Traditional Timber Frames and Equisol Professional Woodcare partner to protect hardwoods in unique timber constructions.
Having crafted over 130 post and beam frames around Australia since 2009, Traditional Timber Frames has learned a thing or two about working with beautiful, large-section Australian hardwoods and what timber oils are best for protection. Central to their success is a partnership with Equisol, whose innovative timber protection products have become an integral part of the Traditional Timber Frames process.
Traditional timber frames are primarily constructed using traditional mortice and tenon joinery. They require months of effort, from design and timber sourcing through to manufacture and installation.
Understanding the in-depth characteristics of each timber species is crucial in this type of work, which typically uses unseasoned F17 NSW hardwoods for the main frame members, along with seasoned Spotted Gum tapered pegs to secure all the connections, without a single steel plate or bolt.
PRESERVING CRAFTSMANSHIP FROM WORKSHOP TO INSTALLATION
“Protecting timber from the elements is vital for complex construction and longevity,” explains Chris Nance of Traditional Timber Frames, “and this is especially the case with handcrafted frames that take a great deal of skilled craftsmanship to construct.”
“When building a barn such as the Tuckombil Project,” Chris continues, “the frame and all joinery are often constructed over several months in the workshop and timber yard, which presents unique challenges. The biggest one is the seasoning process of the posts and beams sitting outside in the elements. It’s critical that these timbers don’t weather, warp, or split before reaching the site and this is especially important for the joinery, as checking in the tenons, for example, can significantly weaken the joints. Because each individual joint is hand scribed to be extremely accurate, any twisting or splitting during construction can be problematic when the time comes for installation.”
This is where Equisol’s environmentally friendly penetrating oils are essential. The team at Traditional Timber Frames have adapted their procedures with this tremendous product that is ideally suited to their needs. Equisol’s Pro E365 and Rapid products have brought a huge positive change for Chris and his team and all the timber frame products they produce. Chris explained, “by pre-coating posts and beams straight from the mill with Equisol, we gain significantly more working time and reliable protection while the materials sit in the yard. The timbers stay looking fresh, surface checking and cracking is significantly reduced, and the natural colour is maintained.”
Peter Sinner of Equisol Professional Woodcare speaks of the special nature of working with Traditional Timber Frames.
“Every project is unique, so we are always ready with technical information or custom colours to suit Chris’s builds. We recently colour matched hundreds of linear metres of indoor and outdoor timber to create a 1000 m2 ranch-style home. The result was incredible.”
SETTING BENCHMARKS THROUGH INNOVATION
During the construction of the Tuckombil barn, each member was pre-coated with Equisol Rapid as it arrived from the sawmill. The carpenters then completed all the handcrafted joinery, and upon completion, the timbers were coated again prior to transport. This pre-coating also has the added benefit of protecting against construction marks and weathering, making the final coat of oil at the end of the construction process so much easier.
Chris, who is well known for his specialised training courses in traditional timber craftsmanship and techniques, now recommends this exact process to all his clients and students.
“I cannot recommend highly enough that all timber yards with large-section (often boxed heart) posts and beams in stock, should apply a coat of Equisol. Easy to apply, non-toxic, and visually appealing, the penetrative nature of Equisol oil and its ultra- matte finish suit handcrafted frames perfectly.”
“We all know about oiling our decks (Equisol is great for that too, by the way), but we often overlook the larger timbers.”
Traditional Timber Frames continues to set the benchmark for handcrafted timber construction in Australia, blending time- honoured techniques with a deep respect for the natural beauty and integrity of our native hardwoods. By embracing Equisol’s solutions, Traditional Timber Frames ensures that their craftsmanship is preserved from workshop to installation, allowing each structure to arrive on site looking as good as the day it was milled – and built to last for generations.
For more information on Traditional Timber Frames, call 02 4867 6000 or visit traditionaltimberframes.com.au. For more information on Equisol products call 1300 966 322 or visit equisol.pro
