Timber framing uses traditional wooden joinery techniques like mortise and tenon joints to connect beams and frames. Timber frame structures can last over 2,000 years. Trusses use triangles of timber to allow large roof spans with small timbers. Laminated wood makes it possible to fabricate long curved timbers for arches, domes, and vaults. Heavy timber construction can be combined with light framing. Basic timber joints include butt, halving, housing, notched, cogged, and checked joints which are chosen based on performance, economy, and practicality.

1. BEAMS

5. Beams
• Since there are very few
large, old-growth trees
available, most large beams
are laminated
• They are more dimensionally
stable can be made to exact
size and specifications-add
on to make the structure
stronger

6. Frames
• Timber framing is a specific type of post and beam
construction that uses traditional wooden joinery to
connect members which is a peg (trunnels or tree-nails) to
secure a mortise and tenon joint.
• Timber frame structures exist today that have stood for
2,000 years or more, a testimony to their strength and
durability.

7. Trusses
• A type of roof construction that allows large spans with
small sized timbers with the use of triangulated structural
components.
• A timber roof truss is a structural framework of timbers
designed to bridge the space above a room and to provide
support for a roof.
• Trusses usually occur at regular intervals,
linked by longitudinal timbers such as
purlins. The space between each truss
is known as a bay.

9. Arches and Domes
• Long curved timbers for making heavy timber vaults and
heavy timber domes are easily fabricated in laminated
wood
• They are widely used in athletic arenas, auditoriums,
suburban retail stores, warehouses, and factories
• Similar to rigid frames, it must have tie-rods to counter
lateral thrust

10. Combining Heavy Timber and Light
Weight Construction
• Heavy timber can be combined with light frame for
structural and aesthetic reasons
• It is classified as type v (light frame) and has fewer
restrictions on building methods

11. Connection and timber joint

12. Basic joints for timber
- Are designed to allow length of timber to be
connected in variety of shapes and forms
- When choosing a joint, consider:
• Performance
• Economy
• Practicability
- Once selected, it must be marked, accurately.

13. Basic Construction Joints
Overlap Joints
• These joints are strong and simple and can be used for
general purpose jobs.

14. Butt Joint
• Simplest joint used in construction, joinery or
furniture trades.
• May held together with nails, screws, nail
plates, angle brackets or patent type
connectors
• In construction, commonly used where
noggings meet studs

16. Halving Joint
• Cross Halving Joint
• Tee Halving Joint
• Stopped Halving Joint
• Corner Halving Joint

18. Housing Joint
• Through Housing
• End-Lap Housing
• Side Housing
• Stopped Housing

20. Notched, Cogged and Checked Joints
• Notched Joint
• Double Notched Joint
• Cogged Joint
• Checked Joint