from Daizen News, June 2013
We have nice long days now. After the hard work, Dai freshens his mind by getting on to other projects. This year’s project is a pizza oven. If you’d like to build one, be sure to contact Dai. He’s finding many tips as he goes along, and he’s happy to advise you.
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From Daizen News, June 2013
During a raising, lifting the post straight up from the top will help place it accurately and safely. We calculate the weight of the member and place a proper screw that we can hook into the dead-volume center, so the lift is controlled.
The hook used to do this is called a transport ankor, and it’s sold by Würth. We countersink and inset the screws, so that we don’t need to climb up the top of the post after it’s set to take the screw out.
Because we pre-stain our timbers, no damage is allowed. The anchors eliminate the strap that would otherwise go around the member. Also, we protect the corners of the post bottom by enclosing it in a box before the post is lifted. This is a money saving preparation that we strongly recommend.
We include a gasket around the bottom of each post as part of the building envelope.
A nylon-based plate makes a thermal barrier as well as preventing moisture transfer to the post’s end grain. Then our famous Japanese epoxy anchor system goes in to secure the post to the foundation.
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From Daizen News
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.
—Abraham Lincoln
From Daizen News, May 2013
Glulam, or glue-laminate, is engineered wood that is twice the strength of #1 grade timber and is sometimes used as a beam. It is composed of several layers of dimensioned timber bonded together with durable, moisture-resistant structural adhesives.
Glulam is frequently used in large scale projects like airports and manufacturing facilities in order to achieve a large open span. As an industrial component, it looks good, but for a residential application, we use Glulam in a different way.
First, to soften the laminated look, it’s best if the glue in the lamination is clear. Then, we wire-brush the surface in order to blend the glue lines in. Finally, we use a dark stain color.
Glulam can be an affordable alternative to big timbers. At any size bigger than 8 in. x 14 ft., or longer than 24 ft., the cost of kiln dried timber rises to exceed that of engineered wood . . . and then the point is reached where natural timber at that size does not exist. For this project, an industrial feel is part of the design concept, so Glulam is the material of choice.
Another Glulam project: Best Western Revelstoke
Read MoreFrom Daizen News, May 2013
A board burned ½-in. deep becomes naturally weather and insect resistant. Charring boards in this way was a common finish in the old days in Japan.
These days it’s more for an authentic look, but it’s functional, too.
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From Daizen News, May 2013
This project was designed by John Peter Sauter, a Calgary architect, for his sister. It is built on the lake property where they have spent summers since childhood.
The full timber frame structure was completely enclosed in structural insulated panels (SIPs), so that the interior walls and roof are SIPs. (The SIPs have drywall on their inner side.)
Notice that the posts and beams are fully exposed on the inside walls. The unusual timber color is stunning, and the very-well-chosen colors of the walls, ceiling, and beautiful furniture enhance our timber frame ten times over!
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Ii koto ga attara, warau no de ha nakute, waratte iru kara ii koto ga aru /
We do not smile because something good has happened; rather something good happens because we smile.
Read MoreFrom Daizen News, April 2013
We are pleased to announce that we have moved into a larger shop in a better location.
We are now about 20km east of Kamloops, near the Lafarge concrete
plant. The shop is big enough so that we can now fabricate two
projects at the same time.
Our new address:
2947 Shuswap Rd
Kamloops, BC V2H1S9
You can see a map on our website.
From Daizen News, April 2013
We would like to thank the people who stopped at our booth at the March BC Log Home, Timber Frame, and Country Living Show held in Abbotsford. Our display this year was to show the limits of how much we can bend timber. We have not yet assigned the use of this very curved display.
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From Daizen News, April 2013
Our new dust collection system is highly advanced—it creates a clean working environment and also makes our shavings into fire briquettes. We are working towards a zero-waste operation, and we just got a lot closer.
