Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Timberframe Design Couple of beginner questions

You know if you shrunk it slightly, perhaps to 12x16 you might not even need to involve an inspector. In some towns in NH anything under 200SF doesn't need a permit.

Also, DKR brings up a good point, if you are exposed to wind you may need hold downs. However my experience has been you have to be very exposed, I've done a number of single pitch wood sheds (sort of like a bus stop) that one would think would flip right over very easily, they aren't even pinned, just resting on granite blocks and none of them have flipped over yet. They are also so rugged that I'm confident if they did it wouldn't be hard to just roll them back up on their feet with a tractor... but that's probably not exactly the assurance you're looking for!

But my point is to consider the exposure you have to wind. If you're in a typical NH site carved out of a wooded area you're probably not in need of tie downs. But if you're fortunate to have a million dollar view you probably get some pretty good weather!

Our little town is pretty relaxed when it comes to building permits and such. I'm speaking to the guys at the town hall this week and I'll bring it up.

Definitely not worried about the wind. We are really tucked in. There was that tornado that came though a couple of years ago though!

Perhaps I'm late piping in but...

Put me down for the Plate over the Connecting Girts - Make the Common Purlins continuous - And I'll put in a vote for the sills. All part of the cohesion and redundancy that are particularly important if your foundation is less than completely stable and might maybe heave a little. To have a building move as a unit is better than it if moves in subsections.

6" Granite curb (sold way wider than you'd guess) set into a rubble filled trench, with proper perimeter drainage makes for a stable and beautiful foundation for outbuildings but at $15 a running ft just for the curb, it's not cheap and more than you need for a woodshed.

There is a boneyard of broken dreams available for the picking up behind the Concord granite-works up at the quarry that might yield some big chunks to bed your shed on. It's a great source for both big rubble and little chips for shimming dry laid stone.

If you are yet to order your timber, remember that small scantlings (those less than 5X5) should be ordered FOHC - Not every area circle mill can or will do this, and it may well cost a bit more, but you don't want to frame anything with little sticks full of pith. It's unstable and checks heavily. Go in knowing what you want and why and you'll be treated fairly.

The tornado crossed my town also, (my road for that matter) and I may be in the neighborhood, I could maybe recommend sawmills or whatnot.

Jeff - Read that free for the picking.

Maybe buy something, ingratiate yourself and give them reason, then ask permission and directions on the way up to the pile.

This reminds me..... As I roam around town I see old houses coming down, the granite blocks under the sills are collected by the excavator man and then passed on the land scape people who use them for borders around little flower patches and such. I could sure find more enduring uses for them. I had to scrounge the chips in the local quarry.

Thanks Will,

"Free of heart centers" Didn't realize that should be specified! Thanks. I'm looking to order my wood from Red Mill Lumber in Casco Maine, I'll ask them.

TIMBEAL, I've got tons of granite around here. Lots on my property but it is all being used for something. A big barn up the street burned down a few years ago and all that remains is a celler hole of large (really large) granite blocks. I asked the people who live there what they are going to do with all the granite and they say it is useless..the fire was so hot it made all the granite brittle. If I had a way to move it I'd like to take some off their hands.

I guess I assumed you were in the Concord area when you mentioned being near Swenson's.

Here are a list of other mills - http://extension.unh.edu/forestry/sawmill/sawmill_dir_print.cfm