Solid white oak harvested and milled by a local Sawyer, this timber frame sign is functional, aesthetically pleasing and durable. Prominently marking the West Acres subdivision, residents and guests easily find the entrance. And they'll be able to find it for decades to come. Steel is used for weight-bearing and the transition from concrete to wooden post. No wood enters the ground, which increases the longevity of the wood.
Form, function and craftsmanship combine to create a fabulous entry. Crafted completely from Michigan white cedar, this timber framed porch roof uses very few fasteners. Instead it relies joinery and design. The posts are 6”x6” with plates and tie beams. The rafters, made from 4”x6” timbers with braces and girts, use a joint that gets tighter with more weight. Look up and find the tongue and groove ceiling as appealing as the straight on view. This is a great example of how going old school can give a whole new look (and life) to an exterior.
Low budget doesn't need to result in low quality. Even the seemingly smallest transformations, such as new stairs shown here, yield great results. Wood House Carpentry sourced quality, budget conscious material while keeping its high standards for craftsmanship. For instance, the treads have a milled nosing and are set into a milled groove (or dado) in the face of the riser for superior strength. Additionally, the treads and riser go into a mortised stringer which provides durability as well as beauty.
Starting off with a clean-slate is great but it's not always necessary or feasible. Take advantage of what's existing and give it new life. This deck, for example, was restored by replacing some of the decking and replacing the handrail. Designed and constructed by Wood House Carpentry, the railing is milled in the Wood House workshop on a moulding machine. Made from steel, the black brackets are a proprietary design. Wood House enlists an outside company for laser cutting and powder coating. As decks need to withstand diverse and oftentimes harsh elements, the post caps are laminated cedar (to prevent cupping) and the posts are made from a composite material.
Entry doors add to the curb appeal and help set the tone when entering a home or business. The custom door, shown here, contributes to the home's facade while incorporating hearty notes to keep unwanted elements outdoors. Crafted entirely in the Wood House workshop, the door is solid oak with a laminated oak core. A 3/16” book-matched oak veneer gives the look of solid wood. While solid wood is preferable in certain applications, for an exterior door it's not practical. A solid wood exterior door has a tendency to twist, cup, warp or crack. Custom made poplar door jambs, replaceable weather stripping, and aluminum threshold bring all the pieces together for a perfect fit.
What makes a house a home? Certainly, it is the people, but it's also functional and decorative elements that become an extension of the human element. Custom, built-in cabinets add a high-end look and feel while boosting a room's functionality. These cabinets, constructed of clear maple drawers with dovetail joinery, soft-close Blum hardware, professionally painted hardwood face frame and drawer faces, provide concealed and open storage, seating, and a place for a gas fireplace.
Whether it's form following function or function following form, this barn-inspired 10' x 12' shed serves both. Practically speaking, this structure houses a lawn mower and other tools and equipment in their off-season. Imaginatively, seen from the home's rear window, the shed sits in the center of a bucolic scene.
Tucked between reeds and cattails, this gate exhibits old world charm clad with mortise and tenon joinery, Penofin stain and seal, and finishing touches of steel hardware directly from a blacksmith supply company. From the house, this gate symbolizes a passageway to the wet and wonderful world of water sports. Seen from the lake, the gate is a beacon leading fresh water frolickers home.
Designed and developed solely by Wood House Carpentry, this deck railing system delivers strength and presence. Stronger, higher in quality and more durable than its PVC and composite cousins, this railing offers more support, while costing less.
Welcome to the “19th Hole.” An outdoor, above-ground, golf-themed man cave serves as a gathering place for friends, neighbors and family. Complete with a cedar bar, tongue-and-groove cedar walls, hops-growing planter boxes, a shade arbor, storage elements and room big enough for a ping pong table, poker table and flat screen TV. This shed is like no other.
