Project Description: Cape With Dormers & Master Suite Frame Raising

Timbers Used: Douglas Fir Cape

Frame Raising: Londonderry, VT

Raised: June 30th - July 2nd, 2008

Designer:  Bryan Waters 

North Woods Joinery Site Technician:  Travis Tremblay 

Londonderry VT Raising Photos - July 2008.pdf

This pastoral winter wood is the future site of the North Woods Joinery post and beam model home. The view shows Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's highest mountain, to the left, Nebraska notch and Bolton Mountain, of ski area fame, to the right.

From the outset, the NWJ model home was designed to have a low environmental impact, to be exceptionally energy efficient, and to be built as an example of 'Green Construction.'

This site was chosen because of beautiful future views, including a 40 mile vista of Vermont's Green Mountains to the south. In addition to the views, the house was carefully arranged to take advantage of passive solar gain.

1. The home was designed with the 'long axis' facing almost due south into the view to capture maximum light and heat
2. The north side of the home site is a steep hill that is fully wooded with evergreens to block wind and winter heat loss
3. The home site itself is wooded with maple, oak, beech, and a few other species. This deciduous forest (which looses all the leaves in October and grows them back in May) will allow maximum sunlight and heating in the winter, and shade the home in the summer to provide 'passive cooling.'
4. We were particularly interested in the presence of the red oak trees as an indicator of a unique warmer microclimate. The geography of the site is a south facing bowl. Normally, red oaks don't grow at the 1200 ft elevation of the home site here in Vermont. However, this site, and several others like it near the mountain ridge seemed to have a warmer microclimate (hence the red oaks), and offered a special opportunity to save energy over the lifetime of the home.

Sometimes 'Building Green' starts just as simply as spending time on the land, watching the precession of the sun, and considering all of the geographic, geologic, and ecological elements of the site.

We have many wonderful North Woods Joinery custom frame raisings upcoming. We are particularly excited as we plan to add Hawaii and California to the list of states that North Woods Joinery has raised a timber frame in! If you haven't done so, please feel free to request a brochure, this way we can invite you to a raising in your area when one becomes available! Click Here to receive your free design brochure and floor plan package.

Below is a select few of our upcoming North Woods Joinery timber frame raisings. Don't see one near you? We would be happy to check our full list, just give us a call at 802 644-2400!

"The frame, the crew, everyone in the office did a fantastic job. Again the frame is perfect."
Tim Cronk & Heather Webber
Homeowners, Laconia, New Hampshire

Spring 2008
Lima, NY
Barkhampstead, CT
Stowe, VT
Londonderry, VT

Other Upcoming Raisings
Craftsbury, VT
Elmore, VT
Hyde Park, VT
Kula, Maui, HI
Leona Valley, CA
Middlegrove, NY
St. Johnsbury, VT
Windham, ME

Find directions on MapQuest by clicking here

(We are not affiliated with MapQuest in anyway -

this link is strictly for your convenience.)