Tacit Timber Frames

Tacit Timber Frames Timber Frame Design+Build with traditional joinery

Some great shots of the carport from last fall with the enclosure portion done. Also great to see it with some snow
03/24/2026

Some great shots of the carport from last fall with the enclosure portion done. Also great to see it with some snow

Wrapped up install on this white pine great room frame last week. The raised tie always makes it more complex but the w...
03/02/2026

Wrapped up install on this white pine great room frame last week. The raised tie always makes it more complex but the way the lines of the braces carry from the posts to the tie is pretty satisfying. Really looking forward to seeing this home finished out in the coming months.

English tying joint. The existing barn on site has a roof framing system that used a very similar version of this tying...
02/11/2026

English tying joint. The existing barn on site has a roof framing system that used a very similar version of this tying joint as well as canted purlins. While we needed the trusses to get our clear span on the new carport we figured we could at least include the same tying joint as the barn. Hopefully these two can stand beside each other for some more centuries.

Way late on this: Pennsylvania carport frame we raised back in November. White oak posts, yellow pine main frame, with p...
01/31/2026

Way late on this: Pennsylvania carport frame we raised back in November. White oak posts, yellow pine main frame, with poplar rafters. This one was special as it was for my parents and at one point, my dad, brother, and brother-in-laws were all hands on, with my grandfather there as well, being sure to quip: “I think you shoulda used a bigger timber”

More photos to come of some process shots.

We had the chance this week to help out on a frame we didn’t cut! It’s a beautiful white oak frame this couple has work...
01/16/2026

We had the chance this week to help out on a frame we didn’t cut! It’s a beautiful white oak frame this couple has worked on themselves over the years. Due to various factors a conventional roof was installed to dry it in. They had these rafter sets already cut, but need help getting them in place. They’re no longer structural and they have some character (major warping 😅) but we got them all in place and it will really bring the space together when it’s finished out. We’re thankful to have been a part of such an interesting build.

We wrapped up this 56x60 monitor barn just before Christmas. It was a bit of a unique challenge and a beautiful site. L...
01/03/2026

We wrapped up this 56x60 monitor barn just before Christmas. It was a bit of a unique challenge and a beautiful site. Looking forward to seeing it roofed and put to good use.

The other week, we went to spend time with my family where I grew up in PA. There are two 1850s (or earlier) stone gabl...
06/11/2025

The other week, we went to spend time with my family where I grew up in PA. There are two 1850s (or earlier) stone gable bank barns on the property. Any restoration timber framers out there worked on similar barns? The irony is not lost on me that I grew up climbing around on stored apple bins in one of these barns, unaware that I’d be doing the same decades later out of historical curiosity.

I still have only scratched the surface on historical timber framing knowledge, but it was fascinating to realize that the barns are strikingly similar. They both appear to be hewn entirely hewn, with lots of oak, likely tulip poplar for the longer plates, and a mix of species on the rafters. Canted purlins, with jowled posts and from what I can tell a form of English tying joint with the rafters step lapped.

The canted purlins are probably what is most interesting to me with their struts(?) running back to the tie beams towards the exterior. There’s also a photo in there where a scarf joint, tie beam

The surprising thing to me is the large spans and members being smaller than I would have expected. They both have areas where they could use repairs, (hopefully something we can work on for research/fun purposes in the future) and yet, they’ve stood for a long time.

The 1st half of photos is the barn on the site where my parents live. The 2nd half is the barn on the orchard proper, with several photos at the end of the dugout livestock basement of the 1st barn. There’s some fun details in there including marriage marks and bolsters just inside the forebay.

A few more shots from the other weekend of a great and successful group effort. 📷:
06/11/2025

A few more shots from the other weekend of a great and successful group effort.
📷:

Portico entryway with some great cypress from Smoky Mtn. Wood Products. GC is wrapping up the final roof. If you need ...
06/02/2025

Portico entryway with some great cypress from Smoky Mtn. Wood Products. GC is wrapping up the final roof. If you need any heavy timber work, pole barns, pavilions, cabins or homes, please reach out!

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Decatur, TN
37322

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+16102074608

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