mortise and tenon house query?

hi guys,

this weekend i'm going to have a look at a cruck frame style mortise and tenon house much like the design on this website.
http://www.timberframes.com.au/cottage_frames.php
My father is interested in buying this kit (see following photos) from what i know the house is 13-14 years old and hasn't been assembled since it was first made, it has been stored in a shed and dry but my initial concerns are the wood has moved, dried, shrunk or twisted?etc so my question (although broad) is what should i be looking for in particular when i go for a look this weekend? also has any one else, bought, built or had experience with new or old mortise and tenon framed houses?

any helpful suggestions would be greatly appreciated

cheers

col

Looks interesting! You probably should pull some of the posts from the stack and check and see if they are twisted. Would you have the possibility of laying out one of the end frames on the ground and seeing if it will still slot together correctly? If the joints need a bit of a tickle to get into place could be the basis of a reduction in price? Look for insect damage, rot etc. Are all the bits there as shown in the add? Is the paperwork still present? What timber is it?

Donna

The traditional tool group I belong to had a talk from a timber frame builder about two years ago
I've also seen examples on the TV from time to time

Check that the kit is complete, in particular the instructions and the pins for the mortices — these should be riven not cut or milled.
Plus no rot or insect damage.
Is the floor for the upper level part of the kit?
Ask why the kit was not assembled
There should be enough give in the sticks for the twisting not to matter
any residual twist could be taken out with judicious shaving (you should get yourself a slick) and/or shims when you install the flooring and lining

When it comes to putting the kit together ask yourselves how?
a crane will likely be very handy — build each frame on the ground then stand it up.


ian

Col,
I would be checking the building regs in your area to see that it is going to comply. Can you get certification or engineering specs from the original manufacturer?
Could be a nightmare.

For instance if I install new windows to my place, I get a glazing cert. from the manufacturer. No certificate no permit to occupy.
That's why it is stupid to use second hand windows. They may be perfect but who is going to certify them?

Regards
Bill

hi guys thanks very much for your responses, we went and had a look at the kit on sat and i dont think it is really going to be a viable option. The big posts had some very large cracks that you cant see in the photos above (i will post soon) As well as being very dry and some very twisted, the cracks extended down about 4-600mm down from where the tenons had been made. i would think that some of the persuasion needed to fit the tenons into these beams motises (and vice a versa) would put quite abit of pressure on these cracks. Aswell as the cracks, most of the tenons had swolen and twisted and would most definately needed the shims spoken of or shaving to make snug fits. The owner said that the cracks would be there if he had originally put the kit together but it still concerns me in construction of the kit now!

thanks again,

cheers
col