TIMBER FRAMING INTENSIVE Jul. 5-24, 2027

OVERVIEW

This course combines the core of our previous timber framing, homebuilding, and apprenticeship curriculums into one package for those seeking a career in timber framing or a deeper understanding of the skills needed to build their own timber frame. It's ideal for those who seek more opportunities for development than are provided in our one-week courses.

The course includes morning classroom exercises, shop demonstrations and practice, and afternoon hands-on projects, all culminating with the raising of a timber frame built during the class.

The first week will be an introduction to the basics of timber framing. Morning sessions will cover timber frame history and terminology, hand and portable power tool use, tool sharpening, how to review plans, material handling, layout and cutting joinery. We will tour a woodlot, discuss tree species and their uses.

The second week of the course covers design, and building sciences focusing on timber frames but also the relevant concepts for conventional residential design. We will cover enclosure systems, the most common foundation systems, as well as introduce different methods of timber conversion and layout.

Later we will spend time focusing on scribing and using natural forms such as tree shapes in your project. This involves laying out and transferring joinery intersections from one timber to another using plumb bobs, levels, and marking devices instead of tape measures and math. This traditional method is useful for incorporating out-of-square, curved, or oddly shaped pieces into a timber frame.

We will introduce also talk about raising safety and the class will culminate with the raising of the course timber frame.

Over the years, the Heartwood School has focused on hands-on exercises and classroom experiences that are best obtained under the guidance of expert instructors. This course will encompass many aspects of a forest-to-frame approach to allow the novice or the experienced student to get maximum benefit from their participation. After completion of this course, students will have a greater understanding of the history of timber framing, tool use and maintenance, design and joinery decisions, timber conversion, and the cutting, layout and raising techniques necessary for traditional timber framing.

No experience is required to take this three-week Timber Framing Intensive program. If you are short on time, please see our hands-on one-week Timber Framing course which provides a brief overview of many of the concepts taught in this class.

SCHEDULE

Day 1: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Days 2-17: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Day 18: 8:30 am - 2:00 pm
There are no classes on Sundays.
Lunch is provided daily throughout the course.

INSTRUCTORS

Haakon Oyen, Skip Dewhirst, Sarah Highland, Adrian Almquist, and Jack Sobon (see our instructors page for instructor bios).

RECOMMENDED READING

Learn to Timber Frame by Will Beemer
Timber Frame Construction by Jack Sobon and Roger Schroeder
Build a Classic Timber Frame House by Jack Sobon

ADDITIONAL READING

Hand Hewn by Jack Sobon
Advanced Timber Framing by Steve Chappell
The Timber-Frame Home by Tedd Benson
Discovering Timber-Framed Buildings by Richard Harris
Recording Timber-Framed Buildings: An Illustrated Glossary by N.W. Alcock
The Development of Carpentry, 1200-1700, an Essex Study by Cecil Hewitt
English Cathedral and Monastic Carpentry by Cecil Hewitt