Posts are vertical and beams are horizontal wood members. The terms 'post-and-beam' and 'timber framing' are often used as being synonymous, but there is a subtle difference between the two.
Both post-and-beam and timber framing describes a building method which uses heavy, solid wood members (timbers). The difference lies in the way in which the timbers are joined together.
In a post-and-beam structure the timbers are joined with metal bolts and hardware. Timber framing uses the centuries-old method of interlocking the timbers by tenons and mortises, fastened with wooden pegs. These pegs are pounded in slightly off centered holes, making a tight fit that will add to the longevity of the building.
Characteristics
The Timber frame is left fully exposed, giving the interior of the home an architectural grandeur while providing a structure for the rest of the building, and it uses less wood than comparably sized, conventionally built stick-frame homes.
A frame is designed to transfer the weight of the roof and the entire structure to the ground via the principal posts. The posts eliminate the need of load bearing walls, so large unsupported spaces and all-glass exterior walls can easily be created. Generally, timber frames are enclosed by foam-filled stress-skin panels, which give a continuous and air-tight insulation envelope, but virtually any kind of enclosure system can be used.
