Rob Roy. Timber Framing for the Rest of US

Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers, 2004. — 177 p.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 considerations,
- 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.
Rob Roy is a former contractor with 11 previous books to his credit. He has been utilizing timber framing techniques for the past 25 years in the construction of homes, as well as in the numerous outbuildings at Earthwood Building School which he founded in 1981 with his wife, Jaki. He is most recently the author of Cordwood Building: The State of the Art (New Society, 2003).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.
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.
Procuring the Timbers.
Recycled Timbers.
Timbers from Your Own Land.
Timber from Small Sawmills.
Seasoning the Timbers.
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.
Fastening the Girt to the Top of the Posts.
Build Quality, Gravity and Inertia.
Roof Systems.
Joe's Rocket Research Landing Pad - A Photo Essay.
Case Study - The Sunroom at Earthwood.
Design Overview of the Project.
Design Questions and Plans.
Work Begins.
The Finished Room.Span Tables,
Stress Load Calculations for Beams,
Resorces.