In this walkthrough, we take a close look at a hand-cut roof system that stands out for its simplicity and strength—no trusses, no ceiling joists, just structural ridge beams, shear walls, and solid engineering. We’ll cover how the roof loads are transferred through the structure, why balloon framing was chosen, and the critical role shear walls play in providing lateral resistance. You’ll see how we established a clear load path from ridge to foundation, ensuring both stability and efficiency. Along the way, we also highlight the use of Zip System R-sheathing, the framing strategies around heavy triple-pane windows, and the reasoning behind skipping some traditional elements to achieve better thermal performance. This is a deep dive into smart design and practical building science.