I was having a blast working on an addition/remodel to a 1912 craftsman home. Then I got the engineering back: the exposed framing (balcony, covered porch, posts, beams, railings) is littered with exposed simpson connections. I'm information-gathering before hashing all this out with the engineer. Before I attempt to sort out what all I can slot in, route out, counter sink, clad etc., I was wondering if anyone has any leads (catalog of details, examples, references) on concealed details especially in craftsman homes, or manufacturers of better-looking column-beam (etc.) connections. I'll add that this is in earthquake country - Los Angeles - I suspect I'm stuck with the rigid, steel connections and wood joinery is not an option structurally.
am i drunk or are you drunk...i'm trying to understand this post in detail...
exposed simpson connections, so some previous home owner went a little nutts with over correcting with modern connectors?
why steel connections? I don't understand this point because up until this sentence i am imagining all wood structure, original, why the steel introduction...seismic codes?
there is a graphic standards off shoot on traditional details and a "this old house" detail book that is good, but 1912 crafstmen would be just good common sense wood working with primitive tools.
I ran into this same problem when I did a craftsman renovation a little while back in LA. Engineering the connections without LA approved connectors was way beyond the capabilities of the engineer, so we ended using the Simpson Architectural line. It ain't so bad...
surprised the engineer didn't know your/the building's intent.
anyhow, making wood to wood connections with the seismic loads is tricky now, but you don't need to rely on simpson. you'll just need a healthy dose of concealed flitch plate connections. if you have the budget you can then bore & plug the holes to conceal it.
when i was doing structural engineering in LA for custom residences, we're did a ton of concealed flitch plates. no big deal and the engineering is hardly complex.
Many thanks for the feedback comrades. silverlake, I had a vague recollection (and an outdated Simpson catalog) that there were (slightly) more presentable steel connections. Thanks for the reminder. el jeffe, I'm lovin' these flitch plates. I just did a quick search so far and will research further. Is there a catalog of these connectors or are they custom welded?
It's funny to me now how oblivious I was in arch. school: when I used my glue gun on architectural models, little did I know I was tacitly spec'ing Simpson strong ties.
Craftsman home and exposed frame detailing
I was having a blast working on an addition/remodel to a 1912 craftsman home. Then I got the engineering back: the exposed framing (balcony, covered porch, posts, beams, railings) is littered with exposed simpson connections. I'm information-gathering before hashing all this out with the engineer. Before I attempt to sort out what all I can slot in, route out, counter sink, clad etc., I was wondering if anyone has any leads (catalog of details, examples, references) on concealed details especially in craftsman homes, or manufacturers of better-looking column-beam (etc.) connections. I'll add that this is in earthquake country - Los Angeles - I suspect I'm stuck with the rigid, steel connections and wood joinery is not an option structurally.
am i drunk or are you drunk...i'm trying to understand this post in detail...
exposed simpson connections, so some previous home owner went a little nutts with over correcting with modern connectors?
why steel connections? I don't understand this point because up until this sentence i am imagining all wood structure, original, why the steel introduction...seismic codes?
there is a graphic standards off shoot on traditional details and a "this old house" detail book that is good, but 1912 crafstmen would be just good common sense wood working with primitive tools.
I assumed that the Simpson connectors are the present engineer's solutions to rebuilt or new exposed framing.
SDR, if that's the case, man what's the point? Can't we sister the joists with some aged looking wood? square nail it?
i am drunk, please do explain...
I ran into this same problem when I did a craftsman renovation a little while back in LA. Engineering the connections without LA approved connectors was way beyond the capabilities of the engineer, so we ended using the Simpson Architectural line. It ain't so bad...
SDR: thanks for qualifying the rebuilt / new exposed. Scope of work includes new construction of guest house, so metabubble, yeah, LA = seismic codes.
surprised the engineer didn't know your/the building's intent.
anyhow, making wood to wood connections with the seismic loads is tricky now, but you don't need to rely on simpson. you'll just need a healthy dose of concealed flitch plate connections. if you have the budget you can then bore & plug the holes to conceal it.
when i was doing structural engineering in LA for custom residences, we're did a ton of concealed flitch plates. no big deal and the engineering is hardly complex.
Many thanks for the feedback comrades. silverlake, I had a vague recollection (and an outdated Simpson catalog) that there were (slightly) more presentable steel connections. Thanks for the reminder. el jeffe, I'm lovin' these flitch plates. I just did a quick search so far and will research further. Is there a catalog of these connectors or are they custom welded?
It's funny to me now how oblivious I was in arch. school: when I used my glue gun on architectural models, little did I know I was tacitly spec'ing Simpson strong ties.
For exposed wood structure, you really, really, really need to look up James Cutler and Peter Bohlin.
spark: already a fan. I have Cutler Anderson Architects bookmarked, but your reminder is prompting me to get one of the books on their work.
Bohlin Cywinski Jackson is the full name of one office.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.