Dutch Barn Restoration Project at Pleasant View Farm

[PVF1799]

This weekend we removed one sill and one main cross-beam replacing them with new ones. This is big wood for a big barn. My son Tim leads this project as this is his profession.

The South Sill - To be removed

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The Cross-Beam to be removed

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Some of the rigging - o the sills can come out.

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South Sill almost free. Been in that location for +160 years

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New Cross-Beam in Place - This is an 8x10 Spliced at +20 feet long.

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South Sill in Place Ready to mate the mortise and tenon

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[PVF1799]

A few more pix from yesterday.

Southwest corner at it's final location

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Fully Joined

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South Sill

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South Sill Joinery - Ready for joining to the Southeast Sill Extension

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Tim, with his work.

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[PVF1799]

Tim's been working by himself this week as I have a day job

He's replaced the other main cross beam - removed the East Sill, so he can tie in the South Sill corner. You can see the stork-bill joint is tied together until it is pinned.
Hope you enjoy the pix.

East Cross-Beam in place

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Joint under main East "H" Bent

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North End of the East Cross Beam

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Southeast Corner - Floating - Waiting for New Sills

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Outside looking East to West

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[Billy Fussell]

Wow! I have been following this project since it first began, and I am impressed with the connecting joints. They are perfect. Your son does great work. You can be proud of him.

Billy

[PVF1799]

Saturday 30-August
Today we finished the South Sill and replaced the East Sill that had to be removed to complete the proper corner. We had to move 1/2 of the East Wall including the wall and Corner Post North by 1.5 inches then move it back to make the joint. Fun was had by all The barn now has ALL exterior sills in place.

South Sill Coming Into Position

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South Sill Coming Into Position 1

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Tim does a little custom fitting. He's using a special Japanese Timber Framing Saw.

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Splice made South Sill - Not At it's final Pinning Position.

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South Sill Cross Beam Tenon - Another Nice Fit

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South Sill Complete

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[PVF1799]

We had to remove the East Sill and then put it back - Here's some pix of that progress.

No East Sill

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Tim brings around the East Sill That was Removed to permit the South Sill Assembly

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Southeast Corner made

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East Sill Joined back to other half - It's the right side of this sill we need to move North - then back South again.

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[Scrivet]

Move the east sill and put it back??????????Move the right side of the sill North ......and then back South?????? Are you SURE this isn't a government job?

I am really enjoying the progress and workmanship. I can see the picture of Rex all gussied up next to the completed barn already.

[PVF1799]

Move the east sill and put it back??????????Move the right side of the sill North ......and then back South?????? Are you SURE this isn't a government job?

I am really enjoying the progress and workmanship. I can see the picture of Rex all gussied up next to the completed barn already.

Thanks for the funnies - at times it seems like it - but I never doubt what my son directs me to do. The mere fact he (and some me) have moved the entire South Wall 14 inches to the North, raised 2/3 of the building an average of 14 inches and in the progress made it level (by laser level) and square just amazes me. Oh by the way - only wooden pegs hold this thing together.

Perhaps the weather will corporate tomorrow and we can start getting some floor joists in.

[Bezirk]

I find your posts very interesting and appreciate you taking the time to keep us updated, the pics are great also . I hope to see you at NE Fest.

Berlin

[PVF1799]

Man o' Man was it a hot one today - especially when working on the South Side of the barn. While I was jacking the South sill to it's resting place till the footings are poured - Tim worked on a joint for the last major crossbeam. I'm fascinated watching him lay this joint out. Then to see him cut with the 16" circular saw is awesome.

Hope you enjoy the pix.

Crossbeam Joint.1

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Crossbeam Joint.2

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Crossbeam Joint.3

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Crossbeam Joint.4

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Dad - Tim's Grandfather (95 years old) - stopped out to see Tim's work.

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[Hengy]

Ken. This is fascinating. I am following on FB as well. Quick question for you. How are the wall beams (don't know the proper name for them) attached to the sills? I don't see a joint where they are connected there. How do they stay in place?

Thanks for posting this thread. It is just awesome to watch this happen as it goes through!!

Mike

[PVF1799]

Ken. This is fascinating. I am following on FB as well. Quick question for you. How are the wall beams (don't know the proper name for them) attached to the sills? I don't see a joint where they are connected there. How do they stay in place?

Thanks for posting this thread. It is just awesome to watch this happen as it goes through!!

Mike

Mike - typical construction (new) the corner posts would have a mortise and tenon. The wall post would typically be set into a pockets cut into the sill flush with the outside. Because this barn was taken down and moved to this location ~175 years ago they used big handmade square nails. Quite a few wall posts need to be replaced because the draft horses ate much of their structural integrity away. The corner posts extended to meet the sill, then fastened with large special screws (not lag bolts) screws and in some places we use steel plates. All of that I leave up to the timber wright - my son Tim. When I get back from NJ, I will post some photos of the German Barn we built on the farm to recreate the first barn on the property in 1799. You'll be able to see what new construction looks like.

Glad you're enjoying the posts.

[PVF1799]

The last major beam is now in the barn - next steps floor joists. This beam has a dovetail joint at both ends and stop-splayed and under-squinted scarf joint in the middle. This is also called a summer-beam as it's mean to carry a great load. The North end dovetail cannot seat fully into the loft main beam because that beam has rolled slightly and twisted in the last 170 years. The dovetails will forever more keep the barn from spreading apart like it was when we started this repair.

North Sill / Cross beam Dovetail joint

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The total Cross beam

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stop-splayed and under-squinted scarf joint

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North End of the Cross Beam

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The Timber Wright

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[Rudi]

Ken:

When I am able to get on I look forward to Tim's progress. I love to see the super dovetails and those scarf joints that Tim does so well!

I would imagine he is close to his master timber wright ticket? He should be - awesome work and talent.

[PVF1799]

Another busy weekend at the Dutch Barn - Tim, made some pretty good progress while I was in Denver last week.

Looking Southwest - Main Aisle Decking Started

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Looking North 1st Hay Mow Crossbeam

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Tim works a cross beam pocket in the North Sill in the Hay Mow

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16 2x12x12's Squared at one end ready for decking in the hay mow.

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Looking Southwest Before Decking

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1/3 of the Hay Mow Covered - Looking Southwest.

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