Marglin Residence

Location: Lloyd Neck, NY

Species: Douglas Fir

Architect: Michael Wallin Architect

General Contractor: Client

Description: The main section of this Long Island home houses the living room, dining room and kitchen. The timber frame truss system that covers it presented a few interesting problems. Historically, gambrel roofs consisted of two longitudinal major purlins positioned at the angle change and the common rafters. This client requested trusses. It is difficult to make a gambrel truss appear graceful. However, we were able to accomplish this by gradually tapering the lower curved members that connect to the rafter feet. They were tapered from 8" to 6" where they meet the raised lower chord. Further, by inletting an arched member on the underside of the rafters, grace and strength came together. Gambrel roofs tend to be high. Therefore, instead of using a light color of T&G over the timbers, which would have visually raised the ceiling even higher, Douglas Fir T&G was used. Because Douglas Fir is a darker material, it visually lowered the ceiling. (click images for larger views)