Timber framing

Timber framing and "post-and-beam" construction are traditional methods of building with heavy <a href="/facts/Beam_(structure)/V9BPDeS8">timbers</a>, creating structures using squared-off and carefully fitted and <a href="/facts/Woodworking_joints/7gnWtUoA">joined</a> timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs. If the <a href="/facts/Structural_system/4tyfPn2J">structural frame</a> of <a href="/facts/Load-bearing_wall/mGJ9bINW">load-bearing</a> timber is left exposed on the exterior of the building it may be referred to as half-timbered, and in many cases the infill between timbers will be used for decorative effect. The country most known for this kind of architecture is Germany, where timber-framed houses are spread all over the country.
The method comes from working directly from logs and trees rather than pre-cut <a href="/facts/Lumber/jJfdSlJ6">dimensional lumber</a>. Artisans or framers would gradually assemble a building by <a href="/facts/Hewing/gmsIVEdS">hewing</a> logs or trees with <a href="/facts/Broadaxe/TnS5xUpT">broadaxes</a>, <a href="/facts/Adze/Hlh0TF68">adzes</a>, and <a href="/facts/Draw_knife/5kq1xNzE">draw knives</a> and by using <a href="/facts/Woodworking/JSttCtkP">woodworking</a> tools, such as hand-powered <a href="/facts/Brace_(tool)/mUt88FjB">braces</a> and <a href="/facts/Auger_(drill)/rhuYs41D">augers</a> (brace and bit).
Since this building method has been used for thousands of years in many parts of the world like <a href="/facts/Europe/DTAtrKfh">Europe</a> (Germany, France, Norway, Switzerland, etc.) and <a href="/facts/Asia/4IToYrrQ">Asia</a>, many styles of historic framing have developed. These styles are often categorized by the type of foundation, walls, how and where the beams intersect, the use of curved timbers, and the roof framing details.

Timber framing open-in-new

Timber framing