The trusses were recut from heart of yellow pine timbers that were originally over 50 feet long. The building that the timbers came from was built in the 1840's.
These timber framed rafters were incorporated into a masonry pool house project. The owner was building a Spanish style pool house for entertaining guests and the timber framed rafters will create a unique outdoor space that will be admired by pool side visitors.
Thomas has started a web blog on the story of building his timber frame. If you would like to see more photos and learn more about his timber frame click on this link!
This project was a 9' x 10' garden shed to replace an original structure on the property that was destroyed by fire. Even though this timber frame was only 90 square feet the amount of joinery required was comparable to a larger timber frame. The frame was cut and trial fitted at Grand Oaks and then shipped to New York. It was hand raised in 4 hours by a group of friends.
"Scott, I can't tell you how much I like it. It is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! You did such a great job, that it went up without a hitch. It was so much FUN that 2 of my buddies wanted to take it apart the next day and put it up again!!! You are truly an artist. Thanks again!"
Gerry
MASSACHUSETTS POOL HOUSE
This timber frame was meant to be near water and people getting wet, but NOT on "raising day"! It was a wet day for the raising, but a terrific group of people came together to assemble this frame! Afterwards we got to see the Red Sox win Game 3 of the World Series! In spite of the weather, it was a really great "raising" and went very well!
And you thought there was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! Actually, it is a Grand Oaks Timber Frame! Just as we put in the last timber piece and someone made a joke about building Noah's Ark, this rainbow popped out briefly as the rain stopped! Great ending for a great raising!!!
The following morning, the sun was shining bright on this new Grand Oaks Timber Frame! This frame is the "Timberline" plan with some modifications to fit the owners use of the frame. It should be standing for many years along with the other great structures of that area. It was a bit humbling for me to have one of my frames raised where there are so many historical structures!
Will was an apprentice at Grand Oaks Timber Framing during the summer of 2007. While he was here, we cut together the 16' x 24' portion of the TimberLine 2 plans. After that he went home to Alabama. I delivered that portion of the frame to him along with some additional timbers for the sheds. On his own, he cut the rest of the timberframe and hand raised the frame with the help of family and friends on June 21, 2008.
"Thrilled with Scott's work on our frame. It's not to many times that you feel "over delivered" in today's world. However that is exactly what I experienced with Scott's work. Frame is great and the assistance in construction was fantastic as well. For any of you looking for a straight deal, Scott would serve you well."
Jared apprenticed at Grand Oaks Timber Framing during the summer of 2008. Together we cut the Little House II design. We added an additional door to the frame. We hand raised the timber frame on his property with family and friends and had a great meal at his Grandmother's house nearby.
West Virginia Homesteader Timber Frame
I cut this 14' x 16' frame that is based on my Homesteader plans. It is nestled in the mountains of West Virginia. It has an 8' x 14' loft. The owner, Brian, finished out his frame nicely and added on the shed. They raised the frame by hand in about 3 hours.
Howard Timber Frame
I designed this 30' x 40' frame for the Howard family with a 6' King Post extension of the Great Room. It has a large loft area with a 9' dormer and 2 smaller lofts above the 2nd floor bedrooms. I worked with the owner for 3 months cutting this frame. We "raised" it on a beautiful sunny day with the help of his family and friends.
From Tree to Hand-hewn Timbers to Kentucky Barn to Tennessee Home
Mark was a participant in my April 2009 workshop. After the workshop he dismantled a barn in Kentucky that had many different shapes and sizes of hand hewn timbers. There are different wood species, oak, chestnut, walnut, poplar that we are working with. Using the available timbers I designed a new timberframe. This is an ongoing project at the moment and have about 2 bents cut. The roof system will be made out of replacement timbers. This will be a very interesting frame with the hand hewn timbers and the old mortises showing from the frames previous life.
In January 2012 I did an Introduction to Timber Framing Workshop with 6 inmates from a county jail in eastern Kentucky. The goal of the workshop was to teach timber framing skills to a core group of inmates, who will then cut more timber frames. Then as their skills improve, they will instruct future inmates in the craft of timber framing. At the end of the week the group had united in a common goal and were excited about the timber frame they had cut. It works the same in all my workshops. When people work together on a project and enjoy the work, good things happen. Some of the men were talking about building their own frames and they were looking forward to the next project they would cut. The goal of the program is to sell the frames to fund the program and purchase tools. Hopefully the skills they have learned will lead their lives into a new direction.
Shelterhouse Timberframe cut by the inmates with my plans after the workshop on their own. Nice work fellows!!!
The Little House was the first timber frame that I built.
ALABAMA TRAIL SHELTER
In the spring of 2012, I designed and cut this 10' x 16' trail shelter for a church camp in Alabama. It will serve as the entry way to trail that runs through the camp. Even though the timber frame was small, it had a lot of joinery work and the top plate had 9 joints that had to line up all at once. The frame was raised by a group of volunteers from the camp. The concrete foundation will be covered with stone work.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life; and no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14: 6
Nashville Studio
Although I did not actually cut this frame. Matthew did an apprenticeship with me and I designed the joinery work for a plan he had drawn. He went home and cut the frame. I was able to help him on raising day to get his timber frame together.
Lakeland Pool House
I designed the joinery work and cut this timberframe for a plan the homeowner had drawn. We raised this frame in November, 2015, near Memphis, TN. It is a very nice addition to the pool area and will see lots of use in the years to come.
TENNESSEE HOMESTEADER
This frame was cut for use as a tiny home for a family that wants to simplify life in a nice location along the Cumberland river. It is a 2 story 14' x 16' and will have stick built shed additions on each side. Less is more!
VIRGINIA SHED ADDITION
This is a shed addition that I added on to a 16' x 24' Timberline design frame that I cut about 10 years ago. It is a 14' x 24' addition that will give the original frame more space.
I did not cut this frame, but I did design the timber frame and all of the joinery work. The owner cut and raised the frame on his own. He had previously cut some of my smaller timber frame designs on his own. Nice work! I have a full set of these plans for sale on my PLANS FOR SALE PAGE.
CINCINNATI TIMBERFRAME
I cut this timber frame for a past workshop participant. It is based on another 24' x 28' timber frame that I designed earlier. It was probably the most difficult frame that I have ever raised. It was raining every day. It was on a slippery muddy hillside. Timbers were swollen and joinery was difficult to get together. But in the end we persevered and it is a nice looking frame nestled in the hill country of Ohio.
MUSIC CITY TIMBER FRAME
I cut this frame with a home owner from Nashville, TN and another apprentice from Mississippi. Even though this was a relatively small frame we had 192 man hours in the cutting the frame and preparing for the raising. This was an international raising day with a fellow from Sudan and another from Liberia.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN FRAME
This frame was created from my Timberline plans. It is a 16 x 24 with a small loft and a 6 x 24 porch. Cut from Eastern Red Cedar, it should stand for many years. We had a really nice day for the raising.
KNOXVILLE TN PAVILION
This frame was cut during the summer of 2021. It was a very challenging project with 32 posts. It was an add on to a house to serve as an outdoor space for a pool that was also under construction. It was a difficult frame to raise because of the design. We finally had it up and completed after 6 trips to Knoxville. It was my first raising using an electric crane. Nice and quiet and more control!
BIG SANDY MUSH TIMBER FRAME
This timberframe was one of my larger projects. It is a 30' x 40' frame with 3 stories. The basement was cut from white oak timbers. The upper two levels were cut from red oak and red cedar. There were also six timber frame dormers.
Sweet Home Alabama
Outdoor areas are becoming more popular for timber frames. This cedar frame went up in northern Alabama in March, 2024. Cedar is a nice wood for a project like this. It has character and is insect and rot resistant. Good qualities for an outdoor structure.
