How Timber Work Is Constructed
Timber work is a building method that uses large timbers to create a structure. These buildings are usually constructed in a half-timber or a hybrid style that combines timber framing with conventional building techniques. In most cases, the houses are raised on a ground storey foundation, although they can also be constructed on a higher floor. The use of half-timber or hybrid structures is widespread, and many half-timber houses have a characteristic second-story overhang.
When a timber frame is built, the first step is to cut the timbers to standardized lengths. This is done in a shop with a jig. Once the timbers are cut, they are numbered and marked to identify the individual pieces. They can also be pre-fitted in the shop to help with alignment.
Historically, the walls of a timber frame were filled with horizontal logs. Panels between studs were made of plaster molded with floral forms. Stones or bricks were used for infill, either laid in mortar or laid out in patterns called pierrotage. A special type of infill was known as bousillage. It is typically a light, 2 inch thick material.
Early buildings contained no fasteners or nails. Instead, the wall surface was usually plastered or ceiled to give warmth. Carpenters would often mark their initials in the wood. Some scribe carpentry was used in Europe from the 12th to the 19th century.
Scribe carpentry was a practice that was imported to North America in the early 19th century. Scribe carpentry consists of a wide variety of tools. Carpenters often scratched the surface of the timber with an awl-like tool. Later in the 19th century, carpenters started using pencils.
Another technique used to construct a timber frame is a technique known as poteaux-en-terre or earthfast construction. Poteaux-en-terre is a technique where vertical posts are buried in the ground and spaces between them are filled with natural materials. Many of these houses are in the Swiss and German regions.
One of the most popular styles of half-timber work is known as the Hudson Bay style. The term is derived from the use of timber-frame walls by the Hudson’s Bay Company for their trading posts. However, the use of timber-frame walls was widespread in other parts of the world, including Japan and southern Louisiana.
Half-timber works were used in domestic architecture in northern Europe until the 17th century. As the century progressed, the use of these buildings declined. However, a modified form of this technique is still commonly used today.
In addition to being structurally sound, half-timber buildings are attractive, especially when confined to gables or gables with solid walling. Some of the most beautiful examples of these structures are in Bacharach and Rhense.
Buildings based on this system can be quickly erected. A moderate-sized timber-frame home can be erected in two or three days. To learn more about this process, talk to a representative of the Timber Frame Connection. They will guide you through the steps of constructing a timber frame.