Timber Trusses

Glulam trusses

 Here at Vermont Timber Works we specialize in custom timber frames.  We often receive requests from clients to build the trusses here at our facility and ship them assembled.

Arch Trusses

 This provides an excellent opportunity to have your roof system in place in a very short period of time.

Timber Brackets

Douglas fir Truss

 If the geometry of the truss allows, we could build the trusses here in our shop...

Oak Scissor Truss

 Put them on a tractor trailer already assembled...

Loaded trailer ready to roll

 And the trusses are ready for installation!

King Post Truss

Glulam Timber Framing

 

We just had a visit from our glulam supplier today.  He works with us to provide the exact grade, layup, species, curve, and any other spec regarding the glulam required for the project.  There are a lot of things to consider when deciding on what you want in your glulam.  What sort of a load will be required?  Will you want the material to be pressure treated or not?  Is the glue to be clear?  What species do you prefer?

Based on all of these questions we will work with you to get you the glulam that you are after.  We have a custom steel fabricator here in VT with whom we've worked on many projects.  We will draw your steel, and he will make it so that the whole operation is seamless.

Give us a call to discuss your glulam project!

The Timber Framing Process

Truss Sketch

We receive a lot of calls about projects, so I thought I'd run through the process of what you should expect.  Because we are a custom shop each project has its own individual requirements, depending on what the client would like to see for final finish in their timber frame, what the engineering and design requirements are, local ordinance demands, and budgetary considerations, among other factors. 

The first step is for us to understand exactly what the client wants for a frame.  Our estimator will do a sketch (similar to the one above) to be sure that we have the geometry, roof slope, and dimensions correct.

Once we have agreed on the final design, we will order the material, which arrives on site wrapped to protect it from the elements during shipping.

Glulam packages brought inside

Next we lay out the timbers based on the drawings that have been approved by the client and his or her architect and engineer.

Arches ready for layout

Layout of glulams

Once the timbers have been layed out, the fabrication begins.  We have a team of skilled craftsmen who are experts with timber frame tools.  They check each piece to ensure that it is correctly oriented in the building and cut it according to the prints. 

Timbers being checked for accuracy

Glulam slotted for knife plate

After the timbers have been fabricated they are cleaned and stained by our competent finish crew.

Cleaning timbers with wire wheel

Staining timbers

Once the timbers have been stained and dried on our racks, we put the timbers together in a package for shipment.

Truck being loaded for delivery

The truck is loaded with the timbers, or trusses pre-assembled here in our shop, and shipped directly to the job site.

Multi-faceted Timber Framing

Pattern for Valley Rafters

 Here at Vermont Timber Works we pride ourselves in our craftsmanship.  We have the flexibility to adjust to the particular demands of each and every project.  Some of the projects we are working on now have compound joinery in them (see above).

Tiny Tenon for Rails

Some of the projects require attention to detail with crafting a rail system for a Welcome Center in Vermont (see above).

Hand Hewing Pine Beam

We also have the tools to be able to hand hew beams the old-fashioned way, with an adze and a slick, to achieve the look and feel of a hewn beam.

Whatever your project is we have the skills and expertise to be able to provide you with the timber frame of your dreams.

Boat House

Boat House

Here at Vermont Timber Works we design, engineer, and build custom timber frame buildings.  This building was a challenge for a number of reasons:  the weight of the boat(s), the location of the piers, the fenestration of the gable wall, and the time frame.  We were able to come up with a solution for all of the problems, with the end result that the client was very happy.

Here are some pictures of the fabrication process.

Hips

Mortise for boat house

Compound joinery

Rafter Tail detail

We like to cut unique frames, and this particular frame was a lot of fun to work.  Give us a call for your unique design.

Compound Joinery

Dormer rafter

We specialize in unique designs, and difficult designs.  One tricky thing about carpentry is compound joinery.  Whenever you have roof lines intersect, whether it is cross gables, dormers, hips, etc., you have to have compound joinery.  The beauty of timber framing is that you can get that joinery into the beam itself.  This means that you have to set your saw at something other than a 90 degree angle.

Most people have circular saws at home.  Have you ever noticed that you can set your saw at any angle from 45 degrees to 90 degrees?  Well the same is true of our 16" Makita saws.  And whenever you have a compound joint you have to set your saw at the necessary angle.

Our craftsmen are skilled at getting those cuts right, and making the timbers beautiful. 

Traditional Joinery Vs. Steel Joinery

Custom plates for a pool house

We get asked a lot about steel joinery versus traditional joinery.  To be sure, the beauty of the joinery is in the eye of the beholder.  Some people prefer steel joinery because of the industrial look, and some prefer a more traditional mortise and tenon type of joinery.  Here at Vermont Timber Works we are comfortable with either kind of joinery. 

Rafter tenon

Because we are a timber frame shop we can fabricate the timbers either for steel or for mortise and tenon.