The materials you use play an equal role to the workmanship in terms of how long something will last. Or, to be blunt, cut corners anywhere and there will be consequences.
You can see the integrity of the structural framework in the previous Project #8 post.
Every component in this pavilion’s construction is top-notch.
Anthony Power Beams span & connect to the steel columns. The decorative round columns are fiber-reinforced composite and all the architectural trim is engineered resin & polyurethane materials by Azek.
The roof rafters arrived as preassembled sections that fit together nicely. I also liked the way the upper construction tied into the steel columns.
The town building dept. required the plans be certified by a licensed structural engineer, which was not a problem although an added expense.
Towns are becoming more & more stringent, so double-check what they require.
I was there for the inspections and could see the inspector was impressed with the “build quality”.
Coordinating Inspections
It’s always a challenge to schedule the various inspections so that the project can move along smoothly.
This pavilion had its own unique inspection issues with the upper framing and electric for the paddle fan/light.
Normally, both the building inspector and electrical inspector want to see framing and wiring before the walls and ceilings cover things up.
The problem was the crew wanted to complete the pavilion in 1 day. They traveled from out-of-state and planned on just the one day to finish.
This is where good relations with town offices can help. If all your previous dealings have been upfront and inline with codes & ordinances, then there’s a good chance they’ll work with you.
After explaining the “1 day build” situation to the construction office, they were willing to make the extra inspections during the day.
The crew was then able to install the cedar ceiling, finish up the soffits and add the trim.
The paddle fan was re-purposed from a porch on the house. It’s rated for a wet location and outdoor use.
We did, however, discover the mounting stem was too short and had to order a longer one from the manufacturer “Fanimation“.
All of the electronics in the home including on the outside are tied into a central control. Modules located throughout the home allow you to control everything.
Sometimes Prefab Is The Way To Go
Although we could have had an architect design a similar structure and then contract to have it built, using Dalton Pavilion and their turn-key approach proved the better way to go.
The architectural detail, quality of materials and workmanship are incomparable.
Also, because these structures are prefabricated, it makes them more cost effective.
Here’s the previous post for this project. And here’s the next post.