What is Timber Framing?

1 / 3
Timber framing is a technique that has been used for more than 7,000 years.
Timber framing is a technique that has been used for more than 7,000 years.
2 / 3
A timber frame is composed of large, widely spaced timbers while a stick frame is made up of small pieces of lumber placed closely together.
A timber frame is composed of large, widely spaced timbers while a stick frame is made up of small pieces of lumber placed closely together.
3 / 3
"Learn to Timber Frame" by Will Beemer is the perfect guide for novice builders and homesteaders alike.

In an age of mass production, flimsy building materials, and cookie-cutter homes, timber frame structures stand out as a testament to the timelessness of true quality. Learn to Timber Frame (Storey, 2016) by Will Beemer shows the elegant simplicity and craftsmanship of timber framing and gives timber frame enthusiasts the tools needed to get started. Instruction is supplemented with full-color photos and instructive diagrams that illustrate every step of the way. This excerpt comes from chapter 1, “What is Timber Framing.”

You can purchase this book from the MOTHER EARTH NEWS store: Learn to Timber Frame.

Timber Framing vs. Stick Framing

In North America in the 1830s, settlers migrating west needed a way to build quickly with unskilled labor. The newly built railroad made it possible to ship smaller-dimensioned lumber to the treeless prairie, and the new technologies of sawmills, drying kilns, and mass-produced nails helped promote a new construction system called stick framing. This system relied on the repetitive use of many small pieces of lumber (2 x 4s, for example) to overcome the scarcity of skilled labor. Now anyone could build a house — and faster, with a smaller crew. Since the framing was nailed together, one didn’t need the skills of a joiner. Stick framing became firmly established as the predominant method of light construction after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, when a large part of the city needed to be rebuilt quickly.

  • Published on Feb 22, 2017
Comments (0) Join others in the discussion!
    Online Store Logo
    Need Help? Call 1-800-234-3368