Timber Framing for the Rest of Us

All those of us without traditional skills need to know to build with timber framing

Many natural building methods rely upon the use of post and beam frame structures that are then in-filled with straw, cob, cordwood, or more conventional wall materials. But traditional timber framing employs the use of finely crafted jointing and wooden pegs, requiring a high degree of craftsmanship and training, as well as much time and expense. However, there is another way...

Timber Framing for the Rest of Us describes the timber framing methods used by most contractors, farmers, and owner-builders, methods that use modern metal fasteners, special screws, and common sense building principles to accomplish the same goal in much less time. And while there are many good books on traditional timber framing, this is the first to describe in depth these more common fastening methods. The book includes everything an owner-builder needs to know about building strong and beautiful structural frames from heavy timbers, including:

• the historical background of timber framing
• crucial design and structural considerations
• procuring timbers-including different woods, and recycled materials
• foundations, roofs, and in-filling consdierations
• the common fasteners.

A detailed case study of a timber frame project from start to finish completes this practical and comprehensive guide, along with a useful appendix of span tables and a bibliography.

Highly illustrated, this book enables 'the rest of us' to build like the professionals and will appeal to owner-builders, contractors and architects alike.

Describes timber framing methods used by most contractors, owner-builders and farmers, to build strong and beautiful post-and-beam frames from heavy timbers using commercially-available fasteners.

All those of us without traditional skills need to know to build with timber framing

Many natural building methods rely upon the use of post and beam frame structures that are then in-filled with straw, cob, cordwood, or more conventional wall materials. But traditional timber framing employs the use of finely crafted jointing and wooden pegs, requiring a high degree of craftsmanship and training, as well as much time and expense. However, there is another way...

Timber Framing for the Rest of Us  describes the timber framing methods used by most contractors, farmers, and owner-builders, methods that use modern metal fasteners, special screws, and common sense building principles to accomplish the same goal in much less time. And while there are many good books on traditional timber framing, this is the first to describe in depth these more common fastening methods. The book includes everything an owner-builder needs to know about building strong and beautiful structural frames from heavy timbers, including:

• the historical background of timber framing
• crucial design and structural considerations
• procuring timbers-including different woods, and recycled materials
• foundations, roofs, and in-filling consdierations
• the common fasteners.

A detailed case study of a timber frame project from start to finish completes this practical and comprehensive guide, along with a useful appendix of span tables and a bibliography.

Highly illustrated, this book enables 'the rest of us' to build like the professionals and will appeal to owner-builders, contractors and architects alike.

Introduction

1 · About Timber Framing
A Little Background
Timber Framing versus Standard Stud Construction
Grading Lumber: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Timber Framing: Advantages and Disadvantages
"Traditional" Timber Framing
Timber Framing for the Rest of Us

2 · Basic Timber Frame Structure
Load and Line of Thrust
Compression
Tension
Compression and Tension in Beams
Bending and Bending Failure
Shear and Shear Failure
Deflection
Post and Beam Frame
Plank and Beam
Design Considerations for Rafters and Girders
Cantilever
Your Post and Beam Plans

3 · Procuring the Timbers
Recycled Timbers
      Cultivating Coincidence
      Evaluating Recycled Timbers
Timbers from Your Own Land
      Hardwoods
      Softwoods
Timber from Small Sawmills
      Portable Sawmills
      Chainsaw Mills
Seasoning the Timbers

4 · Building Techniques: Timber Framing for the Rest of Us
Foundation Options
Post Height
Fastening the Timber Frame to the Foundation
Sill Plates and Sill Beams
      Some More About Doorframes and Posts
      About Metal Fasteners
      Wind Can be a Serious Problem...
      Tying Posts and Sills to the Foundation
Fastening the Girt to the Top of the Posts
      When Two Beams Meet Over a Post
      Timber Framing Hybrid
Build Quality, Gravity and Inertia
Roof Systems
      Roof Timber Framing for the Rest of Us
      More About Trusses
      Plank and Beam Roofing
      Insulating Plank and Beam Roofing
Joe's Rocket Research Landing Pad – A Photo Essay

5 · Case Study – The Sunroom at Earthwood
Design Overview of the Project
Design Questions and Plans
Work Begins
      Extended Floor Joists
      Fastening the Joist to the Girder
      Installing Headers
      Installing the Secondary Joists
      Floor (Decking)
      Preparing the Girders
      Installing Posts
      Installing the Girders
      Installing the Five-by-Ten Rafters
      "Balance Beam" Secondary Rafters
      Planking the Roof
      The Earth Roof
      Closing In
The Finished Room

· Appendix A: Span Tables
· Appendix B: Stress Load Calculations for Beams
· Appendix C: Resources
· Glossary of Terms
· Bibliography
· Index