Over the last two decades, the historic craft of timberframing in residential construction has experienced a revival. Students will learn the fundamentals of designing and constructing a timberframe using mortise and tenon joinery. Layout techniques, tool use and sharpening, and joinery cutting methods are taught as we work on a small timberframe project. Evening lectures will address the history of the craft, finishing techniques, and mechanical systems for timberframe houses. We will also touch on frame design, joinery choices, and integration of frame and house design. This course will focus on traditional hand-cut joinery and tools and will also demonstrate some of the power tools used by modern timberframers. The class will raise the structure on the final day.
- Competency Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- AIA credits: 42 -- Qualifies for HSW requirements.
Course Objectives
To the un-initiated, timber framed buildings - structures constructed with large timbers that are connected with mortise and tenon joinery - may seem dauntingly complex and extremely difficult to build. This course seeks to de-mystify the craft of timber framing and to teach a basic proficiency of timber framing skills.
We will divide our course schedule between the daytime hands-on learning of woodworking skills as we cut and raise a small frame and the evening sessions where we will learn about design, engineering and whole house systems.
Suggested/Required Reading
Jack Sobon. Building a Classic Timber-Framed House (available for purchase in the Yestermorrow bookstore)
Jack Sobon Timber Frame Construction
Who is it for?
Anyone who is interested in the building craft of timber framing. All students, no matter what skill level they bring to the class, will participate actively in the cutting and erecting of a timber frame project.
In the past our students have included professional builders who want to shift into timber frame building, homeowners and hobby woodworkers who want to build a modest timber frame structure for themselves, and potential timber frame homeowners who want an intimate education in the art of timber framing.
Class Schedule
We begin the course with some introductory themes: What is timber framing? What is its history? Why has there been such a resurgence in the past 30 years? Why would anyone want to build in this style
Major topics that will be addressed and studied include:
- Designing the frame: designing for strength and load carrying capacity; aesthetics of designs; different timber framing options; raising considerations
- Joinery systems: familiarity with different joints and their characteristics; layout of joinery on timbers and strategies for cutting joints
- Timbers: grading; assessing timbers in the shop; different species; detailing; oiling and finishing techniques
- The importance of holistic design: why a beautiful timber frame does not necessarily make a good timber frame home (or barn); integrating the frame and the living /use space; use of open space; how the frame can enhance living spaces
- Enclosure systems for the timber frames: different options for the insulation of frames; stress skin panels; Larsen trusses; siding; roofing; and window considerations
House systems: special considerations for plumbing, heating, electrical and ventilation systems
Each day students will be making the chips fly as they learn timber framing skills and as we transform a pile of timbers into a raised frame. Students learn and practice sharpening techniques for chisels and other hand tools, gain competency with a variety of power tools, and become proficient in laying out and cutting a variety of joints.
Evening sessions will follow a lecture/discussion format and include slide shows. We will also include in our busy schedule a field trip to a number of local timber framed houses and a historic wooden covered bridge.
Students will also be introduced to the nitty gritty of frame planning; punching calculators; computing loads; working through the mathematics of frame dimensions (roof rise and run, knee brace triangulation, etc.) and generating shop drawings (the "paper link" between frame design and successfully cutting timbers to the proper dimensions).
Materials to Bring
- Enthusiasm and energy to eat, sleep, and breathe timber framing for a week!
- Basic carpentry and measuring tools, including a basic tool belt,
- Dixon Ticonderoga medium carpenter's pencils,
- Tape measure,
- Framing square,
- Combination square,
- Utility knife
- Hearing protection
- Safety glasses
- Mallet
- Crosscut saw
- Rip saw
- Jack plane (#5)
- Smoothing plane (#4)
- Steel-toes boots are recommended, comfortable hiking boots are a minimum
- water bottle
- pencils
- notebook
- camera
Yestermorrow has a selection of timber framing chisels for students to try. If you choose to purchase your own chisel prior to the course, we suggest finding a quality older timber framing chisel or purchasing a quality Sorby or Woodcraft 1-1/2" faming chisel. Come prepared to work outside in a variety of weather!
Course Outline
Sunday
5PM Welcome, orientation to Yestermorrow, dinner, intro to class project
Monday
- AM Introduction to tools, layout demo, cutting demo
- PM Cutting frame
- EVE Slide show
Tuesday
- AM Cutting frame, sharpening demonstration
- PM Cutting frame
- EVE House tours and dinner out
Wednesday
- AM Cutting frame
- PM Cutting frame
- EVE Whole house systems lecture
Thursday
- AM Cutting frame
- PM Cutting frame
- EVE Design workshop
Friday
- AM Cutting frame
- PM Cutting frame
Saturday
- AM Assembling bents and braces
- PM Frame Raising
- EVE Graduation ceremony and dinner
*Subject to change based on interests of students and demands of the specific class project.
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