hello,
I am a final year student, studying Architectural Technology & Mgt. at the University of Ulster, here in Ireland. As part of my final year i am required to write a disertation and the title i have chosen is ‘Timberframe Construction, The American Approach’. I have chosen this title as i intend to work in the states when my education is complete, and so i can become familiar with your methods of timberframe construction. I’ve got 8 months to complete the project but i need to do alot of research and so far i have found little resources.
In Ireland we tend to use masonry construction more often. Only 10% approx. of new houses are constructed of a prefabricated timber frame. There are two major construction companies which specialise in this : www.century.ie www.ijm.ie .
I was wondering if someone could direct me to an american site (construction company/architects etc…) which would provide me with alot of information regarding my disertation, or maybe a good book providing lots of domestic details which would also be useful to me. I haven’t been too successful finding a site with as much information as the sites i have listed above.
Ps. By timberframe i mean your most common method of construction for dwellings…prefabricated, not the post and beam / log house construction which is all i seem to get when i type ‘timberframe constuction’ into my search engine.
Help would be much appreciated ! 🙂
Edited 11/9/2002 3:28:33 PM ET by GNAUGHTON
Replies
Hello, and welcome, GNaughton,
You must be working on what we would call a "senior paper" or honors paper. A dissertation, for us, is what you do as a candidate at the doctoral level. Best of luck doing your research and getting the paper together!
You are right, on this side of the pond, timber frame means something different.
The terms that you want to search on the web with to find our information are "platform framing" and "balloon framing" both of which are type of what we call conventional. or stick framing. And those techniques are different than "prefabricated" framing.
I'll do some more looking for resources, to see what I can find. And the construction folk here no doubt can point out quickly some good web pages and books. And a hint--buy a round of "cyber pints" for the assembled crew, discuss beer and ale with them in addition to framing, and they will quickly become your friends.
"The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light..."--???
Try Wood Frame Construction and limit the use of Prefab from your searches. Prefab suggests manufactured (in a factory) housing rather than those framed on site. Best of luck.
About these results
http://www.awc.org/Standards/wfcm.html
http://www.awc.org/pdf/WCD1-300.pdf
http://www.greatbuildings.com/types/construct
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/homeandwo
http://www.atcouncil.org/pdfs/bp3a.pdf
http://www.atcouncil.org/pdfs/bp3b.pdf
http://www.newsreleases.bcit.ca/200210/chinaw
http://www.jm.com/insulation/products/fibergl
http://www.opdr.ci.portland.or.us/prp/story-w
http://www.afandpa.org/products/WoodDesign/wf
(1 - 10 of 316000) more >>
__________________________________________
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Thanks for the info guys, it will come in useful.
I also have another query lol...
Building Regulations / Codes ... In Ireland we have to conform to Building Regulations , we have to achieve certain standards before the building can be passed by building control eg. structure, ventilation, access etc...
Its basically the same standards thoughout the UK and Ireland. What way does it work in the US? Would there be standard codes in the US for wood-frame construction? or would it vary in different states?
Anyone know where i could find a standard set of codes on the net, if they exist?
Again, thx for the help all,
There are about three or four codes here in the States. About a third of the country is in areas that have no codes enforcement, primarily in rural places. Some cities adopt a code but make ammendments or additions to it.
So a builder/designer has to know what it is where he is building for.
Examples,
In a county of Colorado where I worked they had three zones for live loads on roofs according to normal snow build up. 40#, 50#. and 70# per sq ft.
In Maine, any municipality with a population of more than 2500 is required by the state to enforce some minimum code. Others and rural spaces are free to choose for themselves whether to support a building dept. All areas are subject to land use provisions with regard to environmental details..
Excellence is its own reward!
"The first rule is to keep an untroubled spirit. The second is to look things in the face and know them for what they are." --Marcus Aurelius
GN
Welcome
Heres a school I went to many moons ago that may be of some help
Be well
Namaste'
Andy
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Not wanting to be too glib, but use "spell check" on the dissertation. Then again it could be the difference from American to English?
Seriously, hit the Taunton website for the timberframing info. Then Google, then Amazon to sample the text and see if it is to your liking. Otherwise hit the site and read up or ask specific questions.
The National Association of Homebuilders has a website that might be of help ..........
http://www.nahb.org/