English Building Systems Timber Frame Services

EBS Timber Frame

Wayne English learned traditional timber framing from Steve Chapell, one of the early timber framing revivalists, at Fox Maple School in West Brownfield, Maine (www.foxmaple.com). Prior to moving back to Western Massachusetts in 2000, Wayne designed and built his own high-posted timber frame Cape house in Daretown, New Jersey, as well as traditionally constructed timber frame houses for satisfied customers in southern New Jersey.

As a leading Massachusetts post and beam builder, EBS is committed to working with each individual customer to design a timber frame that meets their individual needs and desires. Whether green timber or seasoned timbers, stress skin enclosed or foamed in place panel all our timber frame structures are high quality at an affordable price resulting in a timber frame structure of high value.

Timber Frame Homes and Great Room Additions

EBS offers timber frame great rooms and timber frame roof truss systems to any of its customers that are interested in integrating timber frame construction into their new home or existing home. EBS also offers full timber frame construction services including design, raising, and general contracting to any prospective clients interested in building a timber frame home, barn, or great room addition. EBS also offers frame only or completion to a weather tight shell options to clients who wish to act as their own general contractor.

Structural Considerations

A typical timber frame great room that EBS builds consists of three basic systems, walls, roof, and cross sections called bents. A bent is the major structural element that runs perpendicular to the walls. Bents can take on many different configurations that include king post truss, queen post truss, hammer beam truss, arch beam truss, and other forms. A typical EBS 18’ by 24’ timber frame great room might consist of two bents, connected by a purlin roof system and horizontal wall beams. Frames can also be constructed that do not use bents but instead a roof system that uses common rafters. There are no limits to what we can frame with timbers. Some forms that are possible include compound hip and valleys roof framing, octagons, cupolas, and dormers.

Wood Considerations

A typical timber frame great room that EBS builds consists of three basic systems, walls, roof, and cross sections called bents. A bent is the major structural element that runs perpendicular to the walls. Bents can take on many different configurations that include king post truss, queen post truss, hammer beam truss, arch beam truss, and other forms. A typical EBS 18’ by 24’ timber frame great room might consist of two bents, connected by a purlin roof system and horizontal wall beams. Frames can also be constructed that do not use bents but instead a roof system that uses common rafters. There are no limits to what we can frame with timbers. Some forms that are possible include compound hip and valleys roof framing, octagons, cupolas, and dormers.

Frames can be constructed from a variety of wood species including but not limited to: Eastern White Pine, Southern Yellow Pine, Red Oak, White Oak, Douglas Fir, Sitka Spruce, and Cedar. Traditional timber framing uses green timber but with today’s advanced drying technologies it is possible to obtain timbers that have been dried. Timber that has been reclaimed from old mills and barns is also available for framing materials.

Green Timbers

Green timbers change over time as they cure and become seasoned. Curing refers to the early stages of seasoning during which time the wood fibers react to being cut and processed into timbers. During this period the timber may crown or twist as a reaction to tensions that are in the wood but no appreciable shrinkage occurs during the curing stage. Shrinkage occurs over a much longer period of time as the fibers release water. The entire process of seasoning will result in some changes to the wood and the timber. Joints that were tight when the frame was first raised may now exhibit some gaps. The individual timbers used in the frame will exhibit some degree of checking and may twist. The degree to which a timber may check and twist is a function of a number of factors including: the wood species, the tree from which the timber came, the geographical area where the tree was grown, and how the timber was milled.

The overall effects of green timber seasoning can be reduced by the proper surveying of the timber with respect to grain, knots, and general quality. Once a timber has been surveyed, the appropriate use of the timber in the frame with respect to joinery and loading can be made. At EBS when using green timbers we carefully survey each timber and use it a manner that will minimize the long term effects of seasoning. Many find that the individual characteristics a timber takes on during the seasoning process adds to the overall beauty of the frame.

Seasoned Timbers

Using seasoned timbers in a frame, whether seasoned over time as is the case with timbers from old mils or barns or dried by advanced technologies that are available today, eliminates the issues of changes to the frame over time. A frame constructed from seasoned timbers will look essentially the same 20 years from the day it was raised. EBS customers who are interested in a frame that will not change over time should select seasoned timbers for their frame.

Enclosure Systems

EBS offers a number of different options for the enclosure of your frame. The frame can be enclosed with stress skin panels, conventional stick framed systems, or with an environmentally friendly green systems, including foamed-in-place panels using Biobased foam and traditional natural clay based enclosure systems. EBS will work with you to help you make the best choice for you.

A Brief History of Timber Framing

Timber frame building has been around for centuries and is still a common method of building in Japan and Europe. Ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and the Romans used timbers in roof systems and developed the basic mortise and tenon joint. By the 10th century Europeans had fully developed their building skills in working with timbers and developed joinery that is still used today. Timber frame buildings built in the 12th and 13th centuries can be found in England: Westminister Abbey and Winchester Cathedral are two examples. Many other timber frame buildings dating from the Middle Ages can be found throughout Europe. This method of building all but disappeared in North America after the turn of the 20th century with the advent of the circular saw, which made it possible to mill wood easily. Timber framing construction in North America today continues to enjoy a revival that began in the 1970s. Today’s timber frame homes and great room additions are beautiful, enduring, and energy efficient.

Timber Framing Today

Traditional timber frame houses are constructed using planed or hand-hewn timbers held together by mortise and tenon joinery and wooden pegs. Modern timber framers employ both traditional hand tools as well as modern power tools in cutting timbers and joinery. The result is a beautiful frame constructed like fine furniture which is exposed to the inside of the house or room. The timbers provide a warmth and for many a spiritual quality to the home that can not be achieved by other building methods.

Timber framing is also referred to as post and beam construction. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, there are some distinctions. In post and beam construction, builders often use metal plates to hold the timbers together, while in traditional timber frame joinery the timbers are held together with mortise and tenon joints that are wood pegged.

English Building Systems is a member of the Timber Framers Guild. For more information on timber framing and the Timber Framers Guild, go to www.tfguild.org.

Timber Frame Homes and Great Room Additions by Experienced Massachusetts Post and Beam Builders

Home  -  About the Company  -   Let's Link   -   Contact Us