A Few Wood Choices for your Post & Beam Project.

Hand Hewn White Oak.

Strong and rustic, a good choice for many types of post and beam applications. Most recently a large post and beam barn in Auburn, PA. Expect lots of checking, which will not effect the strength.

Douglas Fir Timbers, Planed & Chamfered

Always a good idea. Douglas Fir is beautiful, strong, stable and available in many larger sizes and longer widths. If you can build your post and beam building with Douglas Fir, you may need a GLULAM.

Hand Hewn Eastern White Pine

White Pine is not as strong a hemlock, douglas fir or oak, BUT is a very traditional and popular posts and beam wood choice. Hand hewn for a more rustic look, or planed & chamfered for a more finished style.
FYI. Horses like to chew pine...

Reclaimed Timber

Depending on the species and condition, best used in decorative post and beam situations. Hard to work with, sometimes difficult to find, and always more expensive. A look like nothing else, worth it if you love it.

Native Hemlock

Shown above planed & chamfered, we prefer the rough sawn finish. Hemlock timbers are great for post and beam horse barns (horses tend not to chew on it). Post and beam pavilions, houses, as long as the lengths are not toooooo long. Then we are looking at douglas fir again.

Post and Beam Progress...

SOON these rustic oak timbers will be a post and beam barn...enjoy some progress shots and check back often.

All the posts and beams are carefully labeled, joints are pre-fit to insure a proper installation.

Mike hard at work, each timber is hand crafted. No CNC machines at Vermont Timber Works.

Above Kellin is trying not to smile :) as he works with a mortising machine. Once the timbers are fabricated, it's time for sanding and finishing. Below are some of the completed pieces, natural minwax stain and red oak timbers.


MJ and Jason are organizing the finished timbers. (They don't mind the camera). Ruby, of course, is supervising.

Vermont Timber Works will be raising this post and beam timber frame in mid September. Look for us in Auburn, PA.

Post and Beam Barn in OAK.

Vermont Timber Works next project...a Post and Beam Barn to be raised in Auburn, Pennsylvania. Timbers in red oak will be hand crafted with steel & traditional joinery.

The 1st of 3 full truckloads, these red oak timbers will create the barn shown below. Be sure to check back for progress shots.

John Rich Jr. worked closely with Sue to bring this post and beam barn project to life. Great job!

Which wood timber is your favorite for Post & Beam Construction?

From the most rustic rough sawn hemlock and hand hewn pine to the more finished planed & chamfered douglas fir timbers, Vermont Timber Works does it all.