Timber Framing For The Rest Of Us

Many natural building methods rely upon the use of post and beam frame structures that are then in-filled with straw cob cordwood or more conventional wall materials. But traditional timber framing employs the use of finely crafted jointing and wooden pegs requiring a high degree of craftsmanship and training as well as much time and expense. However there is another way...Timber Framing for the Rest of Us describes the timber framing methods used by most contractors farmers and owner-builders methods that use modern metal fasteners special screws and common sense building principles to accomplish the same goal in much less time. And while there are many good books on traditional timber framing this is the first to describe in depth these more common fastening methods. The book includes everything an owner-builder needs to know about building strong and beautiful structural frames from heavy timbers including: * the historical background of timber framing * crucial design and structural considerations * procuring timbers -- including different woods and recycled materials * foundations roofs and in-filling consdierations * the common fasteners.A detailed case study of a timber frame project from start to finish completes this practical and comprehensive guide along with a useful appendix of span tables and a bibliography.Highly illustrated this book enables 'the rest of us' to build like the professionals and will appeal to owner-builders contractors and architects alike.