I was wondering if there is any rule that you can go by for this topic.

If for aesthetic reasons you want to move your brace up your post and in on your tie beam or any other level piece is there a point where the brace becomes to short and does not fulfill the structural needs it was intended for. Could you theoretically use stock with a great height and push it all the way to the corner creating a column effect?

I suppost, but then it would be called a gusset. Probably wouldn't look like a timberframe then. The longer the brace is and thus further from the corner, the better it is at resisting the forces in general. Braces seem to be placed generally so because they can adequately resist the forces and you are not using an unnecessarily excess amount of wood for a brace. There is also a tradition of their look and an asthetic to the look. Just my opinion.

BB thanks for your response. I suppose your right that it would not look like a "timberframe", but then again who says it has to. It is still a timberframe.

If you had a shed promenade of cypress I think it would look alright, but don't know it it would stand alright. Plus you would actually be saving wood by not using a longer piece. I know that everyone has seen there fair share of 8X10 scrap pieces laying around the shop.

I am currently reading a book about Dutch frames, houses as well as barns.
In the houses it was common to use small pieces of wood like this:



There are many such things that can be done to improve head room when needed.
Knee braces are called that because they were made from pieces of wood that where shaped like knees, like this:



Hope this helps...
Jim Rogers

I take it back, those don't look half bad. Thanks jim. To your point, consider those when you absolutely need the headroom. Regular braces that support further out from the corners will see lower pressures.

Thanks for the input guys. Derek take care of that arm. mo