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The David Wilcox house, c. 1831 Detroit, Michigan

Construction of Timber Frame Homes

Early American homes were built using timber frame techniques brought over from Europe and perfected over the centuries. In the middle 1800's with the advent of milled lumber, steel nails and mass production two by four framing became popular. Timber framing which required much more skill and labor began to decline in use. Read more about timber frame Houses in Historic American Buildings .

The timber frame of the David Wilcox home. It is built almost entirely of white Oak and is an early square rule frame. The rafters are 4x4 continuous purlin plates with a nicely pegged half lap at the top. The connection girts are an interesting set of tenons connecting both the tie beam and the post. All exterior vertical timbers are rabbeted to receive the siding and all interior horizontal timbers are rabbetted to receive the ceiling and floor.

Timber Framing was revived again in the 1960's. Using modern heavy lifting equipment and power tools, a few carpenters can do what hundreds did in the past. Modern timber framers apply old world artisanship using today's power tools.

Timber frames are held together by mortise and tenon joinery. The timbers are cut in the shop weeks ahead. Pegged mortise and tenon joints are cut in to the timbers.

Before raising day, the timbers are taken to the home site and assembled in cross sectional units called bents. The foundation of the home is readied with mortises cut in to the sub floor. The frames are stacked with blocks in between them.

On raising day, the bents are raised one at time. Boards are clamped to them to hold them place while raising them, called a strong box. After each bent is raised the girts are attached and temporary pegs put in place. The temporary pegs are replaced with permanent pegs as the frame progresses.

Bent One

Bent Two

Come-along pulleys are also used to hold the frame in place while it is being raised and to bring sections together. Girts are the horizontal beams which join bents together.

Rafters are typically 8 x 12, posts are 8 x 8 and girts are 8 x 10. The posts of the bents have a tenon on their bottoms, which fit into mortises in the sub floor of the building. The space between bents is called a bay and is generally 14 feet. After each bent is raised the girts or horizontal member will be attached to join them.

A frame partially finished

Finished frame for a timber frame home.

After a frame is erected, a pine bough is placed at the peak as a tribute to the forest for providing timber and as a symbol of good luck to the homeowners. The exterior siding can be most any material. Structural insulated panels are most often used. The beams are usually exposed on the inside. Conventional framing techniques are used to add walls, plumbing and electricity.

See inside a timber frame home

Structural insulated panels (sip) have both insulating and load-bearing abilities. Sip's are used for sidewalls and have construction sheeting on the exterior, rigid insulating foam in the middle 3.5 to 9.25 inches thick and drywall or paneling on the other side. Openings for doors and windows are cut into the panels. Walls may be framed inside and conventional building techniques are used to add plumbing and electrical fixtures.

Finished Timber Frame Home

See more timber frame homes