Exposed posts, and rafters. What type, and how are they finished?
May 2, 2024 8:53 AM Subscribe
I am envisioning a house with exposed posts, and rafters. But what type of wood, and how are they finished? Off-the-lot wood is rough, 2x6s great for support, but for exposed ceiling rafters?
And a couple of nice posts?
Exterior exposed rafters are common on California-craftsman homes (is that what they are called?)
Examples of exterior exposed rafters
If you are talking interior, most people wrap exposed rafters and beams in fake coverings to make them appear bigger and more impressive looking to be focal points.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:49 AM on May 2 [3 favorites]
Examples of exterior exposed rafters
If you are talking interior, most people wrap exposed rafters and beams in fake coverings to make them appear bigger and more impressive looking to be focal points.
posted by The_Vegetables at 9:49 AM on May 2 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: "A modern house that's just using exposed beams as part of its aesthetic could use many different types of wood and be finished in many ways.'
I want the aesthetic of exposed wood members in a modern home, but don't know wood types, finishes, prices, or availability. (New England)
Where can I BEGIN to understand these issues?
posted by ebesan at 10:05 AM on May 2
I want the aesthetic of exposed wood members in a modern home, but don't know wood types, finishes, prices, or availability. (New England)
Where can I BEGIN to understand these issues?
posted by ebesan at 10:05 AM on May 2
Another term to look for is post-and-beam. The wood can be whatever is available, or affordable. Historic building in this style will often have really beautiful old-growth timbers, while modern builds use laminated beam (several smaller timbers glued together to make them larger) or a decorative facing.
It's a traditional New England style, so there should be local companies who can consult with you, such as (from a random search) Vermont Frames or Northeastern Log Homes. Local shops will have the most relevant knowledge of what woods are available, the prices, the timeline to build in your area, etc.
posted by radiogreentea at 10:12 AM on May 2 [3 favorites]
It's a traditional New England style, so there should be local companies who can consult with you, such as (from a random search) Vermont Frames or Northeastern Log Homes. Local shops will have the most relevant knowledge of what woods are available, the prices, the timeline to build in your area, etc.
posted by radiogreentea at 10:12 AM on May 2 [3 favorites]
For exposed beams there are a couple of ways to do it. The most obvious is to use large pieces of wood, and that would be the traditional post-and-beam look. A large piece of wood will be more expensive and wasteful than using small pieces of wood so instead of large wood you could attach regular lumber together or use LVLs (think plywood but in the shape of beams) and then either keep it as-is if you're OK with seeing the seems/plys or put a casing around it to make it look like it's a large piece of wood.
Probably the easiest thing to do is just get some design books out from the library and see what the beams look like. Also keep your eyes open when you're out and about. I've seen some interesting stuff in church and arena ceilings.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:31 AM on May 2
Probably the easiest thing to do is just get some design books out from the library and see what the beams look like. Also keep your eyes open when you're out and about. I've seen some interesting stuff in church and arena ceilings.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 11:31 AM on May 2
Depending on your budget, reclaimed timber beams are very beautiful. The contractor I work for has used US Vintage Wood in the past.
posted by feistycakes at 11:58 AM on May 2
posted by feistycakes at 11:58 AM on May 2
I'm not sure this applies to your situation, but you might like to see this example. I grew up in this house in the 70s and 80s; my dad built it entirely himself except the plumbing and except for hiring a crane to place the rafters, which are rough-hewn 8"x8" beams. The main living area is one big room with a loft over half of it. The exposed beams are visible in the walls and the underside of the loft. They were a bit of a nightmare for splinters, and impossible to dust because of their rough surface.
This is one rather extreme example. I've never seen another house like it.
posted by Well I never at 12:14 PM on May 2 [1 favorite]
This is one rather extreme example. I've never seen another house like it.
posted by Well I never at 12:14 PM on May 2 [1 favorite]
You would usually purchase beams, rough sawn to your specifications, from a small local sawmill and then plane on site with a power hand planer (or leave rough if you want that look). Many companies that build this kind of house will have their own bandsaw mill and produce beams in house.
The downside of this type of design is that modern houses use a lot of insulation in the roof (with good reason, because you lose a lot of heat through the roof). If you want exposed beams, that means you can't add insulation between them, so you need either additional structure above the beams to hold insulation or to use load-bearing insulation, which is more expensive. This applies equally to most rafter designs, unless you just want the exposed wood for the bottom chord.
If you want exposed wood posts, you will need more engineering done. People often just use exposed posts for an internal load-bearing wall, as posts in external walls have the same insulation issue as for roofs.
posted by ssg at 12:25 PM on May 2
The downside of this type of design is that modern houses use a lot of insulation in the roof (with good reason, because you lose a lot of heat through the roof). If you want exposed beams, that means you can't add insulation between them, so you need either additional structure above the beams to hold insulation or to use load-bearing insulation, which is more expensive. This applies equally to most rafter designs, unless you just want the exposed wood for the bottom chord.
If you want exposed wood posts, you will need more engineering done. People often just use exposed posts for an internal load-bearing wall, as posts in external walls have the same insulation issue as for roofs.
posted by ssg at 12:25 PM on May 2
Another style that uses exposed beams is the West Coast contemporary style. On the West Coast you will see Douglas Fir or cedar for this type of construction with a natural finish. While this design is not appropriate for New England, it gives you some search keywords to explore.
posted by shock muppet at 12:32 PM on May 2 [1 favorite]
posted by shock muppet at 12:32 PM on May 2 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Overview, books, articles, blogs, links to NE builder galleries for inspiration:
Post and beam construction often looks like timber framing, but the main difference is that post and beam construction utilizes mechanical fasteners and steel plates to join the timber together. The connectors are either hidden or exposed, but post and beam frames are not the only structural support for a building. - info page, video at Reliance Timber
Timber Frame and Post & Beam are often used interchangeably, and the final products look similar, however, there are some key differences in the way each are constructed. The timber frame construction method uses posts erected from walls and bents, spanning from sill to eave or ridge. The bents run perpendicular to the ridge of the roof, while walls run parallel to the ridge. Wooden pegs secure the mortise and tenon joinery of timber framing without the need for exposed metal connections. The post and beam framework is based solely on vertical and horizontal pieces that are not fit together, but instead are either butted up to one another or sit atop one another. Post and beam homes are constructed in layers so that each floor is built independently, and posts and beams are joined using metal brackets rather than wooden pegs.
- Davis Frame
Timber Frame Construction, Architecturally Exposed Timber (Structure Magazine, March 2005)
What Is Timber Framing & Post Beam -Timber Frame Design & Build channel explainer, via Arrow Timber
The Timber Framers' Guild
What is timber frame construction? (Mother Earth News, 2015)
Reddit thread for timber frame book recs
Timber frame interiors at New Energy Works, case studies, contemporary timber-frame homes
Within our frame shop, skilled craftsmen hand-cut the timbers which are most commonly Eastern White Pine, Douglas Fir, Eastern Hemlock - Vermont Frames; gallery of timber-frame interiors
Custom Timber Frames at The Barn Yard
"Hill House" plan by Yankee Barn Homes, scroll down for image gallery; more of their contemporary house plans with exposed-timber interiors, magazine spon con
Timber Frame Homes for Every Architectural Style, New England Magazine spon con (2018)
Timber Framing for the Rest of Us: A Guide to Contemporary Post and Beam Construction - ABE, Bookshop, Amazon; Excerpt linked at publisher's page
A 1962 Midcentury Post-And-Beam Is Updated For Modern Living (Mid-Century Home Mag, 2020)
American Post and Beam video tours, residential project gallery
Contemporary Designs at Rockport Post & Beam
Habitat Post and Beam, contemporary plan page
1985 Post & Beam home, Manchester MA
Gallery at Brooks Post and Beam
Hardwick Post & Beam project page
Modern Geobarns; the company "specializes in building artistic, modified post-and-beam structures with diagonal framing."
Guide to Reclaimed Wood Beam Finishes & Styles, ET Moore
Guide to Wooden Beams & Treatment FAQ, from Wood Finishes Direct
Types of Wood Beams and Joints at USI, a prefabricator
Exposed Wood Beams, Elle Decor
Finishes for Interior Exposed Beams, Fine Homebuilding forum
Refinishing decorative exposed beams, pro-designer Emily Henderson's blog
DIY finisher's experience, Prairie Californian blog
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:19 PM on May 2 [2 favorites]
Post and beam construction often looks like timber framing, but the main difference is that post and beam construction utilizes mechanical fasteners and steel plates to join the timber together. The connectors are either hidden or exposed, but post and beam frames are not the only structural support for a building. - info page, video at Reliance Timber
Timber Frame and Post & Beam are often used interchangeably, and the final products look similar, however, there are some key differences in the way each are constructed. The timber frame construction method uses posts erected from walls and bents, spanning from sill to eave or ridge. The bents run perpendicular to the ridge of the roof, while walls run parallel to the ridge. Wooden pegs secure the mortise and tenon joinery of timber framing without the need for exposed metal connections. The post and beam framework is based solely on vertical and horizontal pieces that are not fit together, but instead are either butted up to one another or sit atop one another. Post and beam homes are constructed in layers so that each floor is built independently, and posts and beams are joined using metal brackets rather than wooden pegs.
- Davis Frame
Timber Frame Construction, Architecturally Exposed Timber (Structure Magazine, March 2005)
What Is Timber Framing & Post Beam -Timber Frame Design & Build channel explainer, via Arrow Timber
The Timber Framers' Guild
What is timber frame construction? (Mother Earth News, 2015)
Reddit thread for timber frame book recs
Timber frame interiors at New Energy Works, case studies, contemporary timber-frame homes
Within our frame shop, skilled craftsmen hand-cut the timbers which are most commonly Eastern White Pine, Douglas Fir, Eastern Hemlock - Vermont Frames; gallery of timber-frame interiors
Custom Timber Frames at The Barn Yard
"Hill House" plan by Yankee Barn Homes, scroll down for image gallery; more of their contemporary house plans with exposed-timber interiors, magazine spon con
Timber Frame Homes for Every Architectural Style, New England Magazine spon con (2018)
Timber Framing for the Rest of Us: A Guide to Contemporary Post and Beam Construction - ABE, Bookshop, Amazon; Excerpt linked at publisher's page
A 1962 Midcentury Post-And-Beam Is Updated For Modern Living (Mid-Century Home Mag, 2020)
American Post and Beam video tours, residential project gallery
Contemporary Designs at Rockport Post & Beam
Habitat Post and Beam, contemporary plan page
1985 Post & Beam home, Manchester MA
Gallery at Brooks Post and Beam
Hardwick Post & Beam project page
Modern Geobarns; the company "specializes in building artistic, modified post-and-beam structures with diagonal framing."
Guide to Reclaimed Wood Beam Finishes & Styles, ET Moore
Guide to Wooden Beams & Treatment FAQ, from Wood Finishes Direct
Types of Wood Beams and Joints at USI, a prefabricator
Exposed Wood Beams, Elle Decor
Finishes for Interior Exposed Beams, Fine Homebuilding forum
Refinishing decorative exposed beams, pro-designer Emily Henderson's blog
DIY finisher's experience, Prairie Californian blog
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:19 PM on May 2 [2 favorites]
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posted by jonathanhughes at 9:25 AM on May 2 [1 favorite]