Covered Bridge Build

[Tony Sawmill]

One of the main joys, for me anyway, of owning a sawmill is getting to create lumber out of logs and building stuff on my property.  Currently I'm building a covered bridge on my property to access my back 30 acres.  Between work calls and meetings I was able to get a couple of afternoons working on the wall framing.  I haven't framed in the middle section of the knee wall as I think I am going to build that section as a gate so you can open up the middle part and do cannonballs into the creek.   
I'm pretty much ready to start framing the rafters at this point which is exciting.   

[thecfarm]

Please keep this thread updated. 

[TroyC]

Wow, moving along nicely!

[SwampDonkey]

Going to be a dandy. Coming along nicely. 

[Stephen1]

That looks great
Cannon balls off the bridge

[doc henderson]

fishing and rock throwing!  look great!  never seen the innards of one being built.  is that an authentic or modern design?

[Tony Sawmill]

fishing and rock throwing!  look great!  never seen the innards of one being built.  is that an authentic or modern design?

This is really just a hybrid covered bridge.  Many of the historic covered bridges have the design of the walls tied into the structure of the bridge trusses.  The covered part on my bridge has no structural aspect relative to the bridge stability/structure itself.  The bridge itself is made from 3 @ 16" steel I-beams I got from a road bridge that was recently torn down due to undermined footings.  They gave me the steel and we installed it and welded a frame on site.  I say "we" but I hired the guy that built some trails and roads for me on my property to do the transport and steel fabrication and I am only doing the wood part of the build.  Bridge deck on this one is 2.25" thick random width boards (8" to 14") I milled.  The covered part is structurally just a shed built atop the bridge to keep it out of the weather and well, just bc it will look cool and for the fun of it.   
I'm setting the ridge boards and starting the rafters today so it should be a fun day!

[Jeff]

I can delete this post once I know, but is there a paticular reason this topic ls hiding out in this board? Pretty cool topic to be in a spot many rarely look.

[Tony Sawmill]

I can delete this post once I know, but is there a paticular reason this topic ls hiding out in this board? Pretty cool topic to be in a spot many rarely look.

Well I am new here and really wasn't sure where to post it.  It's not quite timber framing so didn't want to post it there.  And while all the lumber is from my sawmill, it's not a sawmill post soooo..wasn't sure where to post it hahaha.  Feel free to move it?  is there a better section of FF to post it?  is there a "Building Projects" section of the forum? 
I did frame the roof today which was a blast though a lot of work due to working solo!!

[Jeff]

The general board is as good a place as any I would say.

[thecfarm]

I am here.
I like the way I can click onto the pictures to make them bigger, click twice and it really gets big!!!

Working alone is slow and hard. 

[Tony Sawmill]

I am here.
I like the way I can click onto the pictures to make them bigger, click twice and it really gets big!!!

Working alone is slow and hard.

Solo building is definitely more work hahaha.  I will say though...this build has been way easier than the post and beam pavilion I built this past fall.  Those 250-300 lb beams, even using the tractor, were a pain to work with solo.  

[Magicman]

Build it while you can so that you can enjoy it when you can't. 

[TroyC]

Looking great!

[JD Guy]

Nicely done!

[Peter Drouin]

Very very Nice

[gspren]

I like it!

[Magicman]

Build it while you can so that you can enjoy it when you can't. 

The above is a slight variation of advice that my Mother gave me in 2002, when I started the "Sun Room" addition here at our home.  I was sorta being hesitant about the build decision when she said:


This is framed in that Sun Room and her advice serves as a frequent reminder to me.

[doc henderson]

great motherly advice! 

[SwampDonkey]

Wise mom. 

[Tony Sawmill]

Magicman- That is wonderful advice your mom gave!!  I love it.

[Tony Sawmill]

If you all are interested in checking it out, I put a video up of the wall and roof framing for this build on my YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/Qn7Mg-L8wDk?si=bpGX2kvl7WLtcdCF

Part 1 and 2 videos of this build are on my channel as well.  I got the steel from a local road bridge that was condemned due to undermined footings and they were building a new bridge.  I had a guy truck it to my place, weld the frame up, then I did the bridge deck and everything else with my sawmill lumber.  I can't wait to get the metal roof and siding on it!

[Don P]

I'm glad you could get the beams there. I asked here and they are treated as hazardous waste with the old paint on them. Most "modern" covered bridges are built this way rather than as a structural drive thru truss. It takes a lot of the guesswork and need for high capacity wooden joinery out of the equation but still performs the original intent, to protect the critical bridge elements from the weather. And they look good too!

[Stephen1]

MM what a great saying! Im keeping that in the front of the brain.
Tony great looking project. 

[Ed_K]

 Good Job, It's a great build and the lumber sawed out nicely.

[Tony Sawmill]

Metal roof and all roofing trim is done.  Installing the ridge cap solo over the 40' span was a pain for sure lol!   
I'm starting to work on the siding...can't wait to get it all trimmed out.  I hope to finish it this weekend before Easter.
It's such a satisfying feeling to know every bit of the lumber for this build came from my sawmill.

[Resonator]

Looks nice!

Is there any risk of flooding on that stream? One of my family built a bridge over a creek on our hunting land that has survived a few floods. He set up cables and anchor posts on the ends to keep the span from completely washing away. It only takes minor work to set the ends back in place and grade the approaches if there is a major flood.

[Magicman]

I have three bridges (none are nice and covered) on my property and all three have washed out at various times.

This one is still out and waiting for the bridge crew. 

[Tony Sawmill]

Looks nice!

Is there any risk of flooding on that stream? One of my family built a bridge over a creek on our hunting land that has survived a few floods. He set up cables and anchor posts on the ends to keep the span from completely washing away. It only takes minor work to set the ends back in place and grade the approaches if there is a major flood.

For reference, it poured rain the day before I took those pics.  We had about 1.5" of rain in about 12 hours so that is the creek up a bit.  Despite the width of the creek we are within about 0.75 miles of the start of this creek and there is a 2.5 to 3 acre pond with earthen dam upstream on a farm up from me.  We have had rain events here of 6" in less than 24 hours and it never has gotten close to the level of the bridge.  
 In addition to the footings, it has steel driven into the shore that is welded to the frame.  The I-beams alone weighed just over 9,000 lbs when the crane lifted it plus the steel that was added so the frame alone is most likely around 10,000 lbs plus the weight of the deck and structure.  
Saying that...I'd be sad to see it wash away!  I'll hope that never happens and will enjoy it while I can.  It's certainly been an enjoyable and unique build and I smile every time I see it and I'm not even done with it yet.  :D 

[Magicman]

From your description, you are safe from high water damage.  Mine is much difference with over 3 miles from the stream head giving me over 300 acres of water shed.  I would love to build such as you are doing, but my smallest bridge has over 75 acres if water shed.

Your project is very professional and I am sure will provide many years of enjoyment. 

[maple flats]

A good point a few posts back, flooding. A few years ago I helped a good friend relocate his bridge that had washed away, it floater or was pushed by the force of fast moving water about 100' down stream He had rented a moderately large excavator but had no experience running one. I had experience but only with my 8000 lb class excavator. I drove the excavator out to the  stream. where it had originally been the friend said I could drive down the roughly 45 degree decline to the creek, it was about 50-60' long slope. I asked and there was an alternative approach. I drove that way, got to the creek, which had only a few inches of water in it, but was mostly bolders. I managed to get across the creek, climb the far side and weave back and forth to the old bridge. The old bridge was about 40' long, maybe 5 ft wide and was built on 4 logs  every other log was in the opposite direction, large end, small end , large end etc. with 2x10's as decking Then we attached chains and heavy ropes to it and slowly pulled it to it's original location. Then I got into the creek and tried to lift the far end of the bridge but the excavator didn't have enough power. I moved closer to that far end and managed to eventually pull it a few inches at a time. After maybe 90 minutes I had the bridge back in place and drove the excavator back to his house. There I showed him how to operate an excavator and watched him do a few tasks with it. I then had to leave. Later I found out he had taken the excavator back to the creek and lifted the bottom end up and built support to hold the bridge about 5' higher than original. That was to minimize the risk of the bridge moving again in a flood.
A few years later he moved to near Syracuse, NY and his Petite little wife went to school to learn heavy equipment operation. She is now a heavy equipment operator and is working on the Interstate Rt 81 relocation in Syracuse. Go figure, I'll bet she can now run an excavator better than I ever will.
Sorry for the long story, but hopefully it helps you decide if you need to guard against flooding rather than fixing it after the fact. while after is an option it's not the best option.

[doc henderson]

My brother did heavy road construction for many years, and he always said, "the women are easier on the equipment".  they are not trying to show up the next guy.  some were a bit rough so not necessarily easy on the eyes.        

[beenthere]

Equipment operators, one way or 'nuther. 

[Tony Sawmill]

I still have to build the gates for the middle section and the far gabled end but it's getting close to done.

[Ed_K]

The construction company I worked for in TX. got a job building a 5 mi. railroad spur. The boss hired Rita to run dozer, by the time she was done she had john deere 450, 650,750 an 850 under her belt. On another job we had her operating a john deere 762 scraper. She was really good on it. Hated the 750 (no air) but like the 850 best, said it could push some dirt.