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.
This joint has become one of my favorite ways to join a principal rafter to a post. It offers a clean look and allows a plate to join to the post with a spline and a tie beam that can …
More likely than not, the joinery in the roof system of a timber frame is often loaded with tension and so special consideration is needed to make sure everything is held together. In this detail we show a collar tie to rafter connection in two …
When two roofs collide in timber frame construction you have the chance to add a really cool element to your frame, compound joinery. In this detail we show a jack rafter joining with a valley. The rafter is housed into …
Just like last month’s detail this one relies on a conventionally framed wall to support a timber frame rafter, it can also be used to rest a beam on as well. To create the timber frame rafter wall pocket, you nail …
This rafter to post with tenon connection is a popular way to join a timber frame rafter to a post and is easy to cut and assemble. The rafter has a tenon which is fully housed by at least an inch into …
Often folks want to add a bit of style to their roof line by adding another roof pitch to the equation, called a witches hat roof, it incorporates a witches hat rafter (also called a broke back rafter) to achieve this look. This …
Using a ledger, a post and plate system along with shed common rafters is a fast and effective way to construct an exterior porch or storage area. In this shed rafter detail, the 4×8 rafters are housed into the upper …
While non traditional, this king post with steel all thread uses metal and a stub tenon to tie everything together and allows faster cutting, fit up and assembly. This has become more and more common as the number one way to handle this joinery …
There are a few ways to join two rafters together at the peak, one way that we have illustrated before is the tongue and fork connection. In this detail a simple rafter to rafter mortise and tenon connection is used …