Timber Framing Tips

The Process In Making The Timber Framing Members

This may be an age old method of framing, but modern minds have caught up with them. Today machines have replaced some of the repetitiveness that is involved in timber framing by using CNC or computerized numeric control machines. But there is still plenty of axe work left to be done.

The machines can't cut the sometimes complex hips and valley required in framing. Another technique used in building timber framing is a pre-fit of the members before the final assembly is done to make last minute trims or changes, which saves not just time but money. Of course, there are members that just have to be fitted and fastened into place during construction. But pre-fitting the general members really helps. In some parts of the world there are some great hand carvings that have been done on the structure members of this framing.

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Timber Framing Old Is New Again

Timber framing is a method of building where the skeletal supports for the structure are visible on the inside and outside. The members of the framing are fitted into place with wooden pegs. The pocket which the tenon is placed into is called the "mortise," and the piece going into the mortise is the tenon. I

These members can range up to 12”. A good example of the type of framing would be in barns. This way of constructing buildings dates back as far as the Romans. Today it has regained popularity in parts of the world.

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Woods Used In Timber Framing

There are particular woods that are better suited for timber framing than others.

• The Eastern White Pine has less twisting and shrinkage.
  
• The Douglas fir grows bigger than the pine and has a reddish color that some people like. It also shrinks more than the pine.
  
• The white cedar works well for exposed structures.
  
• Reclaimed wood is old wood that comes from other structures and is used to build new ones. This is far more expensive than new.
• Red pine is off the list of woods that are suitable for framing because of it's tendency to twist or bow when it dries.

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Energy Use of a Timber Framed Home

Timber framed homes can also be energy savers, unlike historical timber framed homes that used "found" materials to fill the spaces between the structure members. Today, double polyurethane panels can be used - they are a sandwich of polyurethane foam between two pieces of wood or other material which makes a superior insulator. The main difference with this practice is that the timber is now only visible from one side instead of two. These panels are referred to as SIP panels.

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Benefits of a Timber Framed Home

There are a few benefits of timber framed homes to consider. First, aesthetics or the beauty of the structure and design. As mentioned before, there are hand carvings or finishes that can add great looks to an already great look. Timber framed houses can go up quickly using modern methods. They take less material then a regular framed home. A special design feather called "jetty beams" - in which the beams are protruding from the structure on the second floor - adds square feet to your home. This was done in early European homes because in those days, taxes were based on the square feet of the first floor.

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