If you’re considering building a timber frame house, you might wonder what you can expect when the job is done. After all, a timber frame house doesn’t have interior load-bearing walls, so you can go for high ceilings and open-plan spaces. In addition, you can decide if you want to show the frame or hide it behind walls. While you can build your post and beam home, most timber frames are pre-constructed and trucked to the site. And the wood they use is often recycled or standing dead timber, which can be used for future buildings.
Oriented strand board (OSB)
OSB is an engineered wood product made from softwoods, some hardwoods, and other scraps. Its mechanical performance is directly related to the shape and orientation of the wood strands. The material is relatively smooth and easy to sand, which makes it the preferred material for timber frame houses. It is also environmentally friendly and has a low carbon footprint.
OSB is a composite material that has similar properties to plywood and veneer. Both wood products expand when wet and do so faster around the edges than in the centre. The advantages of the panel can be split, and if the covering is thin enough, the wood won’t be able to expand as much as the middle. Both plywood and OSB are available in varying grades and prices.
OSB is a dense, solid material that compresses thin wood strands to a density of up to 1,100 pounds per square inch. One sheet of OSB contains about 50 layers. It is made from various wood species but is most commonly made from Western red cedar or pine. However, the wood species used depends on the region where the lumber is harvested.
Oriented strand board is a versatile wood product. It can be used in flooring, roofing, and siding applications. Depending on its end use, OSB panels can withstand wind loads. It is also used in furniture manufacturing, pallets, marine applications, and other industrial applications. However, the controversial use of OSB in timber frame houses has led to several research initiatives investigating its suitability as structural sheathing.
Large wood posts
Timber frame houses use large wood posts and structural insulated panels. The wood posts strengthen the structure and can be finished with any exterior material. The trusses, or large pieces of timber, give each home a distinct appearance. The wood used in these homes is typically softwood or pine. In general, however, the wood used for timber frame homes is more durable than its insulated counterpart.
Most timber frames use large wood posts to support the roof. Traditionally, cylindrical logs were cut in half and used for two seats. This technique saved money and was also known as “half timber”.
Timber frame houses are substantial, allowing open floor plans. Many timber frame homes have spans of forty feet and can accommodate various floor plans. The surface treatments of timber frame homes are excellent because wood holds paint longer than concrete or metal. Additionally, it is cheaper to repaint a timber frame building than to rebuild it. If you want to change the colour of your timber house, you can repaint the entire frame.
Timber frame houses use large wood posts and beams. Because interior walls do not weigh timbers, there is no need for interior load-bearing walls. The seats are joined by a tenon and a mortise on one end. Mortise and tenon joinery can be adjusted to meet the design of the building. These types of connections can be hidden inside the timber frame structure.
Beams
While there are many similarities between post and beam construction and timber frame construction, there are some differences. Both types of construction use heavy timbers and a system of wooden pegs and holes to hold them together. Both methods are environmentally friendly and use no metal brackets or nails. You can learn more about post and beam construction by browsing our articles and watching our videos on the subject. You can also learn more about timber frame construction by visiting our website.
Another significant difference between timber-framed homes and post-and-beam homes is the use of wood. The use of wood has several benefits, including its affordability and energy efficiency. Timber frame construction is also known to create open and spacious rooms. Because the interior walls are not load-bearing, they can be placed where they are most effective in creating an open space. Furthermore, unlike many other building materials, no headers are required on exterior walls. This means you can design a log home with large areas of glass.
The construction post and beam style uses large, solid timbers as the structural support. It also allows for high ceilings and is more energy efficient than many other homes. In addition, post-and-beam homes feature open-plan interiors and exposed wood posts. The main advantage of post-and-beam construction is that it’s less expensive than different types of homes. This style is known as ‘post and beam’, a modern adaptation of the timber frame style.
Mudbricks
Mudbricks, also known as adobe, are a traditional building material that can be made on-site. Their fire resistance is unparalleled, but they aren’t known for their thermal insulation. This means buildings made from mudbricks must have deep eaves and a veranda on all four sides. The result is a remarkably efficient structure that can stand up to the elements and be completely habitable.
The use of mud in construction is an attractive choice for those interested in environmental conservation. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, mud constructions offer high density and excellent acoustic insulation. Because the earth is often used as the primary building material, these structures can keep construction costs low, too. Also, mud bricks can be used to build various systems, including walls and roofs.
Infill masonry in timber frame houses is made from a mud mixture of clay, sand, animal dung, and straw. This infill masonry contributes to the stiffness of the wall, but it should not be overly stiff. It may even induce a collapse of the timber frame. Infill masonry should be made with lime mortar, which has a low strength capacity to dissipate energy through cracks in mortar joints and shear sliding.
Ventilated roof system
A timber frame house’s roof system comprises traditional rafters, purlins, and structural insulated panels (SIPs). These insulated panels are usually 6 inches thick and are glued together. Because the SIPs have joints, they are not entirely vapour-proof. Therefore, condensation can occur on the cold surface of the roof, resulting in rotting.
Besides its protective function against the elements, a ventilated roof system also helps prevent damage to the wood by increasing its lifespan. This type of roof system is often more expensive than standard roof systems. Ventilation is also necessary to avoid moisture buildup in the exterior walls of timber frame houses, as moisture can cause structural timbers to decay. As a result, a ventilated roof system is highly recommended for timber frame houses.
Traditionally, timber frames were made from large posts and beams that were joined using wood pegs or decorative joints. Early builders sometimes used custom cuts and combinations of common types to create more vital structures. The structural strength of a 6×6 or 8×8 post with wood joinery is greater than that of a 2×4 in stick framing. Today, however, modern timber frame construction includes ventilation and Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), which reduce moisture and insect infestation.
The first layer of insulation, including the vapour retarder and air barrier, is installed on the exterior surface of the assembly. Then the second layer is installed between framing members. The insulation thickness depends on the insulation used, the R-value per inch, and the kind of framing. Continuous ventilation space between the ridge and soffit openings limits the depth of the insulation.
Infills
When building a timber frame house, you must consider the infill materials used. You can choose from wattle and daub, split oak laths or brick. In early timber frame houses, oak staves and woven hazel twigs were used as infill panels. Later, bricks were inserted into the walls. The infill should not be visible outside the building, regardless of the material used.
Mud brick masonry is a popular choice for infills. Mud bricks, also known as mud bricks, are made by mixing raw earth with sand. The mixture is left to dry for a day before being laid. The quantity of mud mortar used depends on the soil conditions. Some soils have significant clay content, which can crack during drying. Moreover, mud bricks can be expensive.
The interaction between masonry infills and timber frame walls is complicated. The main issue lies in the nonlinear behaviour of the timber frame with the infill wall. Understanding the interaction between the two types of materials is essential before choosing which one to use in your timber frame. The proposed model can help to predict the response to seismic forces in timber frame houses with infills. It shows good agreement with experimental data and may also be used in the design of timber frame houses.