Terminology question...

[Builder-Bob]

Greetings to all...I have been lurking around this great site awhile learning how to build my own small cabin in the future.

The question I have is regarding "timber framing -vs- post and beam" construction.  I read on one thread on this site that...timber framing uses wooden pegs at joints...other wise if nuts and bolts are used (with or without plates) at joints then it called post and beam.  If mortise and tenon joints are used in both methods of construction...it seems to me that it is still...timber framing...whether or not wooden pegs or nuts and bolts are used.

Any opinions???

Thanks...newbie...Builder-Bob

[Jay C. White Cloud]

Hi Builder Bob,

You are going to be my last post of the evening.  I can give you the academic break down of the definitions in short, (there is more to it than what I'm writing.)  Believe it or not the term "timber framing," has not been around that very long.  Being relatively new in origin, it is still in a slight state of flux, as is "post and beam."

Now, timber framing is the architectural form of a wood structure, fitted together with all wood joinery.  It has come to pass, that "post and beam," is the same thing but with metal fasteners holding the joinery together.  That has not always been the case.  Within "timber structures," now called "timber frames," you had two generic family types: "post and beam" (or "column and beam") and "post and lintel," (probably the older of the two,) and variation of both in one frame. 

To peel back the debate further into "timber structure history," another, more detail view is that there is only "post and column" framing and within it, there are three forms: normal, raised-header, and reversed assembly.  As you can tell a very simple question can run away with it's self.  Did that get it?

Regards,

Jay

[Builder-Bob]

Thanks Jay...now I have to do more research on the 3 new definitions!!! hahaha   Where can I find that information??

This is a great site and enjoying reading the numerous postings...very informative.

I had a woodworking shop for almost 20 years doing furniture repair, antique restoration, design and build custom furniture and other specialized things. Now that I'm semi-retired I want to build my little house on the side of this mountain in timber frame style....still working on the design and details...maybe next summer I can start.

Bob

[Jay C. White Cloud]

Hi Builder-Bob,

I have always tended to "snoop" around old college libraries like Yale, Harvard, Cornell, and the one twenty minutes from my house Dartmouth, reading some of the archaic old text they may have on timber framing and traditional guild craft.

The one that is a "good read," and not too academic is  "Wood and Wood Joints, building traditions of Europe and Japan," by Klause Zwerger.  I challenge some of his assertions but his research is thorough and only some of his interpretation are perhaps off just a tad, (but that could be me, because he can read well in two languages, and I can not.)  Much of the best work is in other languages, (i.e. Dutch, German, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, etc.) and I have to muddle through to glean things from them.

Good luck with your planning and remember the longer you take the more satisfied you will be with the outcome.

Regards,

jay.

[Builder-Bob]

Thanks Jay...I'll check out the book and do some online searching (snooping).

Bob