Timber frame / Post&Beam Building Permit

[cabin fever]

Hi guys,  I've started building my cabin and have recently came across a supply of old white oak timbers from a dismantled log cabin.   I would like to use these timbers for the 2nd floor girders, joists and planks for the flooring. The local building department will not consider any non listed or ' non stamped' wood products for anything structural.  I am just curious what others have done to get approval for post and beam construction.  Getting an engineers stamp and the appropriate sized timbers is not a problem.  The problem is,  building code requires the lumber to be graded by some kind of lumber official.

Local building department won't confirm weather or not an engineers stamp on the drawings will override the code requirements until I actually submit the plans / apply for revised permit.

Before I go coughing up the extra dough to revise my permit and call in favors only to be let down I'd like to see what others have done to get permits for custom cut timbers.

I am not trying to build anything crazy here,  just  24'x28' with loft.  The reclaimed wood will only be used for inside beams for the 2nd floor loft.  Inside girders and joists all stupidly oversized for looks.  Remainder of the cabin on foundation,  2x6 walls and glulam ridge.

thanks in advance for any input

[Don_P]

In my county the building official will accept an engineers letter that he has looked at the timbers and they are of at least the grade required by the design, which is stamped. You can look for the language in the alternative materials and methods section, there is latitude. Since my engineer knew I was trained as a grader, I trained him as we rolled through timbers. The BO will also accept grading by a certified grader. I cannot afford to pay the extortion fee's to maintain certification with a small part time mill. For the BO, although I meet the intent of the law there is not a chain of liability. As a point of argument with your building department, the engineer's insurance is better than the grader's exemption from anything beyond replacement of the misgraded timber.

In the next county over I explained to the inspector that I was going to fell the oaks on the house site and use them as the porch beams. I asked what my next step was, "well I guess you need to build it". Just to say, interpretation varies.

In my area the overwhelming majority of old oak timbers have powderpost beetle damage that would preclude grading, they are a zero. If you are looking at small pinholes, the bugs have been inside and the damage cannot be assessed by visual grading. Our grader has said he cannot grade most old log cabins because of that. Do look the pile over carefully. Often in white oak, well in many woods, they will mainly hit the sapwood and avoid the starch poor heartwood, so all depending on milling. Grading is done after milling to final size so there is a risk using the reclaimed. Have axtra and have a saw handy, sometimes cutting off a defect can make or break grade.