Timber Frame Engineering

The Engineered Strength and Functional Benefits of Timber Frame Homes

Engineering timber frames involves precise load calculations, taking into account factors like the building's location, environment, and purpose.

Green vs Dried - click on the title to view Pat’s discussion on green timbers
Should we use green wood? Pat , with Shelter Institute explains, “that’s all we do is use green wood.” If we could wait 40 years to build we would use dry timbers. Some timber framers will use kiln dried wood which is expensive and is not a sustainable practice. Pat goes on to elaborate that kiln drying wood is a process that extracts moisture at a rate that is far too fast for long term stability of timbers. Green timbers have been used on most timber frames throughout history. The most important factors are accounting for all of the movement during the design and build phase, and final assembly of the frame happening in a timely manner so that the frame can dry and season while anchored together.

Test Fitting
All of our timber frames are constructed, assembled, and test fitted in our timber yard. When the frame is perfect, we disassemble and package the frame for re-erection on the actual construction site.

Raising
One of the thrilling phases in timber frame engineering is the erection of the timber frame building. After the home's floor is in place, the timber frame is transported, and its components are assembled into sections or "bents" using hardwood pegs. Utilizing a crane, these bents are then elevated into position, and individual timbers are subsequently installed to interconnect the standing bents.