FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
SUBSCRIBE TODAY

Save up to

set_percent% off

the cover price

In-depth articles, up-close photography, and detailed illustrations in every issue.

Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Subscribe
Design

Restoring Montpelier’s Historic Framing

Another chance for Montpelier's wood beams to shine

By Scott McBride Issue 192

Montpelier’s original roof framing was altered extensively, including these 6×8 heart-pine principal rafters. A double sister brace was used to make this repair because an intersecting roof provided clearance above the rafters. In instances where altered beams ran tight against a roof or ceiling, we used various types of scarf joints instead of sistering.

This king post has had its diagonal bracing restored. The original braces were removed when the DuPonts made servants’ quarters in the attic.

The foot of a replacement brace (foreground, photo below). At the toe of the brace is a new mortise, now filled, that we chopped in the adjoining 8×10 bottom chord. The new mortise gave us clearance for the brace’s tenons when retrofitting the brace. Afterward, the mortise was filled with a pair of opposing wedge blocks to jam the brace tight. The original brace would have been installed when the truss was assembled, with no need for an extra mortise.

The foot of another principal rafter (background, photo below)  has been reinforced by a wedged iron strap. The original mortise-and-tenon joint had begun to fail as thrust from the rafter blew out end grain in the bottom chord below.

An inside view of the porch entablature, taken just before the installation of the interior frieze boards. One of the original mortise-and-tenon lookouts that framed the cornice is being placed inside the entablature as a time capsule for future historians. The lookouts were not reinstalled because the cornice design was modified to accommodate a built-in gutter.

The lookouts have upper and lower tenons. The upper tenon passed through the entablature’s  6×8 top plate, with a locust trunnel (pin) to lock it in place. The lower tenon engaged  a stud, with nothing more than gravity holding it there. The top edge of the lookout is pitched to shed water, and the leading edge carried a robust combination of hand-worked cornice moldings.

Reproduced elements were branded so that future historians can differentiate them from original fabric.

Read Beneath the Surface of Montpelier and view more photos to learn about Montpelier’s restored brick exterior and lath interior walls and ceilings.

To read even more about Montpelier, visit James Madison’s home is almost finished—again, from Fine Homebuilding Issue #192 (Dec 2007/Jan 2008), pp.20-22. And to learn about the techniques Scott McBride and his crew are using to restore the home’s first-floor windows, read Modern techniques restore a historic house, from the same issue.

Photos by: Dan Morrison

Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

Sign Up

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

×
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

Sign up Log in

Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

Up Next

Video Shorts

Featured Story

Find a Female Tradesperson With Matriarchy Build

With a goal of getting tools into the hands of more women, this new web service enables people to set up consultation calls with women and nonbinary pros on a variety of home-construction projects.

Featured Video

SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than Before

The 10-in. Jobsite Saw PRO has a wider table, a new dust-control port, and a more versatile fence, along with the same reliable safety mechanism included in all SawStop tablesaws.

Related Stories

  • The Hole Truth: How to Properly Place, Cut and Drill Holes in TJI’s
  • Podcast 469: Blue Goo on Framing, Painting Open Soffits, and Whole-House Dehumidifiers
  • Podcast 463: The Best of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast, Volume 3
  • How to Frame an I-Joist Roof

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
View More Create Post

Highlights

Fine Homebuilding All Access
Fine Homebuilding Podcast
Tool Tech
Plus, get an extra 20% off with code GIFT20

"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Sign Up See all newsletters

Video

View All
  • Earthquake-Resistant Housing
  • Framing the First Floor Exterior
  • Installing Floor Joists and Laying Subfloor
  • Locating and Installing Mudsills
View All

Restorations

View All Restorations Articles
  • Podcast 469: Blue Goo on Framing, Painting Open Soffits, and Whole-House Dehumidifiers
    Podcast 469: Blue Goo on Framing, Painting Open Soffits, and Whole-House Dehumidifiers
  • Podcast 463: The Best of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast, Volume 3
    Podcast 463: The Best of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast, Volume 3
  • squeaky floor joists
    Prevent Squeaky Floor Joists
  • Two cabins into one
    Two Cabins Into One
View All Restorations Articles

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • Pretty Good House
    Buy Now
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition
    Buy Now
  • Outdoor Projects
    Buy Now
  • 2021 Fine Homebuilding Archive
    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 308 - July 2022
    • Pretty Good House Book Excerpt: Copper Farmhouse
    • 10 Dos and Don'ts for Electric In-Floor Heat
    • A Sturdy Rail for Outdoor Stairs
  • Issue 307 - June 2022
    • How to Raise a Post-Frame Home
    • Trimming Deck Stairs
    • Evolving an Energy-Efficient Envelope
  • Issue 306 - April/May 2022
    • Framing Stairs to an Out-of-Level Landing
    • Building a Zero-Energy Home for Less
    • Good-Looking and Long-Lasting Traditional Gutters
  • Issue 305 - Feb/March 2022
    • The Steady Surge in Residential Solar
    • The Fine Homebuilding Interview: William B. Rose
    • How Good Is Your Air Barrier?
  • Issue 304 - Dec 2021/Jan 2022
    • Why You Need Blower-Door Testing
    • Passive-House Standards for Everyone
    • Window Replacement With a Side of Rot Repair

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Sign Up
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

  • Online Archive
  • Start Free Trial
  • Magazine Subscription
  • Magazine Renewal
  • Gift a Subscription
  • Customer Support
  • Privacy Preferences

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Site Map
  • Do not sell my information
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • California Privacy Rights

© 2022 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

X
X
This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

Main Menu

  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Video
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Reader Projects
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk

Webinars

  • Upcoming and On-Demand

Popular Topics

  • Kitchens
  • Business
  • Bedrooms
  • Roofs
  • Architecture and Design
  • Green Building
  • Decks
  • Framing
  • Safety
  • Remodeling
  • Bathrooms
  • Windows
  • Tilework
  • Ceilings
  • HVAC

Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Magazine Index
  • Subscribe
  • Online Archive
  • Author Guidelines

All Access

  • Member Home
  • Start Free Trial
  • Gift Membership

Shop the Store

  • Books
  • DVDs
  • Taunton Workshops

More

  • FHB Ambassadors
  • Reader Projects
  • Podcast
  • Customer Support

Account

  • Log In
  • Join

Newsletter

Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

Sign Up See all newsletters

Follow

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest

Join All Access

Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

Start Your Free Trial

Subscribe

FHB Magazine

Start your subscription today and save up to set_percent%

Subscribe

We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

Start your FREE trial

Already a member? Log in