Timber Frames Flashcards
What types of trees do softwood and hardwood come from?
Softwood - coniferous
Hardwood - deciduous
What are the normal uses within construction from softwoods and hardwoods?
Softwoods - structural elements (cheap, available, easily worked)
Hardwood - decorative (cladding/furniture)
Why use timber as a structural material?
More environmentally friendly than other options such as concrete or steel. Less embedded carbon and energy require for production of structural members, and is not finite as it grows
It has a greater strength- to-weight ratio than steel, meaning that structures can be lighter weight, requiring less foundation capabilities
What must be considered if using timber kit construction?
Ventilation. Adequate ventilation is required, coupled with vapour control barriers to ensure that the structural timber elements are not effects by condensation or water generally
What would indicate if a property was timber frame?
Vents in the walls. They will be located above windows, and above and below floors to allow adequate air flow within the frame
Why is structural timber acceptable even in consideration of fire risk?
Timber is flammable, but in a controlled way. Additionally, the production of carbon on the surface of burning timber means that the surface only will burn, and there will be insufficient oxygen to allow further combustion. This will preserve the majority of a structural timber member through a fire, assuming that the cross section is sufficient
How is load transferred in a timber framed building?
As it is in most building, with gravitational load, both imposed and otherwise from occupation/snow being transferred either through the roof trusses to the structural vertical columns, or from the suspended timber floors joists, to the vertical columns and then down to the foundations and finally to the load bearing stratum below. There will also be bracing, likely via walls to deal with any wind loading
What is the connection between structural timber elements and a concrete foundation?
There are options. It may be that the pre-fabricated timber element has a notch at the bottom to allow a steel section to be inserted and fixed in place. Or it may simply be fixed in place with brackets. It will depend on both the timber and foundation
