This grading protocol is a review of historical wood testing and standards development, wood condition assessment basics, and a query-based wood grading program. The goal of this protocol is to change the typical decision-making process by giving engineers and architects the means to better understand the grading of wood members in relation to building code requirements.

Save the Date for IPTW-ITES 2009 from August 25-29, 2009 in Leadville, Colorado. The 13th annual International Preservation Trades Workshop will be held by the Preservation Trades Network in partnership with the Colorado Mountain College Historic Preservation program. Sponsored in part by NCPTT.

If you’re interested in sharing your skills and knowledge as a “hands on” demonstrator at IPTW 2009 submit a demonstration proposal online. Some travel assistance may be available for demonstrators. Contact Rudy Christian at rchristian@ptn.org for details.

On the cover, hand raising with pike poles at Malabar Farm, Malabar Farm State Park, Mansfield, Ohio, 1994. The heavy strapping fastened across the bent will act as jibs for tackle used later to raise the purlin and wall plates.

On the cover, view of a well-preserved street in Rouen, a town visited by several Guild members following a guided tour of timber-framed buildings in northeastern France. Note trussed wall framing over broad shop windows, slate siding on buildings at the center of the view and the exuberant multiplicity of bracing patterns.

In this issue: Timber Framing for Beginners, When Roofs Collide, Historic American Roof Trusses, Queen Post Trusses, Framing the Montbello Pavilion.

On the cover, view of the cedar roof trusses at the monastery of St. Catherine’s at Mt. Sinai, Egypt, built between 548 and 565 to commemorate the supposed site of the miracle of the burning bush.

Careful examination of the photo reveals the presence of the large Y-shaped iron yoke typically used by Robert Smith at the junction of the kingpost with the collar beam and hammer beams.

Inspired by English design largely from the Welsh Marches, though not exclusively so, the frame was cut by English scribe rule and raised piece by piece using gin pole, shear legs and tackle.

The six chapters that follow discuss and illustrate the joints in American traditional timber-framed buildings of the past, showing common examples with variations as well as a few interesting regional deviations.

Will Beemer, of the Timber Framers Guild, had an article on his NCPTT sponsored work published in the Journal of the Timber Framers Guild 83:18 27.