Whether you’re designing your dream timber frame home or simply curious about this unique building method, there are many terms to learn. This article will help you understand some of the basics that will help you better communicate with architects, engineers and other timber framing professionals.
Anchor Beam: A structural member at the apex of a gable roof that connects the bents with a shouldered through-tenon wedged from the opposite side. The apex may also be supported by a ridge beam.
Piece: A piece of dimensional lumber used to join two timbers. It is typically square-cut and fits into a mortise (hole) cut in the end of another timber, called a tenon. This type of joinery is commonly used to attach eaves, ridges, braces and other structural components of a timber frame. For advice from Timber Frame Companies Near Me, go to https://merlintimberframe.co.uk/
Tie Beam: An auxiliary member installed horizontally between roof rafters to prevent them from spreading apart under structural loads. It is usually installed between a pair of principal rafters, or a pair of top chords in a truss.
Bent: Essentially, a boxlike section of a timber-frame structure. Bents extend from the foundation base to the roof ridge, and are generally erected flat on the ground or floor deck, then raised with a crane or a lot of willing hands. Bents are the major load-bearing assemblies in a timber frame. They are often cantilevered, meaning they project beyond their last vertical support (floor joists or rafters). A bent’s cross-section includes its ridge and a principal rafter.
