Archive for the ‘Timber Frame’ Category

For a quick history of the project scroll down to go back through Older Entries.

The new store is located at 4625 Old Post Road (right next to the existing store).

After months of planning and preparation we are raising the timber frame for the Charlestown Package Store.   South County Post and Beam cut the frame and is raising the structure.  The mortise and tenon frame is made from Douglas Fir and is held together by oak splines and pegs.   The structure is about 1/3 complete and we are scheduled to finish the timber frame by the end of the week.

With a timber frame building and Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) walls we have to be thoughtful about how and where we are going to run the wires and mount the fixtures.  Our design includes dramatic lighting, fire and security alarms, audio and visual systems, a cash register and inventory system, wiring for the geothermal heating and cooling system, and the usual array of outlets and switches.

We called everyone together – Tom, Tom, Ed, Traves, Ryan from Delta H; Meggin from Bay State Audio; Evelyn from Evelyn Audet Lighting; Sam and Lenny from Century Electric – to discuss the challenges and develop a plan.

We decided to build two horizontal chases into all of the wall panels and run all of the wires for overhead and ceiling mounted alarms through the roof.   This will require close coordination as Delta H will leave off the roof sheathing until Century Electric and the alarm company run their wires on top of the foam insulation.

The retail part of the new store will have a timber frame structure and, while the foundation and site work are being completed, the timbers are being cut.   We are working with South County Post and Beam of West Kingston, RI and the frame is being fitted in their shop.   First the timbers are cut with a computer controlled Hundegger machine.

CNC Hundegger Timber Cutting Machine

Next all the joints are finished the old fashioned way – with hand chisels and wooden mallets.   And finally the wood is planed and prepared for delivery. Below South County’s Dave Webster works on the mortise and tenon joinery.

Dave Webster Hand Finishing the Timber Frame