POST & BEAM VS TRADITIONAL TIMBER FRAMING

Timber Framing

Mink Hill Timber Frames prefers to use the traditional label “ Timber Framing” to more accurately describe the high level of craftsmanship that goes into designing and building our timber frame Projects, rather that the lesser crafted term “ Post and Beam“. The term “Post and Beam” has been used over the years more as a marketing tool by companies that are not necessarily dedicated to the craft of timber framing. The distinction between “Post and Beam“ and “Timber Framing“ is simple. 

Strength & Durability

Post and Beam is the connection of timbers using lags, bolts and plates. Timber Framing is the connection of timbers using traditional wood pegs to connect mortise and tenon joinery together. Mink Hill Timber Frames believes strongly in the strength and durability of a traditional / historic timber frame connection versus the Post and Beam method.

Draw Bore - Tightest of Joints

We have maintained the historical advantage of the mortise and tenon joinery by continuing the long lost art of pegging called “ Draw Bore”. This consists of offsetting our predrilled pegs holes, allowing the wood joint to be “ draw bored “ together. As the hand riven peg is driven into the off set peg hole of the mortise and tenon joint, the shoulders of the joint are pressed together to create a spring loaded connection resulting in the tightest of joints.
If you get a chance to look at an 18th century door you will notice that the rails and stiles are mortise and tenon and joined not by glue or nails or screws but with tiny hand rived pegs that draw bored the joint together!
Looking to build a residential home? See projects that embrace the traditions of the “Old World Cathedral Builders”.