Timber Framing Workshops

Neahtawanta Inn--Traverse City, MI


Timber Frame Construction
June 5-9, 1995

Stress Skin Enclosure
June 12-16, 1995

Course Outline

Timber Framing (June 5-9):
This course will offer the fundamentals of timber framing. We will begin each day with a discussion explaining the work that will be accomplished and answering any questions. You will be part of the crew and will be doing the actual work of cutting, fitting and pegging timbers for the structure. The workshop will end with raising of the structure and making it ready for the next stage of the project Ñ stress skin placement.

Stress Skin (June 12-16):
This course will offer the fundamentals of enclosing a timber frame structure with pre-made stress skin panels. Participants will cut and place the stress skins for the timber frame structure constructed during the first workshop. As before, we will begin each day with a discussion explaining the work that will be accomplished and answering any questions.

About the Instructor

Gary Cook: Gary is a registered architect and builder from Gregory, Michigan (Northwest of Ann Arbor). Gary has been building timber frame structures since 1980 and led his first workshop in 1983. He will have several experienced members of his timber framing crew with him who will be assisting throughout the workshops. Gary is a personal friend and member of the Neahtawanta Research and Education Center. Gary and his crew stayed at the Neahtawanta Inn for 6 weeks in 1989 while they built the timber frame structure for a house on the Old Mission peninsula.

What to bring

Tools: circular saw, hand saw (6 point), 1 inch, 1 1/2 inch, and a corner framing chisel, square, tape, utility knife, 2 1/8 inch rabbit plane, and a 3# garland mallet. It is not necessary to have all your own tools; we will have extra tools available.

Other Things: Spring in our area can be cool or quite warm, so bring a variety of clothing to work outside in. We will have some time to relax in the evenings and we will plan to have some fun and play music; if you have a musical instrument please consider bringing it along.

General Information and Costs

The site for the project is the Neahtawanta Inn, which is undergoing a renovation to become barrier-free for handicap accessibility. The timber frame structure will be a 2-story addition attached to the back of the inn, replacing an existing structure, and will house the barrier-free bathroom, new kitchen and an upstairs "family" room.

The workshop cost includes:

  • With lodging (shared, 2 people/room)Ñlodging from Sunday evening through Thursday, the workshop Monday through Friday and all meals. If you choose to attend both workshops, lodging for Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th is included with meals.
  • Without lodgingÑ the workshop Monday through Friday and lunch only. 

    COSTS
                    Timber Frame  Stress Skins   Both
Lodging:                $400          $400       $800
No lodging :            $210          $210       $400
No lodging (Daily fee): $ 50          $ 50         NA
    To register call 616.223.7315 or email to the Neahtawanta Center

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