post and beam

Eco Pole Houses in the South Pacific

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“Construction of an ecological and sustainable Pole House village on a remote oceanfront site in the South Pacific. Only local materials, gleaned entirely from the site, were utilized in the construction, including bamboo, pine, mangrove, guava, river rock, a variety of tropical hardwoods and coconut (husk for lashings, fronds for roofing, and trunks rafters and … Read more

Post and Beam Knee Braces

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Post and beam frame with knee braces
Post and beam frame with knee braces

Perhaps the simplest to build post and beam frame, and the one easiest to get code approval for, is the one described in a previous blog post about Post and Beam Hardware. The standardized hardware used in this method takes all the guesswork out of the process and ensures a strong structure. However, that system is not suitable for every situation. Some people prefer the beauty of traditional post and beam where the frame is exposed. Traditional post and beam construction is much slower and requires much more skill and tools than joining the frame with standard hardware, but the results can be worth it.

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Double Pallet Wall w/ Post and Beam

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Wooden shipping pallets are typically available for free and are very practical for building homes, furniture and many other things. We’ve already explored several ways of building pallet walls: Post and Beam Pallet Wall, Earth Lodge Pallet Walls, Interior Pallet Walls, Straw Bale Pallet Walls. This new design sprang from the idea of creating wider … Read more

Post and Beam Hardware

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Numerous readers have requested advice on the quickest, easiest way to build post and beam frames. I suggest using standard galvanized metal wood connectors by companies such as Simpson Strong-Tie. (I’m referencing Simpson anchors because they’re widely available. Shop and compare. All brands meet code.) Deciding which connectors to use can be a bit confusing … Read more

Naturally Rot-resistant Woods

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Wiki: Naturally rot-resistant woods These species are resistant to decay in their natural state, due to high levels of organic chemicals called extractives, mainly polyphenols. Extractives are chemicals that are deposited in the heartwood of certain tree species as they convert sapwood to heartwood. Huon pine, merbau, ironbark, tōtara, puriri, kauri, and many cypresses, such … Read more