SINGLE STOREY TIMBER FRAMES

In small scale buildings with light loadings, the loads may be evenly distributed
by single roof and floor construction onto the wall panel without need for a
framed structure. Skeleton frames constructed in timber are commonly
fabricated from solid timber sections, built up sections or glued and laminated
sections.

Columns and beams

Solid square or rectangular sections are commonly used. Built-up solid
sections can be used where several timber pieces are nailed or bottled together
especially where required large sizes are not available.

Where column sections are made using000 built up method, the butt joints
should be staggered and the surfaces carefully machined. For tall columns a
built up box and I-Section are stiffer than solid section. Another alternative
method to increase stiffness of lightly loaded timber columns is to provide the
bearing area in two parallel members spaced apart by packing blocks at
intervals and connected by nails, bolts or glue.

Built-up solid beams are commonly made up of vertical pieces nailed or bolted
together. Nailing is recommended for beams up to 250mm depth and bolts
used at the ends to overcome shear stress. For light loadings, beams may be
built up with solid flanges and plywood webs nailed or glued. The thin web
necessitates stiffness at intervals along the length.

Increased shear resistance near support may be obtained by closer spacing of

the stiffness at the ends. Glued and laminated sections (glulain) are more
expensive but permit use of higher permissible stresses in their design and are
suitable for large spans.
Connections-

Connections between beams and columns are made with nails, bolts, dowels
and cheats depending on type of member. Joints Between solid and glulam
beams and columns are made by metal dowels with or without side fixing
plates, or by side nailing the beam to column.

Built-up members are connected by nails, bolts or bolts and timber connectors.
Beam to beam connection is made by use of metal, hangers or cleats bolted to
the beams. Rafters and joists may be supported by hangers or timber fillets.
Column base connections are made in various ways depending on the type of
construction. Free standing columns are commonly raised off the ground to
avoid damage by ground moisture.

This may be done by use of any of the following ways:

i. Use of a concrete stool with a damp proof layer between timber and
concrete. The column is then fixed in position by a steel dowel or
metal straps and bolts.
ii. Use of a steel bracket set on a concrete foundation. A welded steel rod
to a plate on foundation and steel bracket isolates the column from
the ground and the column is bolted to the bracket.
iii. A rectangular hollow steel section is concreted into a short bored pile.
Solid column members are then bolted onto the hollow section.

External perimeter columns normally bear on a continuous timber cill plate

which is bolted to the concrete floor slab or perimeter dwarf wall, which also
carries the infilling wall panels.
Building Frames in timber
Single storey structures take the form of post and beam construction in which
resistance to distortion of the frame under working load is provided by the
infill panels. For stability a proportion of solid or near solid wall panels is
necessary to ensure stability.

The choice of connection and form of junction between members of the frame
depends largely on the degree of rigidity required before the panels are fixed.

PREFABRICATION
The structure and its components can be fully prefabricated and assembled by
rot and bolt. Provision must be made for a variety of situations by varying
spans and loading of beams and by single or two storey buildings. Design of
ranges of components within a minimum of variations in construction and
dimensions may be applied to a number of building situations.

Built up solid columns, and solid wood columns with sufficient cross sectional
areas are used and by this means of providing a range of loading conditions by
a minimum number of component points is possible.
Beams with varying loads may be formed from solid wood, bolts beams or
laminating thin boards in glulan construction.

In single storey systems seating and fixing of beams may be achieve d by

making columns shorten than adjacent infill panels and using the latter to fix
the beam in position.

For speed and ease of assembly, some ways of positioning panels is desirable.

TIMBER FRAME WALLS

They consist basically of vertical timber members (studs) framed between
horizontal members at top (head Plate) and at the bottom (sole Plate).

Bracing may be required o provide adequate stiffness and the joints are nailed
or butt jointed.

The studs are commonly spaced at 406 mm centres to match with most
standard sheet linings 1219mm wide.

Timber structure must be raised out of contact with ground moistures.

As base for whole structure a wall or cill plate is set and levelled on a damp
proof course.
This is carefully anchored to the foundation by 13mm  hold down bolts at not
more than each wall on panel length.
Bolts must be built into masonry at least 380mm or 150mm poured concrete.
Four systems of timber frame construction may be adopted;
i. Platform frame
ii. Balloon frame
modified frame
iii. Independent frame
Platform frame
Wall frames consists of panels of convenient size of framed from 100 x 50 studs
at 406 – 610 centres framed between sole plate and double head plates.

The studs are end nailed to the plates. The walls and partitions bear on the
platforms formed by the floor structure and the frames are single storey in
height.
Balloon frame
The wall studs and ground floor joists bear on the common sole and the studs
are continuous through the two floor. The first floor joists being fixed
individually to the studs. The panels are sized basically as for platform frame
but are independent of the floor structure.
Modified frame
The frames are storey height and the lower frame has only a single head plate.

The upper frames are erected on and fixed on the lower frames by nailing the
sole plate to head plate.

Independent frame
The frames are framed up as in modified frame but upper floor structures is
carried by a continuous steel angle or timber ledger, which is fixed to the inner
faces of the lower studs so that the floor does not pass into thickness of the
wall frame to gain support.

In all types of frame the timber structure must be raised out of contact with
ground moistures. As a base for the whole structure a wall or cill plate is set
and carefully leveled on the damp proof course and this being carefully
anchored to the foundation by 13mm  hold down bolts at not more than each
wall on panel length. The bolts must be built into masonry at least 380mm or
150mm poured concrete.