ROUNDWOOD TIMBER FRAMING

This is a 4 day course run by Ben Law at Prickly Nut Wood, suitable for all levels of skill from beginners through to hopeful homebuilders and timber framers.

ITINERARY:

DAY 1

You will be met at the parking area at 10.10am on the day (full directions upon booking) and be accompanied to Prickly Nut Wood.

Ben will meet you at the outdoor kitchen and there will be tea or coffee available. After introductions and a general discussion about Roundwood Timber Framing, Ben will take you into the woods to look at the resources and discuss suitable species, management for growing poles for Roundwood Timber Framing and an introduction to visual grading. Building regulations will be discussed. Poles to be used on the course will be de-barked and information on de-barking methods and felling times will fill the first day.

DAY 2

Day 2 will spent on the framing bed. Options for different frame design will be discussed, from cruck to box frame and reciprocal roof frames. You will learn pole selection and layout of frames before beginning to scribe and chisel the first joints. You will be taken step by step through the use of the scribing tool to create accurate, strong and aesthetically pleasing roundwood joints.

DAY 3

We will continue framing and learn more joints as well as creating pegs for the frames. We will look at different roundwood buildings. Insulation, foundations and roofing materials will be discussed.

DAY 4 ends at 15.30

We will continue working on the frames and Ben will discuss datum points and calculations, options for bracing and many further aspects of building with roundwood.

Please bring:

Please bring sensible footwear with safety toe caps and clothes for a visit to a working woodland (bring a swimming costume if you fancy a dip!) Please bring packed lunch and/or food for shared meals. There is the option of camping at Prickly Nut Wood for this course and the outdoor kitchen and natural swimming pool will be available for your use. Do bring cameras, photography is welcomed at Prickly Nut Wood.

Please note:

This course is unsuitable for children. No dogs are allowed on Prickly Nut Wood courses.

Please ENSURE your footwear has been washed before arriving at Prickly Nut Wood, this is for bio-security measures to contain the spread of tree diseases.