Building the timber frame house: The revival of a forgotten craft

by Tedd Benson

If you are among the potential homebuilders who are reviving post-and-beam framing in search of a more sturdily built house, this book was written for you,. Whether you are interested in participating in the design and construction of your timer frame house or plan to turn it over to a professional builder, you will learn the principles and techniques that make this ancient type of construction so beautiful and durable. Written by the owner of a post-and-beam construction firm in New Hampshire and a civil engineer, Building the Timer Frame House tells you exactly how to do just that. Beginning with a brief, interesting chapter on the history of timber framing, the authors include chapters on the kinds of joinery, the assembly of timbers, and raising. The last part of the book deals with present-day design and materials: house plans, site development, foundation laying, insulation, tools, and methods. The qualities of energy efficiency, permanence, aesthetic value and, if you are building your own home, the joy of working with large pieces of wood combine to make timber framing the craft of homebuilding.

Genres: Woodwork, Reference, Architecture, House Building

211 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Niesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband built our new home from what he learned in this book.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great drawings, explanations of joinery, and assembly. Somewhat dated in specific details around insulating materials and skins, but provides good conceptual information.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Environmental sound housing matters

Timber framing is old technology designed for the modern world. Thus book provides excellent information and opinion from a Timber Frame craftsman.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic in the field