Firstday Cottage

[MountainDon]

No, no. If I had the chance to go back and make decisons again as to education and life I would want to be a PE. At the point I'm at now I'd rather enjoy the semi retirement, learn casually than go to school.

[Daddymem]

Definitely not the same foundation.  The home is poured concrete basement, this will likely be posts on concrete filled sonotubes. 

A gasket of some sort would be more preferable, going down to the T&G might require some modifications as it would go through the strapping that holds the insulation on and the siding attaches to.  Strapping is spiked into the modified timberframe posts on the house that are 38" OC so that would leave a little more than I'd like hanging unsupported.

Doors swing inward, I know I would lose some of the swing, but that's ok.  Either that or custom deeper doors ($$$).

No plans yet, still researching which way to go.

Ideally, I would strip the entire enclosed area down to the T&G and insulate the airlock room, but pretty sure that would require a res-check and we are right up against the limits now without adding windows....

[Daddymem]

yeah, I waited way to long too take the test, so now I am a "new" Civil PE with 15 years experience.

[Daddymem]

What I had in my mind is similar to this:  Picture #1
http://www.sunporch.com/PhotoGallery.aspx

The idea came from my grandparent's house.  They had a mobile home and a simple deck had an aluminum enclosure over it.  There were solid panels maybe 2 feet high and the rest were jalousie windows.   I remember that it went against the siding withe some sort of rubber and sticky gasket.  No insulation at all.

I did just come up with a thought though.  If I stripped down to T&G, in the enclosed area I could leave out the rigid insulation and go straight to strapping and shiplap and fill the walls behind with batt insulation since one wall is finished and not open stud, and the other is in a closet...wonder how I could get that one by the building inspector...

[Daddymem]

Here are some option sketches:

https://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff173/daddymem/addition-Model-2_zpsf9c4f59d.jpg

[Daddymem]

This is the one I would prefer.  I would strip the siding down to the strapping only from floor level up.  I would cut out the foam insulation from floor level down around the door so the floor can butt up against the existing.  No insulation, no heat so hopefully no res-check needed.  I would flash the corners against the strapping, using filler strapping between the rows to fasten to.

[Daddymem]

Staked it out on the front of the house...too small.  Looks like 8x8 will work better, that way all 5 of us can get in out of the blizzard/nor'easter/hurricane/tropical storm while the front door is being unlocked.  Also benches to kick snowy/wet clothes off.  Anyone got a small room like this?  What size?  Insulated?  Your climate?

[rick91351]

I like your idea a lot.  We have friends up here with a sort of similar idea.  Theirs however is a lot larger and does break the outside from the inside very effectively.   

In our new house design I included a small vestibule like 8' by 5'6" from the back porch to the house for just that reason.  Sort a mini mud room.     Only with us it is just the two of us and the two and a half outside dogs that live more inside than us when it gets cold.  Then the sometimes weekend grandkids and the people that drop in.  This being a ranch home, with us living here full time.  I expect the most of that traffic will be in and out the back door.  The shop and orchard are located off the rear of the proposed house.  If I had it to do over I think I would try a little harder to included one off the front door as well.  However to not obstruct the view I ruled no.  But then firewood is cheap up here and in the winter I don't think we will be over run by people.       

[speedfunk]

im not totally sure I understand what your trying to do BUT I can tell ya that on our firstday when we did a porch off an gable end we lag bolted a 2x10 to the exterior of the shiplap and went from there (in this case attached ridge beam for wood framed shed style roof).  I cannot remember off hand if we used screws or nails on the furring strips but regardless in your case nails so a long timber screw could reach into the real framing under the T+G ... .  they make those 6 or 8 inch deck screws that will really snug things up trust me.  GL 
 

[Daddymem]

Thanks Speedfunk.  Going around and around with the BI now.  He says we are in a wind debris damage zone and need 6x6 posts.  So we are rethinking about doing standard 2by framing.  The idea is to strip down to the strapping, then fill in the gaps between strapping with 1by.  Maybe a lag through it all to the interior 1by makes sense...I'll have to think on that.  I don't think we'll be up against a post where the walls meet.  But the rafter against the house could be screwed in through to some posts.  It might turn into a more open screen room if that changes things for building code.  Then we could plastic or plexiglass the window openings for winter.  Building codes are a PITA.

[Daddymem]

Looks like we are all set on the concept and what we need to do for a permit.  We need 6x6 posts.  Found a simpson strong tie that will cap the post and attach to the modified timberframe joists.  With the siding hanging down below joist level, we think PT only on the posts.  The part I am having trouble with is the modified timberframe. 

I found span tables for conventional stick built.  I found span tables for timber frame.  But not modified timberframe.  How do you figure out spans for three 2x4s nailed together?  I have 2' now because that's what fits our 8x8 footprint and is close to the 2'-8 13/16" used on our main house that has a second floor.  If I could lose a post that would save a bunch and give a feel of being more open.

These are my current drawings: 
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3C2Z23ga_pKVlRfM1dxSnZFSkU/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3C2Z23ga_pKUW00UGVMLXFzM2c/edit?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3C2Z23ga_pKYzViZVUwSUNUNjA/edit?usp=sharing

TIA

[Don_P]

Not entirely sure what member we're talking about, looks to be several built up members, if a post here is a recent discussion;
http://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?topic=13230.0

[Daddymem]

I'll take a gander, thanks.  Posts and rafters.