| Arris | The line along which two timber surfaces meet |
| Assembly marks | Incised marks indicating timber identities for use during construction. |
| Balusters | Vertical supports between handrail and string |
| Bay | Part of framed building between Cross Frames |
| Beam | Major horizontal timber, see also collar, sillbeam, tiebeam. |
| Birdsmouth | Commonly used for Rafters; the end of one piece of timber is cut in a ‘V’ form to rest on the edge of the second piece. |
| Brace | Curved or straight piece of timber running between vertical and horizontal timbers to assist with integrity of frame. |
| Cambered | A beam shaped so that the centre is higher than the ends |
| Carpenters Marks | Marks made by the Carpenter on the individual timbers so they may be identified when constructing the frame on site.
The marks commonly take the form of Roman Numerals as these can easily be scribed, chiseled or gouged. |
| Chamfer | Surface formed by cutting off a square edge, typically at 45 degrees
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| Cleat | Block attached to one timber to support another |
| Collar | Transverse timber connecting (usually) rafters |
| Common Rafter | Rafters of uniform size, spaced along the length of a roof. |
| Cross Frame | Common term for the part of the house frame that goes accross the frame between Wall Frames. Usually comprising elements such as Posts, Tie Beam, Collar and Principal Rafters |
| Cruck | A pair of timbers usually curved, serving as the principals of a roof reaching to a point at or close to the apex. s |
| Dendrochronology | Dendrochronology or tree-ring dating is the method of scientific dating based on the analysis of tree-ring growth patterns. This technique was invented and developed during the 20th century originally by A. E. Douglass, the founder of the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research at the University of Arizona. The technique can date wood to exact calendar years. More ... |
| Dormer | A dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloped roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows. |
| Dovetail | A dovetail joint or simply dovetail is a jointing technique. Noted for its resistance to being pulled apart, the dovetail joint is commonly used to join the sides of a drawer to the front. A series of pins cut to extend from the end of one board interlock with a series of tails cut into the end of another board. The pins and tails have a trapezoidal shape. Once glued, the joint is permanent, and requires no mechanical fasteners. |
| Dragon Beam | A beam running diagonally between top-plates at corners to support the foot of a Hip rafter. See also Dragon Tie
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| Dragon Tie | A tie running to top-plates at corners to support the Dragon Beam |
| Face | Surface of the timber. Identification is needed for precise descriptions of joints. | |
| Framing Pin | A "T" shaped metal pin used in place of an oak peg during frame manufacture. | |
| Halving | A halved joint is a joint in which the two members are joined by removing material from each at the point of intersection so that they overlap. The halved joint is differentiated from the lap joint in that the members are joined on edge, rather than on the flat.The simple halved joint is created by cutting a slot in opposite edges of the members to be joined so that they slip together. Most commonly, the amount of material removed is equal to half the width of the members being joined, although this depends on the relative dimensions of the members. This joint is relatively weak and prone to splitting, due to the lack of shoulders which would otherwise prevent twisting. When extra strength is required, a strengthened version of the joint is called for. This involves a more elaborate cut out which incorporates shoulders to prevent twisting of the joint. |
| Hammer Beam | Transverse timber similar to interrupted tie beam, braced to a principal or Collar |
| Handrail | Inclined timber running along the top of the upright balusters/balustrade |
| Hip | A hipped roof has sloping ends as well as sloping sides. |
| Jack | One of the shorter rafters used in constructing a hip or valley roof. |
| Joint | There are many joints used in Timber Framing, but most can be classified under four main headings: Halved and Lap Joint, Joist Joint, Mortice & Tenon Joint and Scarf Joint |
| Joist | A horizontal timber providing support for a floor or ceiling |
| Jowl | A widening of the inner side of a post to accommodate joints for wallplates and tie beams |
| King Post | A supporting post extending vertically from a crossbeam to the apex of a triangular truss |
| Knee Brace | A very short brace between the post and tiebeam. |
| Lap Joint | Method of joining timber at an angle (typically corners) |
| Mortice (and Tenon) | The commonest form of joint between two timbers meeting at right angles.
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| Mortice & Tenon, The | Title of excellent quarterly magazine published by the The Carpenters Fellowship |
| Newel Post | The post at the foot of a staircase |
| Peg | Used to fix a joint |
| Plate | Longitudinal Timber, see also Top/Wall Plate |
| Post | Vertical timber, usually supporting part of the main frame |
| Principal Rafter | Generally, an inclined timber in a roof truss. May support purlin(s) |
| Purlin | Longitudinal timber supporting common rafters |
| Queen post | Paired posts set on a tie-beam directly supporting plates or purlins |
| Rafter | Inclined timbers in roof under roof covering |
| Rail | Horizontal timbers of wall frame between posts or studs |
| Scarf | A joint between timbers meeting end to end
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| Sill beam | A horizontal timber into which posts and studs are tenoned |
| Staddle Stone | Individual Stone or Concrete supports for posts.
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| String | Sloping timber in a staircase holding the ends of treads and risers |
| Strut | Timber in compression between two othe relements such as Tie Beam and Collar or Principal Rafter |
| Tenon | See mortice | | Tie Beam | Main transverse timber connecting the tops of walls | | Top Plate | The timber that runs along the top of a wall frame or masonry wall upon which the roof trusses rest. (Also referred to as wall plate) | | Truss | Rigid transverse framework constructed across the roof at bay intervals (can form part of the Cross Frame) | | Wall Plate | The timber that runs along the top of a wall frame or masonry wall upon which the roof trusses rest. (Also referred to as top plate) | |
