FrameVerk field notes
Practical guidance for planning, designing and building timber frames, organized to help you find the next useful answer.
Browse every published FrameVerk article, ordered from newest to oldest.
PEFC ST 2102:2026 applies Chain of Custody principles at project level, allowing complex buildings to document certified timber across multiple suppliers, subcontractors and products.
Oregon State Universityâs 143,000-square-foot research complex uses mass plywood panels in floors engineered for sensitive equipment, extending mass timber into a building type normally associated with concrete.
The 20-level, 78-metre TRà building in Aarhus combines a timber-led hybrid structure with reused façade materials and turbine-blade sunshades, offering a pragmatic model for circular high-rise construction.
Californiaâs first statewide Mass Timber Coalition connects building demand with forest health, wildfire-risk reduction, local CLT and glulam manufacturing, workforce development and regulatory reform.
The Mass Timber Federal Buildings Act of 2026 would create contracting preferences for federal projects using innovative wood products. It could influence public, renovation and military construction, but remains a billânot adopted law.
The Future Framing Initiative is developing the evidence and standards needed to extend light timber framing into 4â5-storey apartments, schools and aged-care buildings, with a target pathway into the 2028 National Construction Code.
AI can generate a beautiful timber house in seconds. But can it place the posts correctly, align the plates, respect structural logic, and produce something a builder can actually cut? That is where things get interesting.
Timber construction is no longer just for cabins, eco-retreats, and people who own too many chisels. In 2026, wood is moving into cities, policies, insurance reports, factories, and serious construction pipelines. Hereâs why timber may finally be crossing from niche to normal.
The Domino XL (DF 700) isnât a replacement for traditional mortise-and-tenonâbut it is a surprisingly useful âplan Bâ for temporary bracing, non-structural timber details, and repair work. Hereâs where it shines, where it doesnât, and how to use it without upsetting the timber gods.
Timber framing crews lose up to 7% of weekly productivity searching for tools. Bluetooth trackers are the simplest, funniest, and most effective way to stop the disappearing-square epidemic forever.
Your first five hand tools for timber framingâframing square, chisels, slick, marking knife, and wooden malletâare more than nostalgia. Theyâre precision instruments that still outperform power tools when joinery really matters.
We put two legends of timber framingâBarr Tools and Narexâto a real workshop test: white oak, end grain, identical mortises. One costs âŹ145, the other âŹ32. Hereâs what actually matters.
Power tools scream, but traditional hand tools whisperâand still deliver joinery accuracy down to fractions of a millimeter. Meet the mallet, adze, and marking knife: three timeless tools that shape timber with precision, control, and zero battery anxiety.
Choosing between DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee in 2025 isnât about brand loyaltyâitâs about torque, battery ecosystems, durability, and how each tool performs in real timber framing conditions. Hereâs the honest breakdown.
Milwaukee brings brute-force torque. DeWalt brings hyper-efficient speed. We tested both on real timber framing tasksâwhite oak (6Ă8 in / 150Ă200 mm), structural lag screws, wet weather, and long battery cyclesâto see which tool matches your building style.
One battery, 200+ tools, zero chaos. Hereâs why Makitaâs 18V LXT ecosystem is the smartest path for startups, small workshops, and builders who want pro performance without breaking the bank.
DeWaltâs new 2025 DCD799 Multi-Head Drill Driver is a shape-shifting compact tool built for tight spaces, awkward angles, and impossible timber-frame joints. With four interchangeable heads, surprising torque, and a tiny 5.3 in (135 mm) body, itâs quickly becoming the most versatile drill of the year.
Dust isnât just messâitâs a health hazard, a machine killer, and a hidden liability. Hereâs why modern dust collection systems in 2025 are smarter, quieter, safer, and absolutely essential for timber framing workshops of any size.
A fast, funny, builder-grade recap of the best (and strangest) timber framing innovations revealed at WMS 2025âfrom contactless blade safety to on-bed CNC labeling and modular beam saws that scale with your shop.
Not all cheap tools are junk. These 7 budget-friendly workshop heroes deliver real performanceâplus one dangerously bad drill you should remove from your shop today.
Starting a workshop with three tool brands, five chargers, and seven incompatible batteries sounds harmlessâuntil your drill clicks dead on a jobsite. Hereâs why choosing one battery ecosystem saves time, money, and sanity.
A clear, real-world comparison between the Festool ETS 150/3 EQ and the Makita BO5041K. We test vibration, dust collection, finish quality, ergonomics, and long-term value to reveal when paying extra truly makes sense.
A timber structure can have lower product-stage emissions than a steel alternative, but there is no universal percentage. A useful comparison starts with equivalent function, matched quantities, one life-cycle boundary and transparent carbon factors.
Behind every long-lasting timber structure lies an invisible defense system against moisture, UV, insects, and decay. From ancient thatch to modern backer panels, this is the science of durability.