Timber Frame Houses - Assignment Example

? Timber Frame Houses Teacher: Timber Frame Houses From the early days people used wood to make their houses but by the passage of time, the techniques, which are utilized in making of houses, are changed. The basic concept of those making from the wood is same such as pillaring and framing. People use many types of wood to make their houses but there are several problems with the wooden frame. The chief problem among many is that the wood is sensitive to weather and weather can make wear and tear in the wood. So the type of wood should be chosen precisely. The hardness and strength of timber is dependent on its cell structure. The more the cell are closed to each other, there will be more strength in timber. And if the cells are a little apart from each other timber will be soft and lighter. Strength also depends on some other factors. If there are knots, cracks or decay in the timber, the strength of the timber will be reduced. Elasticity is also a property of timber that is linked to its cell structure. More elasticity means that the timber is more durable and can handle more pressure. But the type of timber is utilized according to the use. If the cell walls of the timber are thick, the timber will be harder that will make it a better building material, similarly if the cell walls are thin, the timber is soft and can be utilized where it is required to use soft wood. Moisture in the timber also plays part to the hardness of the timber. More moisture in the timber makes it softer. Hardwood is prepared over softwood for building purposes because it is more resistant to softwood. Trapped air inside the timber makes the property known as density of timber. More trapped air means timber will be less dense and less trapped air means timber will be denser. Timber from the sustainability managed forests contributes much to the timber industry. The color of the timber is due to the time that it takes to dry. Some timber types becomes pale or lighter in color by the passage of time but some types of timber become darker by the passage of time as Cedar darkens but sapwood becomes pale with the time. Some time timber odor plays an important role while using for certain purpose, like some wood have pleasant smell and some have not, some can repel insects and some can attract. The odor is due to the presence of oils present in the wood (Interiordezine.com, 2011). These oils are sometimes utilized too in making dyes and insect repellents. Dying or waxing the timber or sometimes using some preservatives increases the life of the timber by making it to sustain the environmental effects. Using special type of varnish and synthetic waxes uses makes timer sustain even the worst weather. Some dyes are made such that the timber can even resist fire. Some timbers have fire resistant qualities too. These types of timber can resist fire for a longer time as compared to the other types of timber (Interiordezine.com, 2011). Wood logs are cut in different shapes and sizes to get the maximum required shapes from a log. The wood logs are then seasoned to increase the resistance of the timber. Sometimes corrosion in the metals that are attached to the timber occurs, which is the result of less seasoned of the timber. Wood cells swell and contract in different weather conditions. Persevered or treated timber has almost the same strength as that of untreated or unpreserved timber but the treated timber has more resistance to different weather conditions (Greenhalgh, 1929). For building purposes timber is graded into three categories. The three categories in which timber is graded are structural, structural appearance and appearance. In structural grading, different types of timber are graded according to their strength. Structural grade is sometimes also referred as stress grading. The other two are classified as their appearance and strength. Timber framings of houses have many parts and sections. Some of the major parts of timber frame are rafters, truss, studs and sometimes lintels. These are the most important part of the frame. There are two types of timber frames construction systems which can be distinguished according to the construction. The two timber frame construction systems are utilized in different situation. Now a day the mostly used timber frame construction system is platform framing. In platform framing system a platform is built which is ubiquitous. Platform is built of concrete or some other such material. The other timber frame construction system is known as balloon frame construction system which is a bit older construction system but at some places it is still in use to build small structures. Balloon framing system is also referred as Chicago framing system (Greenhalgh, 1929). In early centuries balloon framing construction technique is not considered as a appropriate method for the construction of houses and other buildings as the framing technique has no base or foundation and many people believed that the such constructed structure is unable to stand and will be blown away by the wind. But the construction technique allowed even three stories buildings like apartment buildings to stand. In balloon framing technique there is always a deficient of platform for the workers to work in the structure and it also requires scaffolding around the building to reach the top sides of the walls (Davies and Jokiniemi, 2008). There is always a need of elongated framing constituents in the balloon framing method. Balloon construction provided an ease to the farmers and other less skilled persons because the construction methods requires less skills. Now a day the balloon constructed structures are less efficient and requires more thermal energy to warm the structures. Now a new material called steel is more in use as compared to timber as it is more fire resistant. Concrete foundation is a significant feature employed in platform framing construction method. Some other material such as treated timber or some other treated organic or inorganic material can also be utilized to use it as the foundation for the platform framing method. In platform framing method foundation wall rests on a sill plate which is joined to the sill plate by employing a special type of bolts known as ‘j’ bolts. Timber is utilized to frame the structure in a particular size and generates a frame by nailing the frame (Davies and Jokiniemi, 2008). Studs make a frame for the exterior as well as interior walls. Studs are placed both in vertical order and in horizontal order to support walls. At the corner more than one stud posts are required to support walls. Minimum two studs post are required and three stud posts are a better configuration for the corners of the frame. Roof of the building is framed by utilizing truss and a roof support structure. Truss is a triangular structure to support roof structure. It provides an additional support to the roof stricture (Davies and Jokiniemi, 2008). Purlin is a structure that is present in the roof frame. It is the major part of the roof structure and supports the load of the roof and other things which make roof such as deck and principle rafters. Purlins have a bit longer span as compared to that of the rafters. In a typical truss construction principle rafters of the truss supports purlins (Greenhalgh, 1929). Timber roof trusses basically involve two types of construction. The two methods are king post trusses and queen post trusses. The king post trusses involve a single vertical king post. Such a roof consists of two principle rafters, tie beam, strut, purlin, common rafter, ridge board and the most important and significant part a king post. The queen post trusses involve two vertical queen posts. This type of roof construction involves similar parts as that of the king post trusses require but the two additional components that the construction require are straining beam and straining sill. The size of the roof is dependent on the construction as well as the strength of the timber (Greenhalgh, 1929). A typical timber frame house has a horizontal timber structure and a vertical timber structure. The vertical timber structure consists of posts at the corners and some other posts and wall studs to support the exterior and inner walls. Beams and sills are two major components which are included in the horizontal frame structure. The slope frame structures have maintained their significant position by holding the structures like roof. The slope framing structure consists of trusses, braces and herringbone. Herringbone is usually angled at 45 degrees as it provides support and enhancing the beauty of the structure (Greenhalgh, 1929). The main advantage of timber frame house construction is that the utilization of energy in building the timber framed structure is much lower s compared to a typical concrete structure of same perimeters. Less utilization of energy means that there is a less emission of green house gasses, so the structure in common sense is a green structure. The timber framed structure requires fewer labors and less skilled persons as it is required by the similar concrete structure. A simple timber frame structure can be self built by a person but a concrete structure cannot be built in such a manner. If any mistake occurs in the construction, it can be corrected in no time or a smaller span of time but a concrete structure much time to erect a mistake. Timber is highly a recyclable material. Timber framed houses generate less waste and thus contributing towards a healthy environment (Advantages and Disadvantages of Timber Frame Construction, n.d.). Timber frame houses take lesser time to be fully furnished but a cemented structure require more time. A common timber frame house has a life span of 60 years as it is guaranteed but the timber frame structure can stand for many more years. An example for the age of such structures is that the timber frame structures of the 12th century can be seen today. That means that a good care cans increase the life span of a timber framed house. Timber framed houses provide a better insulation, which results in the less consumption of energy. The thermal efficiency of timber frame houses is much higher than any other material utilized to build structures. Insulation can be increased in timber frame houses by a simple amendment between or after the construction (Advantages and Disadvantages of Timber Frame Construction, n.d.). Timber frame houses are also known as light frame houses. The frame of such a house is much lighter and is able to carry massive loads. Timber frame houses revolutionized the house building. The history of house building is incomplete without the use of timber or lumber. People used almost every kind and type of timber to build their homes. All kind and types of timber can be utilized to build a house but they are chosen according to the use. References Advantages and Disadvantages of Timber Frame Construction. (n.d.). Retrieved on 4th April 2011 from http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,1677,en.pdf Davies, Nikolas and Jokiniemi, Erkki. (2008). Dictionary of architecture and building construction. New York: Architectural Press. Greenhalgh, Richard. (1929). Joinery and Carpentry: A practical and authoritative guide dealing with all branches of the craft of woodworking. London, New York: Sir I. Pitman & sons, ltd. Interiordezine.com. (2010). The Properties of Timber and Wood for Interior Design and Decorating Finishes, Properties of Timber and Wood. 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