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Q: How big of a hogan can a person build using our brackets?
A: The largest built as of November 2009, is 30′ in diameter link to image. This has eight 12′ long walls and the area to the outside of the walls of 723 sq. ft. However, there’s no reason why a person couldn’t build a 40′ diameter building, with 16′ long walls, as long as the roof ring and rafters are sized to carry the load. Forty-eight (48) 2×12 hem fir #2 rafters would carry a 44lb. roof load (roof weight + snow load). Likewise, a 50′ diameter could be build with 20′ long walls and truss joist rafters, although that one hasn’t been designed yet. In either case, the building needs walls to support the beam at ceiling level between the corners. Areas would be 1236 sq. ft. and 1950+/- sq. ft. for 40′ and 50′ diameters respectively.
Q: Hello, I’ve been looking at your bracket kits and was wondering if you plan on (or have available) brackets for wall timbers larger than 4″x4″? I would like a beefier wall both from the standpoint of insulation, and point load at rafter ends. Ideally, I would like a 6″x6″ or 8″x8″ timber for the walls since I would likely go with the 30 ft. diameter hogan design.
A: Hi, thanks for the inquiry. I’ve talked to about 5 people in the Ramah to El Morro area in the last week. We’ve sold kits to two ladies on or near the Ramah Reservation in the past. About the corner posts, when we first started doing this, I thought about going up to 6×6′s for larger structures, but never went there because I never felt the need to do so. For example, one family in Shiprock built a 30′ diameter 2-story frame with the brackets and made 2×6 tilt up walls and put them in place around the perimeter, addressing both the insulation and the support issues. I agree that support must be provided between the corners and, except for small gazebos, that’s what we tell people. By the way, the 4×4 posts will support about 4,000 lbs. each, add that to the stud walls and even 2×4 walls do the job structurally. That said, the customer is always right, and we can make them for other sizes. Figure on 50% higher price (we’ll do better if we can). I agree that the 4×4 frame does look spindly for the larger sizes, but once all those rafters are in place tying everything together, it is very rigid.
Q: Do you sell the roof bracket separately, and if so, what is the price?
A: The price for the 2 x 6 roof bracket that holds 32 rafters, sold separately, is $400 as of March 17, 2011. Ask for the cost of other sizes.
