So after framer John's pronouncement about the cabinet fitting into the gable end, yesterday I stick framed out a "cabinet" shape and nailed it up to the existing framed wall. Then I plotted the proposed beam placements and with string, dropped the roof into place. Indeed, the beams (and hence the ceiling) will not allow the cabinet to fit. Arrrgh.... I admit, it was 94º out and hot so I don't think my best when hot and sweaty.... I retreated to the house and armed with my scale rule and the plans sat and tried to sort out where things went so wrong. One thing I discovered is on the floorplan the ridge beam is placed one foot off from where it is on the elevation....and that one foot proved to be critical. By adjusting the placement on the house and centering the cabinet in that space, and by NOT using 11 1/4 LVL beams but altering them to something smaller... I think....we can make it work.
This morning John arrived and then Irv (general contractor) and with much scratching of heads and hmmmm'ing (and a certain level of being amused by my strings and cabinet frame work method) Irv is off to the lumber yard to talk "load" and cutting down the LVL to a smaller size based on the length of the span and what we need to do to get the cabinet to fit and maximize headroom.
Working on old buildings seems to present especially challenging problems. The loft window prevents us from raising the shed roofs any taller. The floor creates the other defining plane. Between the two the wall and roof must live and it's a very tight fit. For those of you who've been in my home, you know the low ceiling heights, especially against the exterior walls, in my lean-to addition spaces- guest bedroom, study, and what was the old kitchen. Well...THIS kitchen is struggling with the same issues only now I want to put a 7'1" tall cabinet against a 6'6" tall wall....hence the gable end.....the gable end ridge beam meets the log wall at the same point where the shed roof joins. The floor must be the same as what is in the cabin....Those measurements can't really change...so the trick is making the gable no taller and still get the cabinet to fit. We will be putting lumber in the air soon..... stay tuned!
This morning John arrived and then Irv (general contractor) and with much scratching of heads and hmmmm'ing (and a certain level of being amused by my strings and cabinet frame work method) Irv is off to the lumber yard to talk "load" and cutting down the LVL to a smaller size based on the length of the span and what we need to do to get the cabinet to fit and maximize headroom.
Working on old buildings seems to present especially challenging problems. The loft window prevents us from raising the shed roofs any taller. The floor creates the other defining plane. Between the two the wall and roof must live and it's a very tight fit. For those of you who've been in my home, you know the low ceiling heights, especially against the exterior walls, in my lean-to addition spaces- guest bedroom, study, and what was the old kitchen. Well...THIS kitchen is struggling with the same issues only now I want to put a 7'1" tall cabinet against a 6'6" tall wall....hence the gable end.....the gable end ridge beam meets the log wall at the same point where the shed roof joins. The floor must be the same as what is in the cabin....Those measurements can't really change...so the trick is making the gable no taller and still get the cabinet to fit. We will be putting lumber in the air soon..... stay tuned!
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| The point where the gable and the cabinet clash.......somethings gotta give! |
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