Timber Frame

• By Wes

Timber Framing and “Post-and-Beam” Construction

Timber framing and “post-and-beam” construction are methods of building with heavy timbers rather than dimensional lumber such as 2″x4″s. Traditional timber framing is the method of creating structures using heavy carefully fitted mortise and tenon joints secured by large wooden pegs. It is commonplace in wooden buildings from the 19th century and earlier. The method comes from making things out of logs and tree trunks without modern high tech saws to cut lumber from the starting material stock. Using axes, adzes, and draw knives, hand-powered auger drill bits (bit and brace), artisans or farmers are able to assemble a building capable of bearing heavy weight without excessive use of interior supports. Since this building method has been used for thousands of years in many parts of the world, there are many styles of historic framing. These styles are often categorized by the type of foundation, walls, how and where the beams intersect, the use of curved timbers, and the roof framing details. Three basic types of timber frames in English-speaking countries are the box frame, cruck frame, and aisled frame.