A question for all wood specialists and House carpenters

[grey-array]

Hello there friends,

I'm currently working on the building plans of my future home, it is quite a project.
The house is based on a Green Oak Crux frame, but it has kind of a funky shape for it to allow for the best possible amount of light hours in the main room, which will account for about 70% of the houses heating,
It is a house with many new innovations, some of which are created or thought up by me, but still need to prove their worth in reality. Others of which are tested and proven through the trials of time.
Enough introduction,

The question I had for you guys and galls,
What would be the estimate largest length beam you would use in a crux framed home, I have 3 stories of which one is below ground.
And I will work the shrink rate out later as that is a variable to much at this time, as I am still working at the final shape with all the cruxframe/ peg joint connections.

Might you be interested in this crusade of developing a very eco friendly house that has a very high aesthetic value, I would gladly mail you the project as far as it has got now.
And I might even make it an "open source" project.

If someone has experience with designing crux frames, and might wanna give me some tips or perhaps some recommended literature on the subject I would be very grateful,
Or perhaps someone you know, who wouldnt mind his email being dropped to a enthusiastic dutch fella
I would be hugely thankful

Yours sincerely Ruud

 

[Outdoordude]

I cant give you an advice but that sounds aaaaawwwweeeeeeeesssssooooommmmeeeee!!!!!!!
Best of luck with the build. Were (or my dad is) a tudor style oak frame house. It is going to be amazing when its finished.

 

[JAG009]

Have a look at this site http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...2oHADQ&usg=AFQjCNFVLr9eWbPd390GWsGyMHSN3PVmTQ

 

[Niels]

I don't now anything about this either but the best of luck to you! I'm sure it will be beautiful.

 

[robin wood]

Do you have experience of carpentry and timber framing? If not would suggest a good course would be a great place to start. Trying to design stuff without understanding the strengths weaknesses and limitations fo the joints etc is pretty pointless. In the UK I would suggest Joe Thompson's course at the Weald and Dowland as a great starting point, or try to get to work with Henry Russell on one of his projects. You'll find more info if you google cruck frame than crux.

 

[grey-array]

Dear Jag,

I actually had some looks into his book, but The house I'm designing is not really the kind of house that would allow for a round wood frame so it is a bit of a different technique
Thanks though and an inspirational fella he is Ben Law

Dear Robin,

I have some experience with morticing, but currently I'm just working the plans, as I am a 3rd year designer student I have some good software to work with, I'm planning to build this home near my 32nd year, And currently at the age of 20 ( a bit of a young body old spirit kinda guy ^^) I have lots of time to spare, but better to be well prepared and have a million design changes then to have a bad design for the house you will live in for the rest of your live.
And I have been a woodnut for only a couple of years now so still learning everything from shrink rate, moistures and also Joint strengths, currently was going on the plans of original buildings and structures designed by the company Carpenter Oak as a reference. That is a great tip indeed Robin, I would like to educate myself in Carpentry and for that fact would love to live in Britain, guess I will have to save up for a couple of more plane tickets ^^
Yours sincerely Ruud

Thanks for the help Robin, and please do show that Axe John Neeman and his crew is making for you when it is done ^^

And thanks for the kind words people