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Building a Legacy Timber Frame Home

Building a Legacy Timber Frame Home

#12 Timber Frame Raising Day 2

  • angelaglong
  • 5 days ago
  • 2 min read

Another beautiful day for a timber frame raising! We met new neighbors and hung out with our next door neighbors Carl and Shirley, got to know Phil our Hess Homes Project Manager, met Josh's wife and two of his sons, and had an amazing visit by Tony Zaya, the retired owner of Lancaster County Timber Frames. And at the end of the day, the timber frame was up and standing as a work of art and craftmanship. We even had a champagne toast, a cake mishap, and a traditional scandinavian "topping off ceremony."


The completed timber frame, with only a few things left to be done. If you look closely, there is a chestnut oak branch at the top of the truss, put in place by the topping off ceremony.
The completed timber frame, with only a few things left to be done. If you look closely, there is a chestnut oak branch at the top of the truss, put in place by the topping off ceremony.
The final truss was set on the frame.
The final truss was set on the frame.
I took a little persuading to get the final girt into the already tight frame. But the Josiah made it happen! In the background you can see Josh, his wife Kate, and their youngest son Sam.
I took a little persuading to get the final girt into the already tight frame. But the Josiah made it happen! In the background you can see Josh, his wife Kate, and their youngest son Sam.
Tony Zaya, left, and Josh Coleman, right, were at the 2002 raising of our othe timber frame home in West Friendship, MD. Tony hand drew our house plans! Tony is retired now but made a special trip to see our second timber frame home.
Tony Zaya, left, and Josh Coleman, right, were at the 2002 raising of our othe timber frame home in West Friendship, MD. Tony hand drew our house plans! Tony is retired now but made a special trip to see our second timber frame home.
Tony was especially taken by a cake that I had done for the 2002 raising so I attempted to have one done for our 2026 raising. LCTF was so efficient that they finished a day early and the cake was not quite ready so I bought a blank cake and drew my own arch chord king post truss on it. As you can see, the cake met its demise before I could even take a picture of it. Eveyone had a good laugh. The original cake will be for the neighborhood gathering on Friday (see below).
Tony was especially taken by a cake that I had done for the 2002 raising so I attempted to have one done for our 2026 raising. LCTF was so efficient that they finished a day early and the cake was not quite ready so I bought a blank cake and drew my own arch chord king post truss on it. As you can see, the cake met its demise before I could even take a picture of it. Eveyone had a good laugh. The original cake will be for the neighborhood gathering on Friday (see below).
This is an extra knee brace that we had from 2002 and have installed it in this house. You can see how the color of the wood has darkend over the 24 years.
This is an extra knee brace that we had from 2002 and have installed it in this house. You can see how the color of the wood has darkend over the 24 years.
The chestnut oak branch for the topping off!
The chestnut oak branch for the topping off!
Craig got to hammer in the last peg! Backhanded, no less!
Craig got to hammer in the last peg! Backhanded, no less!
Here we are in front of the peg. I got to hammer in the peg for the 2002 timber frame raising so it was Craig's turn. Plus I broke my elbow at the end of May and am not quite back to hammering.
Here we are in front of the peg. I got to hammer in the peg for the 2002 timber frame raising so it was Craig's turn. Plus I broke my elbow at the end of May and am not quite back to hammering.
This is the crew and Craig and I and Tony. Left to right, Anthony, Jacob, Craig, Josh, Tony, Angie, Jarred, Josiah, and John the intern. Phot: Andrew the photographer.
This is the crew and Craig and I and Tony. Left to right, Anthony, Jacob, Craig, Josh, Tony, Angie, Jarred, Josiah, and John the intern. Phot: Andrew the photographer.
Another excellent picture of all of us! Thanks to Andrew the photographer.
Another excellent picture of all of us! Thanks to Andrew the photographer.
The Team of five who built our timberframe: Anthony, Josh, Josiah, Jarred, and John! The break in the beams on the right side is for our eventual fireplace.
The Team of five who built our timberframe: Anthony, Josh, Josiah, Jarred, and John! The break in the beams on the right side is for our eventual fireplace.
Here's the professionally done cake that survived. Unfortunately it wasn't ready for Tony, but he'll get a picture of it! It's the thought that counts, right?
Here's the professionally done cake that survived. Unfortunately it wasn't ready for Tony, but he'll get a picture of it! It's the thought that counts, right?

 
 
 

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