SYP for timber frames

glgdiggs · July 23, 2009, 08:22:17 AM

Is SYP suitable for use in timber frame construction? I have a large number of loblolly pines which are 70 to 80 years old and at the end of their economic and heathy life spans. Many of these are premium saw logs with no branches to 80 feet, which would allow the milling of large clear beams. I have been a woodworker most of my life and it seems the building of a timber frame workshop and outbuildings could be a new and challenging endeavor.

Jim_Rogers · July 23, 2009, 09:04:03 AM

Yes syp can be used for timber framing...

And welcome to the forum, and keep asking questions.....

witterbound · July 23, 2009, 09:12:09 AM

I'm using SYP for my frame. I hope to raise it in about a month. The upper braces in this bent are cherry, and the king post is a hand hewn post oak timber from a 100 year old barn.

Thehardway · July 23, 2009, 09:32:14 AM

Yes, SYP is very suitable for timberframing. As long as you follow the strength calculation table for the specific specie of SYP you have and you are very certain it is correctly identified you should have no issues. SYP in general covers a very broad group of trees which have varied strength charachteristics.

Watch out for spiral grain in the trees you choose as this can cause timbers to twist as they dry.

Joel Eisner · July 27, 2009, 11:53:52 AM

We did our entire frame out of SYP and it was great to work with. All the wood was harvested within ~200 ft of the building.

One caveat is that this was my only experience with timber framing so I can not compare SYP to other woods.

Joel

ARKANSAWYER · July 27, 2009, 07:59:45 PM

Man I hope so. I built "Wanda's" house out of it! Doing a home now out of short leaf yellow pine. Do 2 or 3 a year and can not wait for the housing market to pick up.