Der Holzbau

Those who deal with traditional building techniques inevitably have to engage with the craftsmanship of past times. This book provides access to traditional expertise. It offers a comprehensive overview of the standards of timber construction at the end of the 19th century and is an indispensable guide for enthusiasts of traditional woodworking. The first section introduces the science of building materials, focusing particularly on the construction and properties, as well as the pests, defects, and diseases of wood. The second section covers the harvesting, preparation, and further processing of usable timber, including felling, shaping, cutting, planing, and polishing. The third section describes the preservation and enhancement of the woods most commonly used by carpenters and joiners. The fourth section addresses the actual professional activities of the carpenter, detailing the usual methods of joining construction timbers. Sections six and seven deal with the application of these joints in the execution of walls, beam systems, roof connections, scaffolding, and other components of timber construction. Finally, sections five and eight thoroughly discuss the tasks of the joiner, the most common individual joints, the construction and formal design of doors and gates, windows, stairs, and stair railings, illustrated with numerous images.