King Post Top Joinery
The king post truss is one of the most common truss forms used in timber framing. Some, but not all king post trusses utilize struts (diagonal beams coming from the bottom chord).
The king post truss is one of the most common truss forms used in timber framing. Some, but not all king post trusses utilize struts (diagonal beams coming from the bottom chord).
When you have two beams connecting into one post at the same height, you need to get creative in cutting the joints. The goal here is to make a secure connection without taking too much meat and strength out of the post. In this detail we show you how to accomplish that with an Offset Mortise and Tenon.
A hammer beam truss creates a lot of drama in a timber frame, and also causes some complex joinery. In this hammer beam eave detail we will show you one solution to the issue of several frame elements coming together in close proximity to each other.
The stop-splayed scarf joint with sallied abutments is a fun little twist on the standard stop-splayed scarf joint. In this case, the stops are sallied, or angled.
This example illustrates a very common assembly in timber framing. That is when a post connects to a tie beam (a horizontal beam, perpendicular to the ridge, that resists the spreading force of the roof onto the walls) or a plate.
Purlins help to form and strengthen the roof framing in a structure, and they support the roof decking or sheathing. They run horizontally, parallel with the ridge of the timber frame. There are three basic types of purlins: Purlin plate, principal purlin, and common purlin.
Cross lap joints are a great solution when you want to create clean, continuous lines in a timber frame. The edges of the joint are completely flush, making it almost appear that the timbers are magically connected. To create a cross lap joint, you cut halfway through the width of both timbers that you are connecting , and they slide together into an extremely solid joint.
Like other joints of its kind, a half lap scarf joint is used to join two timbers end-to-end to span a length greater the the lumber at hand.
Anytime you need to span a distance longer than the lumber you have on hand, scarf joints are a good solution. This stop bladed scarf joint with pegs is a variation on the scarf joint.
Often the length of a span in a timber frame is longer than the size of your lumber. That is when you will need to use a scarf joint to join two timbers together. There are many types of scarf joints, and this under squinted stop splayed scarf joint with screws is one of them.