And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
The log it would take to produce timbers that size would be worth thousands of dollars, especially considering that there are several thousand board feet in each one of them. By my calculation a log big enough to make a 30"x30" timber 40' long would scale at almost 4000 board feet.
There's a steam powered sawmill in Oregon called Hull-Oakes Lumber Company. Their specialty is cutting big and long timbers. They can cut timbers 85 feet long. They could answer your question for you.
Just asking the cost doesn't mean a guy's interested in buying one. I'm curious because even with the cost of the raw material to make the timber, in the thousands of dollars, minimum, the cost of sawing and transporting that beam / those beams to where they will be delivered probably equals or exceeds the cost of the log(s) required to make it / them. I'm guessing a 30" x 30" by 40' timber of clear Doug Fir could cost $10,000 minimum, delivered. And that's probably a conservative guesstimate.
I shudder to think what an 85' timber would go for. Just the cost of moving a permit load like that could be very, very expensive.
In 1994 I designed a 12,000 sf log home for Mike Greenwell, 3rd baseman for the Bosox. It had a 24" high x 8" wide x 44' long cedar ridge beam supporting the main roof and at that time it cost $9500. I wanted to use white oak but the cost was over $20k.
There are a couple of old brick buildings that used to house factories near me (South Bend IN) where water power drove the machinery. The vertical beams that supported the upper floors which held tons of machinery and material were easily that size as were the transverse supports bolted to them with iron plates. Late 1800's and early 1900's construction. Those beams are prized when buildings get demolished, no way you can find fresh beams of that size at any price.
It's not just their size, it's the fact that they're 'vertical grain', knot-free, seasoned Douglas Fir timbers. Structurally, there is no stronger wood.
Add into the equation the history of the one-hundred-plus year old building they came out of and that's just a plus.
Worked with a guy that built his home on the ocean side of Skyline Drive, near Hyway 92 of the SF Peninsula. His lot was fairly steep, maybe 20% slope. The main entrance was on the Second story, against the hill.
Supporting the second floor was a one piece beam that was delivered by a big rig. IIRC, it was 18"x 36" x 40 ft. Previously used beam.
Actually, every part of the house was acquired as a used item. Lots of old wood and fixtures. Built it in the early 70's, IIRC. Main heat was a chain hung ocean buoy chimney over a circular fireplace in the ocean side that was open floor to the second story roof. The ocean oriented wall was glass to the ceiling. Pot bellied wood stove in the kitchen for daytime heat. His shop was on the only flat section near the house.
Forgot to mention that that main beam was unsupported except at the ends. Didn't want any posts in the downstairs area. That's why it seems a bit oversized, as it supported the second floor bedrooms on the hill side of the house. Really neat house. He had to retire due to an injury, and sold it and moved north of the bay area.
It's a big version of Jenga, hope these gals have heavy machinery to move their game pieces
ReplyDeleteSo what would one cost today?
ReplyDeleteThe log it would take to produce timbers that size would be worth thousands of dollars, especially considering that there are several thousand board feet in each one of them. By my calculation a log big enough to make a 30"x30" timber 40' long would scale at almost 4000 board feet.
DeleteThere's a steam powered sawmill in Oregon called Hull-Oakes Lumber Company. Their specialty is cutting big and long timbers. They can cut timbers 85 feet long. They could answer your question for you.
I've worked on that mill. A beast To be sure.
DeleteIf you have to ask, you can't afford it.
DeleteJust asking the cost doesn't mean a guy's interested in buying one. I'm curious because even with the cost of the raw material to make the timber, in the thousands of dollars, minimum, the cost of sawing and transporting that beam / those beams to where they will be delivered probably equals or exceeds the cost of the log(s) required to make it / them. I'm guessing a 30" x 30" by 40' timber of clear Doug Fir could cost $10,000 minimum, delivered. And that's probably a conservative guesstimate.
DeleteI shudder to think what an 85' timber would go for. Just the cost of moving a permit load like that could be very, very expensive.
In 1994 I designed a 12,000 sf log home for Mike Greenwell, 3rd baseman for the Bosox. It had a 24" high x 8" wide x 44' long cedar ridge beam supporting the main roof and at that time it cost $9500. I wanted to use white oak but the cost was over $20k.
DeleteThose flappers are giving me wood.
ReplyDeleteBeam me aboard Scotty
ReplyDeleteThose look like cants. They get shipped that way to a finishing mill where they'll be resawn.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of old brick buildings that used to house factories near me (South Bend IN) where water power drove the machinery. The vertical beams that supported the upper floors which held tons of machinery and material were easily that size as were the transverse supports bolted to them with iron plates. Late 1800's and early 1900's construction. Those beams are prized when buildings get demolished, no way you can find fresh beams of that size at any price.
ReplyDeleteIt's not just their size, it's the fact that they're 'vertical grain', knot-free, seasoned Douglas Fir timbers. Structurally, there is no stronger wood.
DeleteAdd into the equation the history of the one-hundred-plus year old building they came out of and that's just a plus.
Check, please.
ReplyDeleteWorked with a guy that built his home on the ocean side of Skyline Drive, near Hyway 92 of the SF Peninsula. His lot was fairly steep, maybe 20% slope. The main entrance was on the Second story, against the hill.
ReplyDeleteSupporting the second floor was a one piece beam that was delivered by a big rig. IIRC, it was 18"x 36" x 40 ft. Previously used beam.
Actually, every part of the house was acquired as a used item. Lots of old wood and fixtures. Built it in the early 70's, IIRC. Main heat was a chain hung ocean buoy chimney over a circular fireplace in the ocean side that was open floor to the second story roof. The ocean oriented wall was glass to the ceiling. Pot bellied wood stove in the kitchen for daytime heat. His shop was on the only flat section near the house.
Forgot to mention that that main beam was unsupported except at the ends. Didn't want any posts in the downstairs area. That's why it seems a bit oversized, as it supported the second floor bedrooms on the hill side of the house. Really neat house. He had to retire due to an injury, and sold it and moved north of the bay area.
Delete