Hello, my husband and I are going to build the Maple Forest Cottage, we think we have found a builder. If anyone has any pics or advice I would greatly appreciate it. We have the book and the Hometime Video. We are building in Kentucky, and was wandering about the cost to build in other states (an average). If anyone can help, please notify me. Thank you sooooo much. My email is tessaemmons@hotmail.com or temmons@alltel.net
tessa, My firm Larson Brenner Architects did a variation of the Maple Forest House for a client in Minnesota. The big thing we did was redesigned the roof to work with roof trusses in lieu of the original hand framed roof. This saved significantly on labor costs as that roof is quite complicated. Other than that I think SIPS for your exterior walls is always a good idea. simple, unique, creative and green house plans spreading the word on good home design
Ron Brenner Larson Brenner Architects, Simply Elegant Home Designs
Our variation of the maple forest house looks identical to the original. We just made it a little easier to construct. It is not shown on our web site. BTW - our client purchased the original plans from Better Homes and Gardens, which satisfied the copyright requirements.
The Model Home at Saunders Lake is an original design of ours (larson brenner architects) and actually the plan is not very similar at all.
Ron Brenner Larson Brenner Architects, Simply Elegant Home Designs
Trussing that roof, Ron, is quite an accomplishment, if the result looks the same as the original stick framed structure.
I had plans to build MFH one time, but didn't, and so I own a set of the plans, fully legit.
To truss the roof and achieve the exterior shapes and inside under-roof spaces, there are some challenges.
I am getting up to speed now with Chief Architect software, and I think as an exercise in modeling and engineering, will do MFH with a trussed roof, as you did.
Is your over-porch roof curved? Did you do the valley where that curve meets the breezeway non-curved plane? How did you do the under-the-hip space in the shower in the master suite?
I'm sure the little dormer with barrel eyebrow was stickframed through a hole in the trussed roof.
This will be fun to do!
I've a client now that thought he wanted to build a version of MFH, but for his 180 degree all-mountains view centered south, we think we have setteled on something else. Maybe we will revisit something based on a trussed-roof version of MFH.
Thanks for giving me the idea.
Posts: 7 | Location: Lake Placid, NY | Registered: 04 July 2008
Eugene, You should work with one of your local truss companies on the roof truss layout. There will indeed be some hand framing, but it can be minimized if you have a good truss company.
