Timberframe homes—also known as post-and-beam homes—have long set the standard for integrity and elegance, and the authors of The Timberframe Way have built some of the best.
Here, in one book, is a careful study of all the elements that make a timberframe home both a lifestyle and a work of art. Every construction method is covered, from prefabricated, manufactured kits to “one-off” frames hand-hewn by independent craftsmen using traditional methods. Topics include everything from checking out kits to choosing materials for the roof to transforming old barns into homes.
Attention is also given to interior elements of construction and design, as well as to products and decor that are especially suited to the rugged beauty of the timberframe home. There are chapters on outfitting the kitchen, managing traffic patterns between rooms, selecting furniture to complement the wide-open spaces of the timberframe home, and even choosing lighting fixtures.
From first inspiration to final touches, The Timberframe Way is the complete introduction to the art of the timberframe home.

"The authors of this fine book have built many timberframe homes together, and their expertise is offered generously. The rugged beauty of well-crafted rafters, beams, and flooring creates a welcome alternative to conventional structures."--Country Almanac

"Morris and Pirozzolo's book educates readers on the construction of timberframe homes and the design options that are possible. A generous selection of photographs gives plenty of ideas to people considering building such a home."--Journal-Constitution (Atlanta, GA)

Michael Morris and Dick Pirozzolo have more than fifty years of combined experience working in and around the home-building industry, much of it in timberframe construction. Morris has written for Field & Stream, Popular Science, and Builder. Pirozzolo has written for Timberframe Illustrated and Country's Best Log Homes. They are also the coauthors of The Timberframe Plan Book. They live in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Why Timberframes?

What separates a timberframe home from other types of house structures? More to the point, what makes them special--unique among residential architectural styles and construction methods?

Timberframe buildings are actually simpler than most structures, with larger frame members that result in fewer individual parts. This oversized, often massive, framing does the work of all the wall studs, roof rafters, and innumerable other, relatively smaller pieces of dimensional lumber used in standardized "stick-frame" homebuilding. The entire structural skeleton of a typical Timberframe may have fewer than two hundred individual timbers. This simplicity is part of its appeal--by reducing the construction to its most basic elements, you end up with a greater whole. "Less is more," as archictect Mies van der Rohe observed.

Today, Timberframes represent a unique segment among all of the residences built each year across the country, and their appeal is widespread and steadily growing. Many new homes borrow elements of timber framing to enhance their livability and distinctiveness. What timberframe homes offer is an alternative to conventional structures, as well as a home-focused architectural glimpse of history, grandeur, and even our own social and cultural identity.

Imprint: The Lyons Press
Distributor: The Globe Pequot Press
Publication Date: 06-01-2006
Pages: 228
Measurements: 10.75in X 8.25in