Back to Plumb and in Plane - Fine Homebuilding FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Main Menu
Subscribe

In every issue you'll find...

  • Expert insights on techniques and principles
  • Unbiased tool reviews
  • Step-by-step details to master the job
  • Field-tested advice and know-how
Subscribe Now!
Subscribe
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
  • Join
  • Log In
Main Menu Subscribe
Houses By Design

Back to Plumb and in Plane

Creative framing and trim details straighten out the kinks during the remodel of a crooked old timber-frame farmhouse in Vermont.

By Kiley Jacques Issue 286 - Oct/Nov 2019
Article Image

The teams behind the restoration of this Greek revival, Sustainable Design and ReDesign Construction, had two key issues to remedy. First, they had to level the top plate of the old timber frame to accept new raised-heel trusses. After identifying the extent to which the frame had shifted out of plumb and out of level, they reduced the distance between the plates by pulling together the existing beams with winches and come-alongs, jacking up extreme low spots, and trimming down high spots. Then they built new sloped cripple walls to level up the rest of the plates to match the highest point on the building. Second, they needed to trim old, out-of-plumb walls with new doorways and doors. Because the discrepancies were more than an inch, they ran the jambs level from the extents of the out-of-plumb wall, and then built out the back of the trim—like a reverse extension jamb—to bring it into plane with the wall and fill the void. Additionally, the team removed the plaster covering the original fireplaces and installed new hearths and timber-beam mantels, leaving the brick unpointed for an aged look. The stone fireplace is new.

Designer Sustainable Design, LLC, sdvermont.com

Builder ReDesign Construction, redesignconstruction.com

Location Chester, Vt.

Photos Christine Glade Photography

From Fine Homebuilding #286

More restoration projects:

The teams behind the restoration of this Greek revival, Sustainable Design and ReDesign Construction, had two key issues to remedy. First, they had to level the top plate of the old timber frame to accept new raised-heel trusses. After identifying the extent to which the frame had shifted out of plumb and out of level, they reduced the distance between the plates by pulling together the existing beams with winches and come-alongs, jacking up extreme low spots, and trimming down high spots. Then they built new sloped cripple walls to level up the rest of the plates to match the highest point on the building. Second, they needed to trim old, out-of-plumb walls with new doorways and doors. Because the discrepancies were more than an inch, they ran the jambs level from the extents of the out-of-plumb wall, and then built out the back of the trim—like a reverse extension jamb—to bring it into plane with the wall and fill the void. Additionally, the team removed the plaster covering the original fireplaces and installed new hearths and timber-beam mantels, leaving the brick unpointed for an aged look. The stone fireplace is new.

Designer Sustainable Design, LLC, sdvermont.com

Builder ReDesign Construction, redesignconstruction.com

Location Chester, Vt.

Photos Christine Glade Photography

From Fine Homebuilding #286

 

More on framing and trim:

Efficient, Strong Framing – California 2018: A powerful emphasis on advanced framing techniques for a passive house.

10 Golden Rules of Framing – Editors distill their favorite nuggets of framing wisdom from 36 years of Fine Homebuilding.

Tighten Up Your Trimwork – Though it doesn’t have a cord or battery, a block plane is a powerful finish-carpentry tool

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

×
X
X

New Feature

Fine Homebuilding Forums

Ask questions, offer advice, and share your work

Comments are closed.

More Houses By Design

View All
  • High Design at Home in Nature

    High Design at Home in Nature

  • Retrofit of a Timber-Frame Farmhouse

    Retrofit of a Timber-Frame Farmhouse

  • Celebrating Efficient Post-and-Beam Construction

    Celebrating Efficient Post-and-Beam Construction

  • Building a Prototype

    Building a Prototype For Net-Zero Neighborhoods

View All

Up Next

Featured Story

Eldorado Stone veneer installation

Chimney Details and Stone Veneer Siding

The team at the 2020 FHB House discusses why they saved an old stone chimney, and walks us through the details needed to add masonry veneer to a superinsulated house.

Featured Video

Builder’s Advocate: An Interview With Viewrail

Learn more about affordable, modern floating stairs, from design to manufacturing to installation.

Related Stories

  • Retrofit of a Timber-Frame Farmhouse

  • Celebrating Efficient Post-and-Beam Construction

  • Ditch the Hose

  • Successful Floors With Trusses

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
  • 2020 FHB House: Framing Changes and Construction Delays

  • framing a roof with larry haun

    Framing a Roof With Larry Haun

  • framing walls with larry haun

    Framing Walls with Larry Haun

  • Framing Floors and Stairs with Larry Haun

View All

Framing

View All
  • Types of Roof Trusses

    Types of Roof Trusses

  • Introduction to Roof Trusses

  • Rafters

    Rafters vs. Trusses

  • The Loads Carried by a Roof

    The Loads Carried by a Roof

View All

BOOKS, DVDs, & MERCH

Shop the Store
  • Fine Homebuilding Magazine Slipcase

    Buy Now
  • Code Check Building 4th Edition

    Buy Now
  • Musings of an Energy Nerd

    Buy Now
  • 2020 Fine Homebuilding Archive

    Buy Now
  • Shop the Store

Fine Homebuilding Magazine

  • Issue 297 - February/March 2021

    • Foundations for Success
    • Staircase Renovation
    • Ditch the Hose
  • Issue 296 - Dec 2020/Jan 2021

    • Insulating Glass Keeps Getting Better
    • Simple Way to Make Old Walls Straight and Plumb
    • Making Sense of Minisplits
  • Issue 295 - Kitchens & Baths

    • Condo Kitchen Reimagined
    • Row-House Remodel
    • Rise of the IAQ Monitor
  • Issue 294 - Oct/Nov 2020

    • Schoolhouse Reimagined
    • Tool Test: Folding Sawhorses
    • A Better Way to Build Tall Walls
  • Issue 293 - Aug/Sept 2020

    • A Practical Guide to Fall Protection
    • Installing Frameless Cabinets
    • Make Any Tablesaw Safer

Fine Homebuilding

Follow

Newsletter

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

Sign Up See all newsletters

Membership & Magazine

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

Taunton Network

  • Green Building Advisor
  • Fine Woodworking
  • Fine Gardening
  • Threads
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Careers
  • Copyright
  • Terms of Use
  • Accessibility

© 2021 The Taunton Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Main Menu

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

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk
  • Account

  • Log In
  • Join

    Podcasts

  • FHB Podcast
  • ProTalk
  • 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

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 52%

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