I am just sawing timbers for my front porch and am contemplating going with the 2 brace per side as on the left or the 1 brace per side as on the right....thoughts? I am leaning to the left design for asthetics.

Also need to go look in my joinery design book for some scarf joints....




Other question is what pitch should the porch roof be? I am attaching it to a 1.5 story hewn log structure with a 12:12 pitch.

Bruce:

Since it's a porch, you won't get any racking strength from walls attached to the frame, so it all has to come from the braces. I'd say more are better! Regarding roof pitch, it's probably just aesthetics, unless you have a high snow load (not sure where you are), in which case, steeper is better, of course. CB.

Thanks Clark!

I think I will go with all 4. I can cut one out if needed and I do not mind empty mortises in structures as it always adds a bit of character. My structures to date are rustic so it fits in.

I am up in Canada and the snow load is around 46 PSF IIRC but will likley go with a 1:3 pitch on the porch.

B.