Timber framed homes, barns,churches and other buildings are made through a process of many steps. First, the building is conceived of by the architect or designer. Often a timber framer is consulted and give input on the design and structure.  Once an architectural design is finalized, the timber framer draws shop drawings for the timber frame and submits it to the client for review and approval. The next step is to order material and finalize the joinery design. The timbers are received in raw from from the mill, laid out, cut and preassembled in the shop by experienced timber framers. Then the cut timbers go to the finishing area to be stained or urethaned and packaged for shipment to the job site. On site, they are assembled into bents and put into place with a crane. Finally, a tree is nailed to the highest beam and celebrated!

Timber Frame Shop Drawing

Cutting a timber frame

Site assembly of a heavy timber truss

A tree is nailed to the ridge of a finished timber frame for celebration!

Shop drawings for timber frames show the overall design of the frame from several views: the post layout, the plan view from above, the bent view, which is a cross section through the frame and elevation views showing the timber frame from all sides. Shop drawings also have details showing how the timbers are connected together and details of any steel reinforcing that is used in the frame. a 3d isometric drawing of the frame is usually included on the front page. Years ago we would draw by hand with a pencil and a drafting machine. These days we use computer aided design to create a full model of the timber frame in three dimensions showing every mortise, tenon, dovetail and steel connection including bolts and screws.