DIY Network

Lake Erie Timberframe: Building on an Island From "Be Your Own Contractor: Vacation Homes" episode DBCV-102

	The Ziebarth's timberframe vacation-home in Put-In-Bay, Ohio.

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In this episode of DIY's Be Your Own Contractor: Vacation Homes, we meet homeowners Rick and Paula Ziebarth from Columbus, Ohio and find out from them what it's like to build a vacation home on an island in Lake Erie.

In this segment, the Ziebarths discuss some of the challenges they faced in building a house on an island i.e., building in a location where access is limited -- as are availability of materials, sub-contractors, and where there is no municipal sewer system or natural gas connections. The couple also discusses how the weather on the island played a role in the materials they used, the type of construction, and how they planned and designed the home -- particularly the bathrooms and kitchen.

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	An aerial view, shot from Rick's vintage biplane, of South Bass Island and the island village of Put-in-Bay, Ohio.

Island Factors

According to Rick Ziebarth, the largest single challenge of this vacation home project was the fact that it took place on an island. Though Rick had the uncommon advantage of being able to fly his vintage biplane virtually right up the backdoor of his timberframe house project on South Bass Island in Lake Erie, most of the materials had to be brought in by ferry. There were delays, inconveniences, and many time-consuming trips to the mainland to procure materials, tools, parts, etc.

Though there is city water available in the main village of the island, the remote location that the Ziebarths chose for their home did not have access to city water. Therefore digging a well had to be factored into this project, and a sub-contractor for that job had to be selected. The sub-contractor was on the mainland, so coordination with his schedule had to be a consideration. Additionally, since there are no sewers on this island, a septic system had to be installed. Rick researched thoroughly what was required by the health department and county for a sanitary system. Advice from those two entities provided the available options and helped guide through the process of having a suitable system installed.

Since there is also no natural-gas system on the island, Rick selected propane as fuel for heating and cooking. Paula preferred gas appliances for cooking (figure A), and the warmth provided by natural gas for heating the home (as opposed to electric heating) was preferred as well. Rick researched the requirements for installing a propane tank (figure B) and for ensuring compatibility among elements and connectors within the propane system. One thing he discovered late in the process was that the connectors for propane were slightly different than those for natural gas. In this case, the connectors originally installed had to be altered for proper operation and safety. A building inspector will require that the latest safety codes are met in any new home construction, and that the appliances selected are appropriate for propane use with propane and are set up for that type of fuel.

Figure A

Figure B

Of all the subcontractors that Rick used, only two lived and worked on the island. All of the others had to be brought in from the mainland. Rick made certain to work out arrangements in advance, and share the details of his plans with his subcontractors, to ensure that they would be able to complete the work properly -- given the constraints of building on an island and the unique qualities of a timberframe home. Rick developed a close relationship with the subcontractors he did find on the island, including the crew that installed the concrete foundation and septic system as well as his electrician, Scott Pugh. In fact, Rick worked with Scott in planning the details of the wiring and lighting of the home (figures C and D).

Figure C

Figure D

Weather Factors

Certain decisions with respect to the home were made specifically with the weather and climate of the region in mind. Island and coastal areas typically have damp weather, and this particular island is known for being "buggy." The Ziebarths selected a type of exterior siding for their home that would withstand moisture and insects. And because this is a vacation home, he wanted a material that would be maintenance-free. They opted for a cement-siding product that appears like wood (figures E and F) and can be cut like wood, but that is not susceptible to rot or mildew.

Figure E

Figure F

Weather also factored into the decision as to the type of foundation to use for the house. Originally Rick wanted a full basement (as opposed to a crawlspace or solid slab foundation), but ultimately opted for a concrete slab because of the island weather and frequent winter storms that can lead to drainage and water problems in basements. Frequent power failures on the island might mean that a basement sump-pump might be inoperable, leaving standing water in the basement for a time. Careful plans were made for the pouring of the slab and for the placement of forced-air ducts within the slab (figure G) to accommodate the locations of the bathroom fixtures, kitchen sinks and sanitary system. The exact placement of these elements was integrated into the plan prior to the concrete pour. Since Rick had to be out of town for much of this phase, he asked a friend to drop by and document the process with photographs (figure H).

Figure G

Figure H

Stacked Bathrooms

In determining the layout of the house, Rick learned that "stacking" the bathrooms would be more efficient and save money. Placing the second-floor full master-bath (figure I) on top of the downstairs bath (figure J) meant shorter plumbing runs and less in materials.

Figure I

Figure J

	Figure K
	Figure L
	Figure M
	The Ziebarth's vacation home features a view of lake Erie and direct access to an airstrip.
	One of the challenges Rick Ziebarth faced in building his island vacation home was lack of access to city water. A sub-contractor was engaged to put in a well-water system.

An unexpected wrinkle, however, was a switch in choice of plumbing materials. Originally, Rick wanted to use all copper lines throughout the house. However, the plumber had difficulty in making the runs and bends with solid copper (figure K). Ultimately a new plan was worked out with the plumber for using a type of flexible plastic pipe known as PEX tubing (figure L).

This material is a clear plastic tubing that can be installed in straight runs without joints. It was easier to use in this application and made the project go more quickly. The PEX tubing was used in conjunction with copper fittings (figure M), and Rick's research made him feel confident that this selection would be sufficient and reliable in this case.

In the segment that follows, Rick and Paula discuss the decisions they made over the course of this project and offer some final advice for would-be do-it-yourself contractors.

RESOURCES :

Additional information on timber-frame construction:

Riverbend Timber Framing
Website: www.riverbendtf.com

Moonstone Timber Frame
Website: www.moonstonetimberframe.com

Wind River Timberframes
Website: www.windriver-timberframes.com

GUESTS :

Rick and Paula Ziebarth, homeowners
Columbus, Ohio