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solving geometric challenges in timber for more than 25 years...
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A-Z Guide
For quick and easy reference to help you find what you may be looking for:
 
Adze (Service)
We have recently checked to make sure and it is still in the stores. So if the project would be right with that surface texture, we are a bit out of practice but can do. Probably.
adze
 
Angled Finger Jointer (Service)
Our machine is primarily intended to make mitred joints. They can form the haunch of a portal frame or, in series, a faceted arch to be sawn to a curve. Maximum section 100 x 500mm. Fine for straight joints in smaller sections but not really configured for high volumes.
fingerjoint
 
Attic Frames
We use our angled finger jointer to make small scale portal frames from trussed rafter stock.
atticframe
 
'A' Frame
An efficient structural form which works well in glulam and only needs simple bases. Good for holiday homes, sporting lodges, similar leisure applications and permanent residences.
aframe
 
Box Beams *
Hollow beams with plywood faces and softwood flanges are structurally efficient and use less wood to carry similar load to solid alternatives (Glulam, LVL). They will, however, usually be about 30% deeper. Material savings tend to be offset by the extra labour of custom building.
Versatile appearance and section profile.
 
CNC Profiling (Service)
Our 5 axis machine has a capacity approx 8000 x 1400 x 400mm high. Not particularly high powered, but we may well be able to help.
 
Columns **
Round, Square, 'H', solid, hollow, tapered, curved - the options are extensive. We have the tooling for a standardised range of circular hollow sections. Our largest to date were 8000 long x 450 diameter. The largest octagonal version was 13000 long x 600 tapering to 350 at the top for a cellular phone mast. 200 to 300 dia. are most popular. We have a lathe for adding shape and detail. More...
column
 
Cowley Connector ***
Also known as the Shearlock Joint, our patented beam end jointing system is largely concealed and features an epoxy bonded tube with a captive socket cap bolt. High load transfer with minimal slip. More...
Connector
 
Double Curved Panels **
We have the moulds, 5 axis CNC machining and analytical skills to press multiple curved panels in plywood, OSB or other suitable wood based sheets. Birch faces are popular. More...
birminghammed
 
Feature Trusses ***
An attractive answer when visually interesting roof support is required. Our feature trusses can be old or new in style. Colour, surface, treatment and joint details can all be varied to give exactly the desired effect. More...
ftruss
 
Finger Jointing * (Service)
Our machine is primarily intended to make mitred joints. They can form the haunch of a portal frame or, in series, a faceted arch to be sawn to a curve. Maximum section 100 x 500. Fine for straight joints in smaller sections but not really configured for high volumes.
 
Finger Jointed Portals **
Where space is at a premium, frames with a mitred (finger jointed) haunch help headroom at eaves. Viable from 5m (Attic frames) to 20m span. The joint method is also applicable to cranked beams in a variety of orientations. More...
portal
 
Footbridges **
Timber bridges are an attractive option in many environmental situations. Sometimes built in-situ when access is difficult. We have standardised solutions for basic applications, but may well help when something unorthodox is contemplated.
bridge
 
Garden Rooms
Garden buildings for the serious 52 weeks a year user. Our SIPs are used for wall, floor and roof construction and provide the high level of insulation required for low energy comfort. They provide work space for offices, consulting rooms, hobbies and so on.
gardenrm
 
Geodesic ***
Buckminster Fuller developed his celebrated domes in 1920's America. He had identified an incredibly efficient structural form. It works well in wood. Not sure whether it should still be called 'geodesic' when applied to egg and toroid shaped versions, but it seems to fit. More...
gurdwara
 
Glulam Beams **
A mainstay timber engineering resource, they are available in straight and cambered profiles. Glulam beams offer a strong and attractive means of support. For the mass product we would source from one of the volume manufacturers, but have a small plant in Lincoln for different species etc.
 
Glulam Portals *
The classic timber building frame. They usually have the signature curved haunch and can span 40m and more. More...
portal
 
Gridshell ***
Probably current terminology for a structure also called 'Netshell' & 'Lattice'. The inventor(s) recognised that a net, secured around it's perimeter naturally assumed an efficient structural form in tension - the components configured themselves to share forces. Flip to compression and small timber elements work beautifully. Even if you do have to compromise the pure form to suit the building function. More...
 
Hyperbolic Paraboloid
Another structurally efficient form which was very popular in the 1950's & 60's. Generally square or rectangular on plan and bounded by straight lines but with one corner higher than the other three. Opposing sides are connected by straight lines generating twisted planes. In timber the perimeter beams clamp three layers of thin boards are nailed, screwed or glued to each other to achieve large spans.
 
I Beams *
Big investment in Europe and the States in plant and software is enabling (floor) joist design to emulate the radical transformation of domestic roofs created by trussed rafters. Come to us for non-conforming challenges.
 
Lamella ***
Although the roots of the word suggest that it would apply to all shell roofs, in Europe it is usually related to the form developed in 1920's Germany. Ribs are configured in a 'noughts & crosses' layup with alternating members continuous through each joint. For 1m 'squares' the ribs would be 2m long. Much more efficient arched than flat, the depth of structure can be remarkably slender. More...
 
Lamination (Oak, Teak) ** (Service)
We can provide a laminating service for unusual species, subject to glue-ability and including own materials if you wish.
 
LVL / Kerto *
Laminated Veneer Lumber has been established in the USA for several decades and alsmost as long elsewhere in Europe. An engineered wood composite, it is made rather like plywood but with the veneers largely parallel. Strength reducing features such as knots are distributed enabling higher working stresses to be used. More of the log is utilised.
 
Monocoque Panels *
Also known as 'Stressed Skin', they act rather like an 'I' beam but with much wider flanges - the upper and lower decks. The 'Q' versions of LVL have a percentage of cross veneers to provide lateral stability. Excellent for decks in one piece where plywood can be untidy to join. Spans up to 26m.
 
Post & Beam ***
Modern jointing methods enable us to streamline this standard building form. Neat detailing and rapid installation are hallmarks of a frame which looks good but is compact enough to be concealed if required.
 
Portal Frames
See - Finger Jointed Portals & Glulam Portals. More...
 
Preservative Treatment (Service)
We have a small (7m) vacuum / pressure tank charged with water borne Timber boron based preservative for more environmentally friendly treatment. If you are within reach of us at Lincoln, please give us a try.
 
Ribbed Panel Shells
Panels laminated to double curves often satisfy the structural requirements of domes and similar shells without much help. Simple ribs address the practical issues of controlling shape, jointing, space for insulation, lining support etc without the cost of a full separate frame.
 
Roundwood *
We have not lost sight of our roots and are happy to use the trees with much less processing and waste. Efficient for axially loaded structures.
 
Salt Barns
  saltbarn
Sculptures (Wine Rack) *
As with double curved panels, our machinery and our modelling skills can enable us to tackle quite daunting feats of imagination. More...
winerack
 
Shell Roofs ***
Geodesic, Lamella, Gridshell, Ribbed Panel - challenging geometric forms are our forte and achieve large spans with a surprisingly small depth of structure. And they look good. More...
 
Shearlock Joint ***
 
Single Curved Panels ***
Wall or roof structural elements to any specified radius. Single sheets of plywood or OSB with framing or multiple press laminated sheets with little or no framing. Fair faced or structure only. More...
 
SIPs ***
Structural Insulated Panels are light, stiff infill units which have wall, roof and floor applications. They can form or help the building structure and have very good thermal and air sealing properties. Coniferous plywood faces are standard but can be readily customised, (e.g. Birch). More...
 
Special SIPs *
We have bonded 6mm Birch plywood to 200mm EPS boards to make stiff and light folding door leaves 2m wide x 6.5m high. Another project was solved with 4mm Oak veneered plywood on 32mm Nilflam cores for brise soleil louvres. Designs for very harsh external environments have also been explored. Another handy element to have in the toolkit. More...
 
Space Frames
We have not had the fortune to land one yet, but the Cowley Connector seems well suited to the task. A similar approach to geodesics looks appropriate. More...
spaceframe
 
Stairs (without strings) *
Our manufacturing technique involves pressing flights of stairs with treads and risers only - no strings. Form following function, perhaps.
 
Stud Panels **
We include standard timber frame stud wall panels in our repertoire. Usually at least 150 deep but probably more for high thermal insulation values. Clad with Panelvent for good breathing qualities.
 
Tied Rafter Trusses
A pair of rafters with a tie rod have the ingredients of no-frills framing using each material effectively. The full range of solid timber or composites can be recruited to suit structural and aesthetic needs. More...
tiedrafter
 
Trussed Rafters **
Our experience in the design and manufacture of ordinary and not so ordinary roof trusses is extensive. We have complementary products to help resolve complex geometry. More...
 
Windows *
 
Skills Profile
*** Special Expertise - We have a market edge
** Basic Product - Middle market, can compete
* Either - Mass produced item with specialists
        or - Yes, but it wouldn't half bog us down.
Cowley timberwork is a trading name of timber engineering connections ltd