Dear Charles,

You don't say if you have appointed a timber frame designer or if you are attempting to do this yourself. Either way its not easy or maybe even fair to compare the approaches adopted by various companies or designers regarding bracing or frame stability in isolation from other relevant factors. It is really necessary to look at the whole approach taken to building to determine what is and isn't acceptable. For example the use of SIPs will probably reduce the action of braces once they are firmly attached in position.

If you email me a sketch of what you are trying to build then I can offer you a better opinion on whether you are about to take a "wrong turn".

Check out the design section on our website at :- http://www.clik.to/WorldofWood which features a number of frame designs by me all of which are braced.

Ken Hume P.Eng.