Timber Framing for the Rest of Us: A Guide to Contemporary Post and Beam Construction

193 Pages·2004·102.32 MB·English

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• •
Advance Praise for
Timer Framing for the Rest of Us
With more than thirty years of hands-on experience, Rob Roy brings
solid insight and understanding of the importance of timber framing to all
aspects of natural building. This eminently readable, beautifully illustrated
book offers both practical advice and personal experience.
- ROBYN GRIGGS LAWRENCE, Editor-in-Chief, Natural Home magazine
If you want to build a home or barn without spending a fortune, you should
read this book. Modern timber framing techniques are easy to learn and perfect for
building with straw bales, cordwood masonry, cob, structural insulated panels
(SIPs) or local timber. The chapter about low-cost chainsaw mills for
cutting your own lumber, alone, is worth the price of the book.
- CHERYL LONG, Editor-in-Chief, Mother Earth News
In Timber Framing for the Rest of Us, Rob continues his good work of stocking
the shelves of the owner-builder's library. His books provide accessible information
and inspiration to a new generation of hands-on homeowners.
- MARK KLEIN, Gimme Shelter Construction, Amherst, WI
This is a wonderful reference for anyone considering timber frame construction,
and is somewhat inrimidated by the exactness of the craft. Rob Roy has blended this
beautiful time-honored technique with state-of-the-art joinery components to
make timber framing available to all. However, there's more than just
nuts and bolts to this book, Rob also provides useful information on
frame design, structural load calculations, lumber procurement and more.
If you're looking for an alternative to conventional construction but aren't
quite ready to tackle a traditional timber frame this books for you.
- DON OSBY, builder and art director of BackHome Magazine
Rob Roy provides a wealth of basic information, tools and techniques for heavy
timber construction, employing "bolts and ingenuity." He offers a comprehensive and
comprehendible alternative to traditional timber framing for people with a wide range
of skills and experiences, all delivered in the lively and charming style we have
come to expect from his work in other areas.
- JOEL C. MCCARTY, Timber Framers Guild
Books for Wiser Living from Mother Earth News
Today, more than ever before, our society is seeking ways to
live more conscientiously. To help bring you the very best
inspiration and information abour greener, more-sustain-
able lifestyles, New Society Publishers has joined forces
with Mother Earth News. For more than 30 years, Mother
Earth has been North America's "Original Guide to Living
Wisely," creating books and magazines for people with a
passion for self-reliance and a desire to live in harmony with
nature. Across the countryside and in our cities, New
Society Publishers and Mother Earth News are leading the
way to a wiser, more sustainable world.
Tintber Fratning
for the Rest of Us
ROB Roy
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NEW SOCI ETY PUBLISH ERS
Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalog record for this publication is available from the National Library of Canada.
Copyright © 2004 by Rob Roy. All rights reserved.
Cover design by Diane Mcintosh. Cover photos by Rob Roy.
Interior design by Jeremy Drought, Last Impression Publishing Service, Calgary, Alberta
Printed in Canada by Friesens Inc.
New Society Publishers acknowledges the support of the Government of Canada through the Book Publishing
Industry Development Program (BPIDP) for our publishing activities.
Paperback ISBN:
Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part of Timber Framing for the Rest of Us should be addressed to
New Society Publishers at the address below.
To order directly from the publishers, please add $4.50 shipping to the price of the first copy, and $1.00 for
each additional copy (plus GST in Canada). Send check or money order to:
New Society Publishers
P.O. Box r89, Gabriola Island, BC VOR rxo, Canada
r (800) 567-6772
New Society Publishers' mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an
ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a
manner that models this vision. We are committed to doing this not just through education, but through
action. We are acting on our commitment to the world's remaining ancient forests by phasing out our paper
supply from ancient forests worldwide. This book is one step towards ending global deforestation and climate
change. It is printed on acid-free paper that is 100% old growth forest-free (100% post-consumer recycled),
processed chlorine free, and printed with vegetable based, low VOC inks. For further information, or to
browse our full list of books and purchase securely, visit our website at www.newsociety.com
NEW SOCIETY PUBLISHERS www.newsociety.com
Dedication
To George Holden, Highland former, artist and friend.
Thanks for showing me that we can do most anything,
if we just put our minds to it.
• III
Acknowledgments
LOT OF PEOPLE OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME helped make this book
Apossible. I would like to thank:
Geoff Huggins, Mark Powers, Joe Zinni, Larry Schuth, Jim Juczak, Richard
Flatau, Chris Ryan, Jim Washburn, George Stuart, Ki Light, contractors Russell
Pray and John Light, Steve Sugar and Eileen Hogan, and Terry at K Bay on
Hawaii's Big Island for sharing their timber framing experiences.
Will Beemer of Heartwood Building School for timely materials and for
introducing me to the Timber Framer's Guild.
Timber framer and author Steve Chappell for permiSSIOn to use three
illustrations from his book, A Timber Framer's Workshop, and for cheerfully
. .
answenng questions.
Bob Samuelson for great advice on obtaining salvaged timbers.
Marie Cyburt Taluba for a drawing she did back in 1977 for my first book, a
drawing used again here.
Doug Anderson of Winter Panel Corporation in Vermont for good
information about stressed-skin and structural insulated panels.
Darin Roy, Rohan Roy, Anna Milburn-Lauer, Bruce Kilgore, Diane Lukaris,
Stephanie Bayan, Doug Kerr, John Light, Peter Allen and Dawn Palmer for help
with the new Earthwood sunroom, without which the important Chapter Five
would not exist.
Richard R. Chapman at Simpson Strong-Tie Company, Inc.; Bette Gahres at
Sterling Publishing Co., Inc.; and Margaret M. Leddin of the International Code
Council for permissions to use copyrighted illustrations and tables.
Daniel Rimann, P.E., for reviewing Chapter Two on Timber Frame Structure
and Appendix B on Stress Load Calculations. His corrections and suggestions
were valuable, but any errors left behind are mine alone.
Bob Curnings at Prazi USA for supplying a picture of their Beam Cutter
attachment for circular saws.
• v
VI • TIMBER FRAMING FOR THE REST OF Us
Long-time friend and BackHome Magazine editor Richard Freudenberger for
his fine manuscript editing and permission to use the picture on page 57. (Isn't he
a good-looking guy?) It's been great to finally work with Richard on a book-length
manuscnpt.
The New Society gang is a pleasure to work with, even when crises occur.
Thanks to:
Editor-in-Chief Chris Plant for his faith in the book.
Ingrid Witvoet for coordinating the text editing and Greg Green for his usual
fine art editing.
Diane McIntosh for the cover design and Jeremy Drought for the interior
layout.
Finally, and not least, loving thanks to my wife and building co-conspirator,
Jaki, for her patience and her valuable help on photography, manuscript
preparation, and with finding missing pictures. Now, as I write on February 16th,
2004, the galleys are proofed and this page is my last act on this book. Jaki will
be getting at least some of her table surfaces back ... until the next book (which
begins next week.)
Rob Roy
Earthwood
West Chazy, New York
Contents
• Introduction .............................................................................................................................. I
1 • About Timber Framing ........................................................................................................ 5
A Little Background .................................................................................................................... 5
Timber Framing versus Standard Stud Construction .................................................................. 6
Grading Lumber: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly .................................................................... 8
Timber Framing: Advantages and Disadvantages ........................................................................ II
"Traditional" Timber Framing .................................................................................................... 13
Timber Framing for the Rest of Us ............ ... ................ ... ................ ... ................ ... ................ ... . 14
2 • Basic Timber Frame Structure ........................................................................................ 15
Load and Line of Thrust ............................................................................................................ 15
Compression .............................................................................................................................. 17
Tension ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Compression and Tension in Beams ....... ...... ... .... .... .. ...... ..... .. .... .. ...... .. ... .. .... .. ...... .. ... .. .... .. ...... . 18
Bending and Bending Failure .................................................................................................... 19
Shear and Shear Failure .............................................................................................................. 23
Deflection ........................................................ ................... ................... ................... ................. 25
Post and Beam Frame ................................................................................................................ 28
Plank and Beam ........................................................................................................................ 29
Design Considerations for Rafters and Girders .............. ................... ................... ................... ... 31
Cantilever .................................................................................................................................. 33
Your Post and Beam Plans .......................................................................................................... 35
• VII