What is Timber Framing?

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In timber framing, wooden posts and beams are joined with a centuries-old mortise-and-tenon technique. One of the timber elements has wood cut away, leaving tongue or “tenon” at its end. The piece it joins has a pocket or “mortise” carved out to accept the tenon. Once the pieces are precision cut and fitted together, wooden pegs are driven through the joint to keep the mortise and tenon from separating. Mortise and tenon joinery is one way early civilizations were able to build wooden structures without power tools. We believe that the traditional wooden joinery is the best way to construct a durable and inherently beautiful framework. There are hundreds of ancient timber frame structures that stand in testimony to its strength.


The modern timber frame also uses less energy than other homes thanks to the structural insulated panels – SIPs – that enclose it. The tight “envelope” formed by the SIPs means less energy is used to heat and cool, so less energy needs to be produced, reducing power plant emissions of greenhouse gasses. And, the EPS foam used in the SIPs  contain no formaldehyde or CFC’s, chemicals found in some other types of insulation.