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ventilating a timber frame roof

donbutler | Posted in General Discussion on February 25, 2004 03:22am

My old braced post and beam TF house has a roof with no ventilation. I attach drawing to illustrate. The rafters, timbers sawn but not planed, and fastened at the peak with pegs but no ridge beam. The planks are shot from ice resulting from the lack of cooling in the eaves.

I’d like to raise the new planking, which I hope to do this summer, with spacers on the rafters (1x4s or similar) so there is a slot vent left at the roof edge. Obviously I will be upgrading and redesigning the insulation above floor two. But I want to know, is that good construction? is there a better way? I am no longer interested in cheap solutions, but I want to preserve the construction as well as I can.

Regards,

Don

Septuagenarian living in a 200 year old house in Waterford, PA

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  1. User avater
    Sphere | Feb 25, 2004 03:49am | #1

    Don, I am amid a similar situation in an old log home. What I had come up with is to angle drill some holes (1" dia.) through the upper most log exiting into the soon to be soffit. then run 3/4 stirps along the rafters as an air channel and apply ridgid insul. on those, tite to the rafters. Of course open ing the ridge as well..wasp screen is imperitive..when I removed the existing "stuff" there must have been a 100 Lbs. of mud nests..

    Your plan is drawn very well and I see no problems , other than a complete re-roof..which I think you are prepared for..so, by my thinking you are Ok..many ways to get to the same place..

    View Image

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations. 

  2. Piffin | Feb 25, 2004 05:13am | #2

    What you show is essentially a cold roof design. It could be improved slightly. Add a ply of an inch or inch and a half of Dow extruded foam panle above existing deck plane, nail or screw the sleepers for venting over that to hold it down and elevate roof surface, then nail the new decking to these sleepers and finally get your new roof in place. The back side of the shigles are vented, you have added both vent and insulation, and manage to avoid tearing the structure apart, except for replacing any rot.

    BTW, Have I been in your attic

    ;)

     

     

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    1. donbutler | Feb 25, 2004 04:44pm | #3

      OH my ...........

      You HAVE been in my attic!

      Thats exactly how it looks!

      Thanks for your response. Very helpful.

      Regards,

      Don

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