John Elliott wrote:If you can find it in a big enough diameter, it would probably be great framing. But as you say, it's going to be hard to get a log you can mill into a beam. Some time ago, I had land in central Missouri, and the hedge apple was quite shrubby in character, so much so that it would be hard to find a 6' length you could make a longbow from (which was one of the prime uses for it). On the other hand, there was lots and lots of white oak, and one tree would provide a large number of construction quality beams.
Yeah, I'm familiar with white oak. I don't think I would like to mess with mature trees too much, other than to prune. They are fantastic trees! I got married underneath one last year.
I'm thinking more along the lines of unmilled timber framing, however. Perhaps less mature (2' dia) white oaks that could re-sprout...
I am also considering doing the in-fill as a sort of light-straw wattle & daub. What central Missouri native wood would be good for the wattle? Willow?
Edit: also forgot to ask-- any recommendations for roundwood timber roof beams? For a flat roof? For reciprocal?