Foster-Armstrong 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 × 10 | 26 | 1 | 195 | first-floor girder (summer), lengthwise |
| 8 × 10 | 15 | 8 | 800 | gable end girt, west gable · gable end girt, east gable · cross girt at a bent |
| 8 × 8 | 22 | 4 | 469 | sill, front wall · sill, rear wall |
| 8 × 8 | 19 | 10 | 1,013 | wall post, front and rear walls (corner and bent) · gable mid post |
| 8 × 8 | 18 | 2 | 192 | spine post |
| 8 × 8 | 17 | 4 | 363 | sill, gable end |
| 8 × 8 | 16 | 4 | 341 | wall girt, bay 1 (front and rear) · wall girt, bay 3 (front and rear) |
| 8 × 8 | 9 | 2 | 96 | wall girt, bay 2 (front and rear) |
| 8 × 8 | 7 | 2 | 75 | cellar post under the girder |
| 6 × 9 | 17 | 22 | 1,683 | garret floor joist, beside a rafter |
| 6 × 9 | 15 | 4 | 270 | garret tail joist at a chimney |
| 6 × 9 | 11 | 1 | 50 | stairwell header |
| 6 × 9 | 7 | 4 | 126 | garret chimney header |
| 6 × 9 | 5 | 4 | 90 | chimney header |
| 6 × 9 | 4 | 4 | 72 | first-floor chimney header |
| 6 × 8 | 22 | 2 | 176 | porch beam |
| 6 × 6 | 22 | 6 | 396 | wall plate · porch sill on the piers |
| 6 × 6 | 18 | 2 | 108 | spine plate |
| 6 × 6 | 15 | 4 | 180 | gable top girt at the plate line, west gable · gable top girt at the plate line, east gable |
| 6 × 6 | 10 | 4 | 120 | porch post |
| 6 × 6 | 2 | 2 | 12 | spine plate |
| 5 × 7 | 22 | 4 | 257 | purlin plate under the break |
| 6 × 5 1/2 | 7 | 4 | 77 | tie header at a chimney |
| 3 × 9 | 22 | 2 | 99 | porch roof ledger |
| 3 × 9 | 16 | 82 | 2,952 | first-floor joist, sill to girder · first-floor chimney trimmer · floor joist, girt to girt · chimney trimmer, either side of the stack |
| 3 × 9 | 14 | 8 | 252 | first-floor tail joist at a chimney |
| 3 × 9 | 12 | 6 | 162 | chimney tail joist, girt to header |
| 3 × 9 | 9 | 14 | 284 | hall joist between the cross girts · stairwell trimmer, front and rear of the opening |
| 3 × 9 | 5 | 6 | 68 | stairwell tail joist, cross girt to header |
| 3 × 9 | 2 | 6 | 27 | chimney tail joist, girt to header |
| 4 × 6 | 18 | 8 | 288 | x brace in the knee wall, halved at the crossing |
| 4 × 6 | 11 | 4 | 88 | x brace in the knee wall, halved at the crossing |
| 4 × 6 | 5 | 1 | 10 | opening header |
| 4 × 6 | 4 | 12 | 96 | opening header |
| 4 × 6 | 3 | 4 | 24 | opening header |
| 4 × 5 | 16 | 28 | 747 | lower rafter (36.9°, 9/12) |
| 4 × 5 | 7 | 28 | 327 | upper rafter (13.6°, 2.9/12) · roof header at a chimney |
| 4 × 5 | 5 | 4 | 33 | upper rafter, headed off at a roof opening |
| 3 × 6 | 22 | 2 | 66 | porch floor ledger |
| 3 × 6 | 9 | 24 | 324 | porch joist |
| 2 × 9 | 17 | 18 | 459 | garret floor joist, between the heavy ones |
| 2 × 9 | 15 | 6 | 135 | garret tail joist at a chimney |
| 3 × 5 1/2 | 13 | 11 | 197 | tie beam at the break, beside a rafter pair |
| 3 × 5 1/2 | 5 | 4 | 28 | tie beam, headed off at a chimney |
| 3 × 5 | 9 | 14 | 158 | porch rafter (10.2°) |
| 2 × 7 | 7 | 8 | 65 | purlin post, knee wall |
| 3 × 4 | 11 | 34 | 374 | wall stud, front and rear, first story · opening jamb stud, full story |
| 3 × 4 | 10 | 34 | 340 | gable stud, first story · opening jamb stud, full story · gable stud above the plate line, top cut to 9/12 or level under the curb tie · opening jamb stud, gable (to the rake) |
| 3 × 4 | 9 | 68 | 612 | wall stud, front and rear, second story · opening jamb stud, full story · gable stud, second story · opening jamb stud, gable (to the rake) · gable stud above the plate line, top cut to 9/12 or level under the curb tie |
| 3 × 4 | 8 | 6 | 48 | opening jamb stud, gable (to the rake) · gable stud above the plate line, top cut to 9/12 or level under the curb tie |
| 3 × 4 | 7 | 2 | 14 | gable stud above the plate line, top cut to 9/12 or level under the curb tie |
| 3 × 4 | 6 | 4 | 24 | gable stud above the plate line, top cut to 9/12 or level under the curb tie |
| 3 × 4 | 5 | 19 | 95 | cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header · window rough sill · gable stud above the plate line, top cut to 9/12 or level under the curb tie |
| 3 × 4 | 4 | 37 | 148 | window rough sill · cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header · gable stud above the plate line, top cut to 9/12 or level under the curb tie |
| 3 × 4 | 3 | 10 | 30 | cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header · window rough sill · gable stud above the plate line, top cut to 9/12 or level under the curb tie |
| 3 × 4 | 2 | 3 | 6 | cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header |
15,738 board feet of green timber in 621 pieces.
13 members are longer than a 24 ft stick and are scarfed.
Pegs: 224 of dry oak, 1 in by 11 in, estimated joint by joint — order a tenth over. Keys: 21 dry oak keys for the tusk tenons.
Boards: floors about 3,642 sq ft at 1 in thick (≈3,642 board feet); roof boards about 1,853 sq ft at 1 in (≈1,853 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 | 2 | 8 × 8 | 70 | A6-22 foot on a stone pad · head under the girder, A6-02 tenon |
| Sill, front wall | 1 | 8 × 8 | 482 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner; scarfed A2-16 |
| Sill, rear wall | 1 | 8 × 8 | 482 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner; scarfed A2-16 |
| Sill, gable end | 2 | 8 × 8 | 348 | A6-17 corner · A6-17 corner |
| First-floor girder (summer), lengthwise | 1 | 9 × 10 | 300 1/8 | on the chimney base, vaulted, as sheet 4 draws it (its vaults not modelled), 8 in onto it · on the chimney base, vaulted, as sheet 4 draws it (its vaults not modelled), 8 in onto it |
| First-floor joist, sill to girder | 38 | 3 × 9 | 173 1/2 | A4-14 cogged over the inner half of the sill · A3-16 dovetail into the girder |
| First-floor chimney trimmer | 8 | 3 × 9 | 173 1/2 | A4-14 on the sill · A3-16 dovetail into the girder |
| First-floor chimney header | 4 | 6 × 9 | 36 | A2-08 tusk tenon into the trimmer · same |
| First-floor tail joist at a chimney | 8 | 3 × 9 | 148 | A4-14 on the sill or the spine · A3-16 dovetail into the header |
| Wall post, front and rear walls (corner and bent) | 8 | 8 × 8 | 206 1/8 | 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 | 8 × 8 | 179 1/8 | A6-05 housed tenon into the post, 2 pegs · same |
| Wall girt, bay 2 (front and rear) | 2 | 8 × 8 | 90 | A6-05 housed tenon into the post, 2 pegs · same |
| Wall girt, bay 3 (front and rear) | 2 | 8 × 8 | 180 7/8 | A6-05 housed tenon into the post, 2 pegs · same |
| Wall stud, front and rear, first story | 14 | 3 × 4 | 111 | A2-07 stub tenon into the sill · A2-07 stub tenon into the girt |
| Opening jamb stud, full story | 50 | 3 × 4 | 87 1/8 – 111 | A2-07 stub tenon · A2-07 stub tenon |
| Opening header | 17 | 4 × 6 | 21 – 39 | A2-07 into the jamb · same |
| Window rough sill | 27 | 3 × 4 | 21 – 46 | A2-07 into the jamb · same |
| Cripple stud, under a rough sill or over a header | 34 | 3 × 4 | 8 1/2 – 46 1/2 | A2-07 stub tenon · butts the rough sill or header |
| Wall stud, front and rear, second story | 16 | 3 × 4 | 87 1/8 | A2-07 stub tenon into the girt · A2-07 stub tenon into the plate or top girt |
| Gable mid post | 2 | 8 × 8 | 212 1/8 | A6-22 foot on the gable sill · A6-05 end girts and the top girts |
| Gable end girt, west gable | 2 | 8 × 10 | 170 | A6-05 into the corner post · A6-05 into the mid post |
| Gable top girt at the plate line, west gable | 2 | 6 × 6 | 170 | A6-05 into the corner post · A6-05 into the mid post |
| Gable stud, first story | 22 | 3 × 4 | 109 | A2-07 stub tenon into the sill · A2-07 stub tenon into the girt |
| Gable stud, second story | 22 | 3 × 4 | 87 1/8 | A2-07 stub tenon into the girt · A2-07 stub tenon into the plate or top girt |
| Opening jamb stud, gable (to the rake) | 8 | 3 × 4 | 83 3/4 – 98 1/8 | A2-07 stub tenon into the top girt · cut to the rake under the end rafter |
| Gable stud above the plate line, top cut to 9/12 or level under the curb tie | 24 | 3 × 4 | 17 – 102 1/2 | A2-07 stub tenon into the top girt · under the end lower rafter or the curb tie |
| Gable end girt, east gable | 2 | 8 × 10 | 170 | A6-05 into the corner post · A6-05 into the mid post |
| Gable top girt at the plate line, east gable | 2 | 6 × 6 | 170 | A6-05 into the corner post · A6-05 into the mid post |
| Cross girt at a bent | 4 | 8 × 10 | 170 | A6-05 into the wall post · A6-05 into the spine post; A6-32 summers, A3-16 joists |
| Floor joist, girt to girt | 32 | 3 × 9 | 179 1/8 – 180 7/8 | A3-16 into the girt · same |
| Chimney trimmer, either side of the stack | 4 | 3 × 9 | 179 1/8 – 180 7/8 | A3-16 into the girt · same |
| Chimney header | 4 | 6 × 9 | 48 | A2-08 tusk tenon into the trimmer · same |
| Chimney tail joist, girt to header | 12 | 3 × 9 | 6 1/2 – 126 3/8 | A3-16 into the girt · A3-16 dovetail into the header |
| Hall joist between the cross girts | 12 | 3 × 9 | 90 | A3-16 into the girt · same |
| Stairwell trimmer, front and rear of the opening | 2 | 3 × 9 | 90 | A3-16 into the girt · same |
| Stairwell header | 1 | 6 × 9 | 112 | A2-08 tusk tenon into the trimmer · same |
| Stairwell tail joist, cross girt to header | 6 | 3 × 9 | 48 | A3-16 into the girt · A3-16 dovetail into the header |
| Spine post | 2 | 8 × 8 | 197 1/8 | A6-22 foot on the spine sill · A6-02 head tenon into the spine plate |
| Wall plate | 2 | 6 × 6 | 482 | A6-02 on the post heads · same; scarfed A2-16 over a post |
| Spine plate | 3 | 6 × 6 | 12 1/2 – 369 | A6-02 on the spine post heads · A6-05 into the gable mid post, or against a chimney |
| Lower rafter (36.9°, 9/12) | 28 | 4 × 5 | 172 3/4 | A6-20 seat on the plate, 12 in tail · A6-44 foot lapped to the joist beside it, pegged · A6-34 notched onto the purlin, head cut to the break plane |
| Upper rafter (13.6°, 2.9/12) | 24 | 4 × 5 | 64 3/4 | A6-34 butted to the lower rafter on the break plane · A6-19 at the ridge |
| Upper rafter, headed off at a roof opening | 4 | 4 × 5 | 46 1/4 | A6-34 butted to the lower rafter on the break plane · A3-16 into the roof header |
| Roof header at a chimney | 4 | 4 × 5 | 69 1/2 | A2-08 tusk tenon into the trimmer rafter · same |
| Tie beam at the break, beside a rafter pair | 11 | 3 × 5 1/2 | 134 1/4 | A6-12 pegged to the rafter, on the purlin · same |
| Tie beam, headed off at a chimney | 4 | 3 × 5 1/2 | 49 1/8 | A6-12 pegged to the rafter · A3-16 into the header |
| Tie header at a chimney | 4 | 6 × 5 1/2 | 65 – 70 1/2 | A2-08 tusk tenon into the tie beam · same |
| Purlin plate under the break | 2 | 5 × 7 | 482 | A6-30 on the post heads · same; scarfed A2-16 over a post |
| Purlin post, knee wall | 8 | 2 × 7 | 73 1/4 | A6-30 stub tenon into the attic floor sill · A6-30 tenon into the purlin |
| X brace in the knee wall, halved at the crossing | 12 | 4 × 6 | 120 3/4 – 199 3/4 | A6-03 foot on the post · A6-03 head under the purlin; A2-04 halved across its mate |
| Garret floor joist, beside a rafter | 22 | 6 × 9 | 182 | on the wall plate · A6-44 the rafter's foot lapped into its side, pegged · lapped on the spine plate |
| Garret floor joist, between the heavy ones | 18 | 2 × 9 | 182 | on the wall plate · lapped on the spine plate |
| Garret tail joist at a chimney | 6 | 2 × 9 | 164 | on the plate · A3-16 into the header |
| Garret tail joist at a chimney | 4 | 6 × 9 | 164 | on the plate · A3-16 into the header |
| Garret chimney header | 4 | 6 × 9 | 63 1/2 – 67 1/2 | A2-08 tusk tenon into the joist · same |
| Porch post | 4 | 6 × 6 | 105 1/8 | A6-22 stub tenon into the porch sill · A6-02 tenon into the porch beam |
| Porch sill on the piers | 1 | 6 × 6 | 482 | on stone piers under the posts · scarfed A2-16 |
| Porch floor ledger | 1 | 3 × 6 | 482 | F5-12 lag-bolted to the front sill · same |
| Porch joist | 24 | 3 × 6 | 92 | A4-14 cogged over the porch sill · on the floor ledger (A2-23), spiked |
| Porch beam | 1 | 6 × 8 | 482 | A6-02 on the post heads · same; scarfed A2-16 over a post |
| Porch roof ledger | 1 | 3 × 9 | 482 | F5-12 lag-bolted to each wall post · same |
| Porch rafter (10.2°) | 14 | 3 × 5 | 96 3/8 | A6-20 bird's mouth seated on the porch beam · hung on the roof ledger (F5-12) |