Benjamin Church House — materials
A rough list to take to a sawmill. The frame is cut green — full-sawn timbers straight from the log — and pinned with dry oak pegs: as the timbers dry they shrink onto the pegs, and the drawbored joints pull tighter. The mill cuts every stick to its section and length; the framer cuts the joints.
Each length is the piece’s cut length plus 10 in for tenons and trimming, rounded up to the foot. A piece longer than 24 ft is ordered in two or more lengths joined by a scarf (A2-16), except a post or a rafter is not scarfed. Board feet are full-sawn: width × depth × feet ÷ 12. Sizes follow the model, which is proportioned from measured drawings, not engineered — a frame that will carry a load is sized by an engineer first.
| Section (in) | Length (ft) | Pieces | Board feet | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 × 15 | 11 | 4 | 825 | portico column, turned and fluted, 15 in at the foot and 12 at the neck |
| 8 × 8 | 20 | 2 | 213 | portico sill, on brick piers · portico architrave beam, across the columns |
| 8 × 8 | 18 | 2 | 192 | sill, gable end |
| 8 × 8 | 17 | 6 | 544 | sill, front wall · sill, rear wall |
| 8 × 8 | 13 | 4 | 277 | south wing sill, gable end · north wing sill, gable end |
| 8 × 8 | 12 | 4 | 256 | south wing sill, front wall · south wing sill, rear wall · north wing sill, front wall · north wing sill, rear wall |
| 8 × 8 | 6 | 2 | 64 | portico architrave beam, return along a side |
| 7 × 8 | 24 | 2 | 224 | first-floor girder (summer), lengthwise |
| 7 × 7 | 18 | 5 | 368 | gable end girt, west gable · gable end girt, portico wall · cross girt at a bent |
| 7 × 7 | 14 | 10 | 572 | wall post, front and rear walls (corner and bent) |
| 7 × 7 | 9 | 8 | 294 | south wing wall post, front and rear walls (corner and bent) · north wing wall post, front and rear walls (corner and bent) |
| 7 × 7 | 3 | 3 | 37 | cellar post under the girder |
| 6 × 6 | 19 | 7 | 399 | wall plate, run out over the portico · portico end plate |
| 6 × 6 | 13 | 6 | 234 | wall girt, bay 1 (front and rear) · wall girt, bay 3 (front and rear) · south wing gable top girt at the plate line, south end · north wing gable top girt at the plate line, north end |
| 6 × 6 | 12 | 6 | 216 | wall girt, bay 2 (front and rear) · south wing wall plate · north wing wall plate |
| 6 × 6 | 9 | 2 | 54 | wall girt, bay 4 (front and rear) |
| 5 × 7 | 4 | 1 | 12 | stairwell header |
| 5 × 7 | 3 | 2 | 18 | chimney header |
| 3 × 7 | 13 | 17 | 387 | floor joist, girt to girt · stairwell trimmer, front and rear of the opening · chimney trimmer, either side of the stack |
| 3 × 7 | 12 | 9 | 189 | floor joist, girt to girt |
| 3 × 7 | 11 | 12 | 231 | south wing floor joist, gable sill to gable sill · north wing floor joist, gable sill to gable sill |
| 3 × 7 | 10 | 44 | 770 | first-floor joist, sill to girder |
| 3 × 7 | 9 | 9 | 142 | floor joist, girt to girt |
| 3 × 7 | 8 | 1 | 14 | chimney tail joist, girt to header |
| 3 × 7 | 6 | 9 | 94 | portico floor joist |
| 3 × 7 | 5 | 1 | 9 | stairwell tail joist, cross girt to header |
| 3 × 7 | 4 | 1 | 7 | chimney tail joist, girt to header |
| 3 × 6 1/4 | 16 | 2 | 50 | hip rafter (14.9°), plate corner to the ridge's end |
| 3 × 6 1/4 | 12 | 4 | 74 | south wing hip rafter (14.9°), plate corner to the ridge's end · north wing hip rafter (14.9°), plate corner to the ridge's end |
| 3 × 6 | 20 | 1 | 30 | portico floor ledger |
| 3 × 6 | 12 | 41 | 738 | common rafter (20.6°, 4.5/12) · common rafter, headed off at a roof opening · king common, end plate to the ridge's end |
| 3 × 6 | 10 | 2 | 30 | common rafter, headed off at a roof opening |
| 3 × 6 | 9 | 18 | 243 | jack rafter, side plate to a hip · jack rafter, end plate to a hip · south wing common rafter (20.6°, 4.5/12) · south wing king common, end plate to the ridge's end · north wing common rafter (20.6°, 4.5/12) · north wing king common, end plate to the ridge's end |
| 3 × 6 | 7 | 2 | 21 | jack rafter, end plate to a hip |
| 3 × 6 | 6 | 10 | 90 | jack rafter, side plate to a hip · south wing jack rafter, side plate to a hip · south wing jack rafter, end plate to a hip · north wing jack rafter, side plate to a hip · north wing jack rafter, end plate to a hip |
| 3 × 6 | 5 | 6 | 45 | roof header at a chimney · jack rafter, end plate to a hip |
| 3 × 6 | 4 | 6 | 36 | jack rafter, side plate to a hip · south wing jack rafter, end plate to a hip · north wing jack rafter, end plate to a hip |
| 3 × 6 | 3 | 8 | 36 | jack rafter, side plate to a hip · jack rafter, end plate to a hip · south wing jack rafter, side plate to a hip · north wing jack rafter, side plate to a hip |
| 3 × 4 | 11 | 42 | 462 | wall stud, front and rear, first story · opening jamb stud, full story |
| 3 × 4 | 10 | 17 | 170 | gable stud · opening jamb stud, full story |
| 3 × 4 | 9 | 33 | 297 | south wing wall stud · opening jamb stud, full story · north wing wall stud |
| 3 × 4 | 8 | 2 | 16 | gable stud from the floor-2 girt, top cut to 4.5/12 |
| 3 × 4 | 7 | 2 | 14 | opening jamb stud, gable (to the rake) |
| 3 × 4 | 6 | 4 | 24 | opening jamb stud, gable (to the rake) · gable stud from the floor-2 girt, top cut to 4.5/12 |
| 3 × 4 | 5 | 7 | 35 | gable stud from the floor-2 girt, top cut to 4.5/12 · cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header |
| 3 × 4 | 4 | 79 | 316 | opening header · window rough sill · cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header · wall stud, front and rear, second story · opening jamb stud, full story |
| 3 × 4 | 3 | 27 | 81 | cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header · frieze stud, architrave to plate |
| 3 × 4 | 2 | 19 | 38 | cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header |
| 2 × 6 | 8 | 2 | 16 | south wing collar (none on the two gable pairs — the gable studs stiffen them) · north wing collar (none on the two gable pairs — the gable studs stiffen them) |
| 3 × 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | knee brace, corner post to plate (45°), inner half of the wall |
9,514 board feet of green timber in 517 pieces.
5 members are longer than a 24 ft stick and are scarfed.
Pegs: 176 of dry oak, 1 in by 17 in, estimated joint by joint — order a tenth over. Keys: 7 dry oak keys for the tusk tenons.
Boards: floors about 1,790 sq ft at 1 in thick (≈1,790 board feet); roof boards about 1,427 sq ft at 1 in (≈1,427 board feet). Add for waste.
Not in this list: stone, brick and mortar; siding, trim, windows and doors; roofing; nails. Nothing here is priced.
Cut list, piece by piece
| Piece | Qty | Section (in) | Cut length (in) | Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellar post under the girder | 3 | 7 × 7 | 21 | A6-22 foot on a stone pad · head under the girder, A6-02 tenon |
| Sill, front wall | 1 | 8 × 8 | 537 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner; scarfed A2-16 |
| Sill, rear wall | 1 | 8 × 8 | 537 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner; scarfed A2-16 |
| Sill, gable end | 2 | 8 × 8 | 204 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner |
| First-floor girder (summer), lengthwise | 1 | 7 × 8 | 521 | pocket in the gable foundation wall: its stone brought up under the end, beside the sill · pocket in the gable foundation wall: its stone brought up under the end, beside the sill |
| First-floor joist, sill to girder | 44 | 3 × 7 | 102 1/2 | A4-14 cogged over the inner half of the sill · A3-16 dovetail into the girder |
| Wall post, front and rear walls (corner and bent) | 10 | 7 × 7 | 149 5/8 | A6-22 foot on the sill · A6-02 head tenon into the plate; A6-05 girts housed and pegged |
| Wall girt, bay 1 (front and rear) | 2 | 6 × 6 | 138 3/8 | A6-05 housed tenon into the post, 2 pegs · same |
| Wall girt, bay 2 (front and rear) | 2 | 6 × 6 | 132 5/8 | A6-05 housed tenon into the post, 2 pegs · same |
| Wall girt, bay 3 (front and rear) | 2 | 6 × 6 | 140 | A6-05 housed tenon into the post, 2 pegs · same |
| Wall girt, bay 4 (front and rear) | 2 | 6 × 6 | 91 | A6-05 housed tenon into the post, 2 pegs · same |
| Knee brace, corner post to plate (45°), inner half of the wall | 4 | 3 × 3 | 37 | A6-03 foot on the post · A6-03 head under the plate |
| Wall stud, front and rear, first story | 24 | 3 × 4 | 110 1/2 | A2-07 stub tenon into the sill · A2-07 stub tenon into the girt |
| Opening jamb stud, full story | 38 | 3 × 4 | 33 1/8 – 110 1/2 | A2-07 stub tenon · A2-07 stub tenon |
| Opening header | 21 | 3 × 4 | 27 – 36 1/2 | A2-07 into the jamb · same |
| Window rough sill | 13 | 3 × 4 | 27 – 33 | A2-07 into the jamb · same |
| Cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header | 41 | 3 × 4 | 3 – 38 1/2 | A2-07 stub tenon · butts the rough sill or header |
| Wall stud, front and rear, second story | 35 | 3 × 4 | 33 1/8 | A2-07 stub tenon into the girt · A2-07 stub tenon into the plate or top girt |
| Gable end girt, west gable | 1 | 7 × 7 | 206 | A6-05 into the corner post · A6-05 into the corner post |
| Gable stud | 9 | 3 × 4 | 109 1/2 | A2-07 stub tenon into the sill · A2-07 stub tenon into the girt |
| Opening jamb stud, gable (to the rake) | 4 | 3 × 4 | 60 5/8 – 71 7/8 | A2-07 stub tenon into the end girt · cut to the rake under the end rafter |
| Gable stud from the floor-2 girt, top cut to 4.5/12 | 6 | 3 × 4 | 47 1/2 – 76 | A2-07 stub tenon into the end girt · birdsmouthed under the end rafter |
| Gable end girt, portico wall | 1 | 7 × 7 | 206 | A6-05 into the corner post · A6-05 into the corner post |
| Cross girt at a bent | 3 | 7 × 7 | 206 | A6-05 into the front post · A6-05 into the rear post; A6-32 summers, A3-16 joists |
| Floor joist, girt to girt | 32 | 3 × 7 | 91 – 140 | A3-16 into the girt · same |
| Stairwell trimmer, front and rear of the opening | 1 | 3 × 7 | 138 3/8 | A3-16 into the girt · same |
| Stairwell header | 1 | 5 × 7 | 31 | A2-08 tusk tenon into the trimmer · same |
| Stairwell tail joist, cross girt to header | 1 | 3 × 7 | 40 3/8 | A3-16 into the girt · A3-16 dovetail into the header |
| Chimney trimmer, either side of the stack | 2 | 3 × 7 | 140 | A3-16 into the girt · same |
| Chimney header | 2 | 5 × 7 | 24 1/4 | A2-08 tusk tenon into the trimmer · same |
| Chimney tail joist, girt to header | 2 | 3 × 7 | 32 3/4 – 76 | A3-16 into the girt · A3-16 dovetail into the header |
| Wall plate, run out over the portico | 2 | 6 × 6 | 599 | A6-02 on the post heads · on the portico's frieze studs; same; scarfed A2-16 over a post |
| Common rafter (20.6°, 4.5/12) | 38 | 3 × 6 | 132 1/2 | A6-20 seat on the plate, 12 in tail · A6-19 at the ridge |
| Common rafter, headed off at a roof opening | 4 | 3 × 6 | 100 – 127 1/4 | A6-20 seat on the plate, 12 in tail · A3-16 into the roof header |
| Roof header at a chimney | 4 | 3 × 6 | 45 3/4 | A2-08 tusk tenon into the trimmer rafter · same |
| Hip rafter (14.9°), plate corner to the ridge's end | 2 | 3 × 6 1/4 | 178 1/2 | A6-40 notched over the plate corner · A6-40 head against the last pair of commons |
| Jack rafter, side plate to a hip | 8 | 3 × 6 | 15 – 87 5/8 | A6-20 seat on the plate · cut to the hip's side, nailed (A6-40) |
| King common, end plate to the ridge's end | 1 | 3 × 6 | 130 7/8 | A6-20 seat on the end plate · against the last pair of commons, nailed |
| Jack rafter, end plate to a hip | 8 | 3 × 6 | 15 – 90 3/4 | A6-20 seat on the end plate · cut to the hip's side, nailed (A6-40) |
| Portico sill, on brick piers | 1 | 8 × 8 | 220 | on the corner pier · on the corner pier |
| Portico floor ledger | 1 | 3 × 6 | 220 | F5-12 lag-bolted to the end sill · same |
| Portico floor joist | 9 | 3 × 7 | 58 | on the ledger, spiked · A4-14 cogged over the inner half of the portico sill |
| Portico column, turned and fluted, 15 in at the foot and 12 at the neck | 4 | 15 × 15 | 117 1/2 | A6-22 stub tenon, on the floor over the sill · A6-02 tenon into the architrave |
| Portico architrave beam, across the columns | 1 | 8 × 8 | 220 | on the corner column · same |
| Portico architrave beam, return along a side | 2 | 8 × 8 | 54 | A6-05 tenon into the house's corner post · lapped onto the front beam over the corner column |
| Frieze stud, architrave to plate | 16 | 3 × 4 | 16 1/8 | nailed to the architrave · nailed to the plate |
| Portico end plate | 1 | 6 × 6 | 208 | A6-05 into the side plate · same |
| South wing sill, front wall | 1 | 8 × 8 | 130 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner |
| South wing sill, rear wall | 1 | 8 × 8 | 130 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner |
| South wing sill, gable end | 2 | 8 × 8 | 138 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner |
| South wing floor joist, gable sill to gable sill | 6 | 3 × 7 | 122 | A4-14 on the inner half of the sill · same |
| South wing wall post, front and rear walls (corner and bent) | 4 | 7 × 7 | 96 1/8 | A6-22 foot on the sill · A6-02 head tenon into the plate; A6-05 girts housed and pegged |
| South wing wall stud | 12 | 3 × 4 | 96 1/8 | A2-07 stub tenon into the sill · A2-07 stub tenon into the plate or top girt |
| South wing gable top girt at the plate line, south end | 1 | 6 × 6 | 140 | A6-05 into the corner post · A6-05 into the corner post |
| South wing wall plate | 2 | 6 × 6 | 130 | A6-02 on the post heads · same |
| South wing common rafter (20.6°, 4.5/12) | 6 | 3 × 6 | 97 1/4 | A6-20 seat on the plate, 12 in tail · A6-19 at the ridge |
| South wing collar (none on the two gable pairs — the gable studs stiffen them) | 1 | 2 × 6 | 79 5/8 | A6-12 to the rafter · same |
| South wing hip rafter (14.9°), plate corner to the ridge's end | 2 | 3 × 6 1/4 | 130 1/4 | A6-40 notched over the plate corner · A6-40 head against the last pair of commons |
| South wing jack rafter, side plate to a hip | 4 | 3 × 6 | 23 3/8 – 50 7/8 | A6-20 seat on the plate · cut to the hip's side, nailed (A6-40) |
| South wing king common, end plate to the ridge's end | 1 | 3 × 6 | 95 3/4 | A6-20 seat on the end plate · against the last pair of commons, nailed |
| South wing jack rafter, end plate to a hip | 4 | 3 × 6 | 26 5/8 – 54 1/8 | A6-20 seat on the end plate · cut to the hip's side, nailed (A6-40) |
| North wing sill, front wall | 1 | 8 × 8 | 130 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner |
| North wing sill, rear wall | 1 | 8 × 8 | 130 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner |
| North wing sill, gable end | 2 | 8 × 8 | 138 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner |
| North wing floor joist, gable sill to gable sill | 6 | 3 × 7 | 122 | A4-14 on the inner half of the sill · same |
| North wing wall post, front and rear walls (corner and bent) | 4 | 7 × 7 | 96 1/8 | A6-22 foot on the sill · A6-02 head tenon into the plate; A6-05 girts housed and pegged |
| North wing wall stud | 13 | 3 × 4 | 96 1/8 | A2-07 stub tenon into the sill · A2-07 stub tenon into the plate or top girt |
| North wing gable top girt at the plate line, north end | 1 | 6 × 6 | 140 | A6-05 into the corner post · A6-05 into the corner post |
| North wing wall plate | 2 | 6 × 6 | 130 | A6-02 on the post heads · same |
| North wing common rafter (20.6°, 4.5/12) | 6 | 3 × 6 | 97 1/4 | A6-20 seat on the plate, 12 in tail · A6-19 at the ridge |
| North wing collar (none on the two gable pairs — the gable studs stiffen them) | 1 | 2 × 6 | 79 5/8 | A6-12 to the rafter · same |
| North wing hip rafter (14.9°), plate corner to the ridge's end | 2 | 3 × 6 1/4 | 130 1/4 | A6-40 notched over the plate corner · A6-40 head against the last pair of commons |
| North wing jack rafter, side plate to a hip | 4 | 3 × 6 | 23 3/8 – 50 7/8 | A6-20 seat on the plate · cut to the hip's side, nailed (A6-40) |
| North wing king common, end plate to the ridge's end | 1 | 3 × 6 | 95 3/4 | A6-20 seat on the end plate · against the last pair of commons, nailed |
| North wing jack rafter, end plate to a hip | 4 | 3 × 6 | 26 5/8 – 54 1/8 | A6-20 seat on the end plate · cut to the hip's side, nailed (A6-40) |