.

The only skilsaw we had did not cut quite all the way through when used on four sides, which made for a great little effect.

We did not set them up right away. But this might help to describe the frame. There are essentially four bents that cross the structure and there is timber framing in the top of the longitudinal masonry walls.

Next were four bolsters.

These sit on top of the posts and help support the scarf joints in the major floor beams.

One side of the scarf.

Times two…

Slowly…

 …rolled into place.

One scarf of four.

This one being fitted and laid out for the key.

They almost took a day a piece.

In the bulding they would eventually join together like this.

We would not even have gotten that far wihtout the help of the elder in the village.

A very resourceful retired maître charpentier who found us…

…an all-terrain timber cart,

and much encouragement along the way.

The frame design was based on the remnants of what we found, with a bit of modification in view of the new use.

These abutments, two thirds of the way up the outside walls will be buried in the stone walls. The front of the post facing left is flush with the inside of the wall.

Below you see on the left an old such assembly in the wall, and on the right, where the post and braces have already been demolished.

One of these abutment posts with bracing to the top plate.

There are many scarfs in this top plate

Shade is at a premium in August.

The days are long.

And sunsets welcome.

As we work through the stacks

mortises get cut

And the ‘done pile’ gets bigger

Four king posts.

The ridge joint.

Principal rafters.

After a good many of these sunsets it came time to put this frame together.

The crane showed up on a Friday morning.

With the center posts already standing the first task was to put the principal floor beams up.

The keyed joint over the posts is called “Trait de Jupiter” in the French tradition.

The new division of space taked shape. We’re hoisting the floorjoists and rafters up to this level before the first bents make that task more difficult.

The bents are preasembled and stacked in front of the neighbors barn.

What a mighty thing to see or work flying high. Emmanuel is holding a very long tagline somewhere behind the house.

The gap in the masonry is ready for the bent to set down.

The first one is always the hardest and most exciting. It feels good to have it braced and ready to unhook.

This was the second bent, and forgetting to add the ridge braces while the bent was close to the ground proved an exhausting mistake.

We had Saturday and Sunday to tweak the frame and make sure we’re on the right track before the second raising day on Monday.

Monday turned out to be a long day. From sunup to sundown raising two more bents, the sillplates and ridge pieces and all the purlins. I would like to say that I remember the crane drivers name, for he did a great job! There’s a happy and relieved timber framer in that picture.

The next morning we climb over the frame and take pictures. This bent brace is called a ‘Jambe de force’ or ‘srtong leg’, supporting the principal rafter.

The little triangles holding the purlins are called ‘Échantignolles’. We staggered the purlins to have more purchase and more nailing. It also creates a nice rhythm visually.

One can even see the markings for the bents!

The masonry around the short posts and even in the brace corners will be filled in later and help lock the frame in.

A few quick looks to make sure the roof planes out…

…very nice…

…excellent!

It is hard to get a good shot of the entrire frame…

Many many rafters!