Scott Waite took on one of Timber Frame HQ’s most visually striking designs—the 16×24′ Hammer Beam Pergola—for his Franklin, Massachusetts property. Built entirely from Eastern White Pine, this project showcases how TFHQ’s plans can bring traditional English timber framing techniques to American backyards.
Why the Hammer Beam Design Stands Out
The hammer beam is a distinctive medieval joinery system originally developed for spanning wide spaces without center supports. Timber Frame HQ’s pergola adaptation takes this dramatic structural approach and scales it for residential outdoor living spaces. The result is an eye-catching frame with characteristic horizontal beams projecting from the posts, creating both visual interest and structural elegance.
Eastern White Pine: A New England Classic
Waite’s choice of Eastern White Pine made perfect sense for a Massachusetts build. This locally-available softwood has been a staple of New England construction for centuries. It’s lightweight for easier handling during assembly, mills cleanly for crisp joinery, and weathers beautifully in the region’s four-season climate.
From TFHQ Plan to Finished Frame
At 384 square feet, the 16×24′ footprint provides substantial covered outdoor space—perfect for dining, entertaining, or creating a shaded garden room. The Timber Frame HQ plan gave Waite the engineering and joinery details needed to execute the complex hammer beam connections, while allowing him to bring his own craftsmanship to the build.
The finished pergola in Franklin stands as a testament to how Timber Frame HQ designs make advanced timber framing techniques accessible to dedicated builders—bringing centuries-old structural artistry to modern outdoor living.
