Heartwood on the Road: Timber Framing in South Carolina February 16-22, 2026 $1,630 We're taking our core curriculum on the Road! Join us in South Carolina to learn the basics of timber framing. Timber framing is a traditional framing technique that is incorporated into all building projects at the Heartwood School. In this class, we […]
Dates: March 6-7, 2026 Cost: $470 Overview: We will answer your business questions through small groups and informal discussions. Topics will include: starting up a business (legal structure, insurance), marketing, sales, operations (employees, management), contracts and contract types, leadership, and estimating the cost and sale price of producing a timber frame. We will share resources […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
This course combines the core of our previous timber framing, homebuilding, and apprenticeship curriculums into one package for those seeking a career in timber framing or a deeper understanding of the skills needed to build their own timber frame. It's ideal for those who seek more opportunities for development than are provided in our one-week […]
Join the Timber Frame Engineering Council and Timber Framers Guild from April 23-25, 2026, for a Timber Grading Workshop at the Rocky Mountain Joinery Center in Lafayette, Colorado. Who should attend: Engineers, architects, timber frame carpenters, sawmill operators, builders, or anyone needing to understand and apply timber stress-grading rules. Cost: $1,200 per person. Includes two […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
Many of the specialty tools for timber framing are hard to find new or used. Students will learn to make their own tools using basic wood and metal working skills. This class allows both experienced and aspiring carpenters to forge a personal connection with the tools of their trade. Students will complete a slick, a […]
This course will give students a foundational education in timber framing while they work as a group to build and complete a timber frame pavilion. Students will gain an understanding of the materials, tools and safety standards used in the timber framing industry. Students will receive hands-on experience laying out, cutting, and assembling traditional joinery. […]
Construct and raise a small timber frame structure using mortise and tenon joinery. In this hands-on course students will learn layout techniques, tool use, and joinery cutting methods as we work on a small timber frame project, culminating in a raising on the final day. This course will focus on traditional hand tools and joinery […]
This six-day class is taught by an experienced timber-framer & builder, Chris Newman, and by a structural engineer with decades of experience, Tom Nehil. Both are members of the Timber Framers Guild. Students can expect to begin hands-on learning within a few hours of the first day of class. Tom will discuss design elements and […]
Step into the world of round log timber framing, where the beauty of natural wood meets the precision of traditional joinery. Unlike conventional timber framing, this unique craft replaces square-sawn timbers with carefully de-barked logs, preserving their organic shape while integrating the structural integrity of timber frame joinery. The result is a striking hybrid of […]
Gain hands-on experience felling and milling a tree for lumber. For those considering harvesting logs for lumber on a small scale, building with materials from their own woodlot, or purchasing a sawmill, this course will provide an overview of methods and options for small scale sustainable harvesting and wood production. The bulk of the course […]
A two-day introduction to square rule timber framing Perfect for students with a budding interest in timber framing, this course will cover the basics through a hands-on building project. We'll introduce basic layout concepts and terminology, and every student will experience cutting joinery. Each student will make their own mailbox post to take home. Read […]
Learn traditional mortise and tenon joinery techniques and fundamental design skills to apply to your own project. Yestermorrow's four-week Timber Framing Certificate Program is designed for those looking to jumpstart their craft to pursue a career in timber framing, build a dream home, or simply learn more about this historic building style. Through workshop time, […]
Overview: Cruck frames use large curved timbers to transfer the weight of the roof directly down to the foot of the posts. Besides being structurally efficient and allowing the wall frames to be lighter, their soaring arches create a beautiful interior space. Usually, each pair of cruck blades is halved from the same tree. Since […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
Whether they are built for the workshop or used to support a tabletop or workbench, timbered sawhorse trestles are reliable, sturdy, and reflective of the craftsmanship that goes into timber framing. During this course, students will learn the layout and cutting of the mortise and tenon joints to create a pair of trestles made of […]
In this timber framing class, you’ll learn the fundamental skills you need to approach constructing timber frames yourself. Be part of a team that creates a frame of great beauty and strength. Gain satisfaction and competence with tools and the craft. For 7 Day Class: $1300-$2600* *Please pay what you can within this range. The […]
This course combines the core of our previous timber framing, homebuilding, and apprenticeship curriculums into one package for those seeking a career in timber framing or a deeper understanding of the skills needed to build their own timber frame. It's ideal for those who seek more opportunities for development than are provided in our one-week […]
Construct and raise a small timber frame structure using mortise and tenon joinery. In this hands-on course students will learn layout techniques, tool use, and joinery cutting methods as we work on a small timber frame project, culminating in a raising on the final day. This course will focus on traditional hand tools and joinery […]
In this timber framing course, we will layout timbers using the traditional square rule method developed in the early 1800s. Participants will learn proper hand tool use and sharpening techniques and will also have the opportunity to make pegs using a shaving horse and draw knife. The instructors will provide demonstrations of how to layout […]
OVERVIEW: Scribing is an art as much as a craft, requiring a good eye and a steady hand. It involves laying out and transferring joinery intersections from one timber to another using plumb bobs, levels, and marking devices instead of tape measures and math. This traditional method is useful for incorporating out-of-square, naturally curved, or […]
We return to the Griswold Scout Reservation (Gilmanton, New Hampshire) in August 2026 for a fun weekend of all things timber frame! Join us August 20-23 and enjoy some timber framing, camping, fishing, and Guild magic!
Gain hands-on experience felling and milling a tree for lumber. For those considering harvesting logs for lumber on a small scale, building with materials from their own woodlot, or purchasing a sawmill, this course will provide an overview of methods and options for small scale sustainable harvesting and wood production. The bulk of the course […]
Overview: Here is an opportunity to learn the few, but necessary, knots (a dozen or so) needed by the timber framer to safely lift heavy loads and tying off timbers for shipment. Students will practice these knots until they own them. All the elements of a knot, bend, and hitch will be covered. The rigging […]
The Art & Craft of Axes is designed for anyone interested in learning the history, anatomy, and practical use of one of the most essential tools in woodworking and timber processing. This course will be beneficial to both beginners and tool use and experienced woodsmen, equipping students with the skills to handle an axe with […]
Overview: Learn the basics of masonry heater construction with a combination of classroom learning and hands-on building. Masonry heaters are efficient wood-burning stoves for home heating, distinguished by their substantial mass when compared to a woodstove, which allows for rapid burning of a large wood load combined with a slow release of the resultant heat. […]
Step into the world of traditional craftsmanship in this Hand Tool Timber Framing class. In this immersive 6-day class, students will build a full-size cabin inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s famous cabin at Walden Pond, gaining firsthand experience in the fundamentals of timber framing—all using hand tools. This course focuses on working with hewn timber […]
Construct and raise a small timber frame structure using mortise and tenon joinery. In this hands-on course students will learn layout techniques, tool use, and joinery cutting methods as we work on a small timber frame project, culminating in a raising on the final day. This course will focus on traditional hand tools and joinery […]
This course is offered as a comfortable space to learn the basics of timber framing for people who may not feel welcomed in the almost-uniformly male culture found in construction. It is specifically and only for women and gender non-conforming folks and will be taught by two women timber framers. Students should expect to come […]