Sponsor a Timber

A timber frame building is more than just a method of building. Dozens of parts are carefully designed, carved by hand, then fit together to form a long lasting and beautiful structure. Each type of part is unique and serves a special purpose within the structure. In this way, a timber frame is not unlike a community, the total being greater than the sum of its parts. This, among many other reasons, is why we at The Schoharie River Center Chose to utilize a timber frame for the addition that will breathe new life into our cultural hall here in Burtonsville.

 

The work we are doing will make this historic building more functional as a community meeting space and venue. Help from the community, through a series of hands-on framing workshops, has been instrumental in completing the timber frame portion of this project but, there is still a lot left to be done. To help us complete this project The Schoharie River Center is offering members of our community the opportunity to contribute to the project by sponsoring an individual component of the timber frame. 

 

By sponsoring a timber you will help provide the necessary funds to bring this project to completion. As a token of our gratitude we will carve your name into a corner of the timber you have sponsored. We will also write a message of thanks on a small off cut piece of wood from the timber you sponsored and give it to you for you to display in your home or business. 

 

Thank you for your support 

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Available Parts to Sponsor:

Pegs: $20  (Roughly 60 Count) 

Rather than using nails or screws, a traditional timber frame uses wooden pegs to hold the pieces of the frame together. All of the pegs we use were split and shaved by hand by Schoharie River Center Students young and old, using traditional tools such as shaving horses and draw knives.

 

Braces: $50 (20 Count)

Although not the largest timbers, Braces are incredibly important. All the braces within a structure work together to keep the frame rigid and square.

 

Common Rafters $100 (14 Count)

The Common Rafters don't require the most complex jointery but have a very important job of holding up the roof in the spans between roof trusses 

 

Principal Rafters: $200 (8 Count) 

When combined with the tie beam and the king post, the principal rafters form one of four roof trusses. These trusses support the ridge beam and prevent the walls from falling away under the weight of the roof

 

King Post $300 (4 Count) 

The king post is a short and stout timber and the member of the roof truss that transfers the majority of the force carried by the ridge beam down into the tie beam and through the rest of the truss assembly

 

Plates $400 (4 count)

The plates transfer the load from the roof trusses and rafters down into the posts. The two plates are so large that each one need to be constructed from two timbers carefully joined using a scarf joint

 

Post $500 (8 Count)

The 8 posts join to the plates to form the walls and hold up. They are teh [arts that give the structure its height. The walls and siding are also attached to the posts 

 

Tie Beam $600 (4 Count)

The tie beam is the member of the roof truss that ties the two opposing walls together and prevents them from falling away from each other under the weight of the roof. This large timber also distributes the load from the king post throughout the rest of the truss 

 

Ridge Beam $700 (2 count)

The Ridge beam is the timber at the absolute top of the frame. It is made from two absolutely massive timbers scarf joined together. Its tremendous size is necessary because it must run the entire length of the building and transfer the load froma ll the rafters into the roof trusses.