Thanks to everyone who have taken the time to reply, this is very much appreciated, I am sorry I have taken so long to get back, the reason being I have been trying to get my head around your replies. The housed Tenon joint described could be fitted with ease in my situation as the other end of the purlin is to be built into a masonary wall and therefore could be slid from this end. Any more information/drawings on this joint would be great.
This may seem like a basic question but I think I will ask it anyway (you never Know there
may be lots of people out there dying to know the answer to this, but are too scared to ask in this risk of looking stupid!)
When the wood is cut out of a structural timber (beam) as in the joint described above,
in replacing the lost wood with the other half of the joint on the end of the adjoining
timber do you retain all the strength and load carrying capabilities the main timber first
posessed?
Thanks again Greener (hopefully not so green soon)
