Timber iQ October - November 2019 // Issue:46 | Page 29

LOCAL PROJECT
To create space and light inside the house, the main living
areas were built with high, exposed ceilings and roof trusses.
The sheer height of the central beam – 4.6m from floor level
– results in an expanded, airy living space.
The aesthetics of the roof design itself add to the sense of
simplicity and open living. The top chord is manufactured
from laminated timber beams which run the entire 17m
length of the house. The trusses were constructed on site
with laminated beams of 7.5m length. The beams were
placed at 1.193 centres in accordance with the engineer’s
design. Bottom chords were placed directly underneath the
top chord beam to bind the loose rafters to the top chord.
The bottom chords are held in place by industrial stainless-
steel brackets and dome nuts. The magic of this roof is in the
simplicity of the beam placement, with no complication of
diagonal supports or pre-manufactured trusses, bracing and
plates. “It looks simple and clean but supports a wide
spanning roof – effectively 17m x 13m,” says Bosazza.
There is a large deck of 50m² that stretches the full width
of the house on the sea-facing side. The structure is
supported by huge 180mm to 200mm diameter CCA
(chromated copper arsenate) treated poles, the substructure
and deck are constructed with H3 treated pine. The
homeowners will access the deck through wide sliding glass
doors in the main bedroom, art room and living areas. The
sliding doors in the livings areas are 4.2m wide and were
installed using the I-beam goal post system. “We have
adopted the use of this system when installing particularly
wide openings for sliding and stacking doors,” Bosazza
The completed custom timber home with a large deck area.
explains. The metal I-beam helps to support the structure and
prevent movement around the openings.
The deck is partially covered which makes it useable in all
types of weather. There is a custom-manufactured post and
beam supporting this roof section which extrudes from the
main roof. The post is constructed from two 228mm x 50mm
beams with internal spacers.
Timber features catch the eye throughout the house –
which is mostly finished in a neutral palette. All of the large,
Loose rafter beams were installed to construct the roof.
www.timberiq.co.za
// OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019
27