Tacit Timber Frames

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 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.