View Full Version : gambrel roof
ganschicken
01-18-2012, 06:32 PM
would a stick frame gambrel roof be a problem with the bnp style building
StressMan79
01-18-2012, 09:34 PM
Nope. Just not the easiest. granted, it does make better use of the space under the roof.
http://www.dutchcrafttruss.com/images/trusspics/gambrel.GIF
I don't know how to accomodate the secondary supports though. Truth be told, I don't really even know how to build one. There is one roof framer member, and he went with a steep pitch and gables rather than a Gambrel, so that may tell you something of the relative merits
greenthumb
01-19-2012, 05:05 AM
My dad built his log house in the early 70's with a gambrel roof. He went with a steeper pitch and larger rafters than shown in Peter's drawing, so the extra braces weren't needed(that picture looks like a truss system). The house is a saddle notch, not BnP but it wouldn't matter either way.
One thing to point out here- the roof is often the most expensive single part of the build, the more roof area you have, the more insulation and shingles or metal you will need. Gambrels compound that. It's often cheaper to go higher with the logs.
I think there are some pictures of gambrel roofs on some of the older student builts houses. I am not sure how to link directly to the pictures, but they should be in one of these sections....
http://www.loghomebuilders.org/image-galleries/student-log-homes/old-log-homes-built-our-students
http://www.loghomebuilders.org/image-galleries/student-log-homes/miscellaneous-pictures/random-pictures
ganschicken
01-19-2012, 10:03 AM
The reason I ask is that every student built home I've seen has a ridge pole and support poles. I would like to build the log walls with a stick built roof. I wasn't sure if the walls would support the load. I haven't taken the class yet so please forgive the ignorance.
blane
01-19-2012, 10:13 AM
One of our members did the typical b&p build for his walls and did a truss system for his roof. It worked out fine and looks nice and was probably much easier to do than having to put in a ridge pole with three ridge pole supports.
ganschicken
01-19-2012, 10:34 AM
Thank you that's exactly what I needed to hear
blane
01-19-2012, 10:51 AM
You are welcome. Our log walls will support anything you want to put on them.
Thank you that's exactly what I needed to hear
loghousenut
01-19-2012, 12:33 PM
Ganschicken,
I'll bet you a quarter that you end up switching gears toward a ridgepole roof after you go to class. It can easily be done the other way but the LHBA system works great, any fool can do it, and it looks cool. Cool is half the reason to do it.
There is something to be said about having a ridgepole support log right in the center of the home. It gives the place a balanced feeling and it is a natural spot to bolt up to the girder log that supports your second (or third) floor.
It's all about God, Country, Family and The Ridgepole.
http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t55/loghousenut/Wow/Rafters9-2010441.jpg
ganschicken
01-19-2012, 12:42 PM
I agree 100% but my biggest fear is not being able to find logs big enough to do the ridge pole. And my wife is dead set on the gambrel roof. If both could be tied together that would be great.
blane
01-19-2012, 12:45 PM
I am with LHN on this one. Even though you can put just about any kind of roof you want on a b&p you loose the log home appeal in my opinion. This style of roof adds so much to the esthetics you come expect in a log home. The exposed rafters and t&g are probably the things that that will cause people to say WOW! when they walk through the door.
blane
01-19-2012, 12:47 PM
I agree 100% but my biggest fear is not being able to find logs big enough to do the ridge pole. And my wife is dead set on the gambrel roof. If both could be tied together that would be great.
Where are you located?
ganschicken
01-19-2012, 12:48 PM
NE Arkansas
blane
01-19-2012, 12:49 PM
Do you have big white pines out there
ganschicken
01-19-2012, 12:57 PM
Plenty of pines just getting my hands on some without spending a fortune. I should have access to enough to build the walls. The ridge pole may be a different story
blane
01-19-2012, 01:02 PM
Take the class and they will help you find what you need at a price you can swing. See my blog posts on the roof and ridge pole work to see how much fun you will have!
ganschicken
01-19-2012, 01:07 PM
Thank you I will. The class will have to take a back seat for a little while. But I'm hoping to be able to go in a year or two
rreidnauer
01-19-2012, 02:13 PM
I agree 100% but my biggest fear is not being able to find logs big enough to do the ridge pole. And my wife is dead set on the gambrel roof. If both could be tied together that would be great.
Why couldn't they be? Not hard to add a pair of purlins, and then you'd have your log gambrel roof!
ganschicken
01-19-2012, 03:03 PM
Maybe when I take the class I will see. Until then all I can do is plan, and pay my place off. I can't wait
blane
01-20-2012, 08:56 AM
I remembered that one member actually butted 2 logs together at the center ridge pole support. He had to fabricate a bracket at the joint but it looked great.
Maybe when I take the class I will see. Until then all I can do is plan, and pay my place off. I can't wait
drummer boy
01-20-2012, 01:47 PM
NE Arkansas
Im from SE Arkansas and I have Yellow and Loblolly Pine. It is amazing how "clear" everything will seem and look after taking the class. My wife and I had to save for a year to go to class. I wish I could have accelerated that time but I am glad we went to class.
edkemper
01-20-2012, 07:02 PM
Then again, you were likely far more ready for the class after a year of reading the forums.
StressMan79
01-20-2012, 09:56 PM
The reason I ask is that every student built home I've seen has a ridge pole and support poles. I would like to build the log walls with a stick built roof. I wasn't sure if the walls would support the load. I haven't taken the class yet so please forgive the ignorance.
GC, the very last thing you will have to worry about is wall strength.
But rod is right, if you throw in a couple purlins, you half the load on the roof supports, so you can get away with much smaller diameter logs...And going with a Gambrel will be easy, since lining up a plane on three different supports isn't needed. If my wife wanted a Gambrel roof, and I was concerned about log size available, that is EXACTLY what I would do.
Steve
01-21-2012, 12:33 AM
Mark and Lisa (association members) built a log home with a gambrel roof here (http://www.loghomebuilders.org/image-galleries/student-log-homes/mark-lisa-sherrodd). They didn't use butt and pass walls, but the idea is the same: build a big box, add roof.
They just went out and bought attic trusses in the gambrel style, just like Peter's diagram at the top of this post. Then they used the "attic" space as a second floor. It was much more roomy upstairs than it looks from outside.
rckclmbr428
01-21-2012, 04:38 AM
Im with rod on this one, whats better then one ridge pole? 3! I have built a home where we had to splice the ridge pole and the cap logs, it just takes a little more head scratching, but can be done
ganschicken
01-21-2012, 05:37 PM
I just want to thank all of you for being so friendly and supportive.
greenthumb
01-21-2012, 07:59 PM
Rod, now you got me thinking. Was sitting in my dad's place today looking up at the ceiling, the beams are 2x12's bolted together. How cool would that look if they were logs, the rafters were logs, etc???
Here's an old picture of the place.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v642/greenthumbmetalworks/loghomestuff/Cabin2.jpg
happyquilter
01-22-2012, 08:17 AM
Ganschicken, when you take the class, be sure to have your wife go along. Prior to the class I had been dreaming and sketching... I came home from class, glanced at my little sketches, wadded them up and tossed them! I even chuckled because all my mistakes were the same ones that Steve and Ellsworth had "guaranteed" people make before taking the class, lol! There is a recommended way to do things, and the reasons are very sound and thoroughly explained in class. After class, if you deviate from the recommendations, at least you have a good understanding of what you are doing and what you are giving up, and you have decided it is worth it. As for finding a log big enough for the ridgepole... well, if everyone else can do it, you can too! (If that is what you end up deciding you want.) I hope you and your wife both take the class. My husband and I just got back from the January 2012 class and we were instantly able to communicate about all aspects of our log home to be.
Best wishes to you!
Shari
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