Timber Grading Workshop

Join the Timber Frame Engineering Council and Timber Framers Guild from April 23-25, 2026, for a Timber Grading Workshop at the Rocky Mountain Joinery Center in Lafayette, Colorado.

Who should attend:
Engineers, architects, timber frame carpenters, sawmill operators, builders, or anyone needing to understand and apply timber stress-grading rules.

Cost:
$1,200 per person. Includes two and a half days of instruction and hands-on training, plus course materials. Lunch, coffee, and light refreshments will be provided. Scholarships may be available - details to follow!

AIA Professional Development:
Each participant will earn 20 AIA-certified professional development hours.

Instructors:
Charlie Phillips, field manager, Western Wood Products Association (WWPA)
Ron Anthony, wood scientist, Anthony & Associates
Brian Malone, KL&A Engineers & Builders
Dick Schmidt, Fire Tower Engineered Timber (retired)
 

About the Program:
April 23 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) - Day 1 will focus on an introduction to the science behind the stress-grading rules and how the rules impact the performance of timber; it will also examine issues associated with existing structures and with reclaimed or reused timber.

April 24 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) - Day 2 will examine the WWPA stress-grading rules as they pertain to structural timber, and apply those rules to full-size samples via hands-on exercises. Since grading rules are similar across agencies, skills learned will apply beyond the species graded under WWPA rules. 

April 25 (8 a.m. - 12 p.m.) - Day 3 will continue with hands-on training, and will culminate with a written and practical examination. 

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the effects that defects in a timber have on its strength characteristics.
• Understand the science behind the rules for visual grading.
• Correctly apply industry-standard grading rules to stress-grade a timber.
• Make informed decisions on assigning grade to timbers in existing buildings.

Questions? Contact the Guild office at info@tfguild.org.

Mark your calendar for April 23-25, 2026, and plan to join us at the Rocky Mountain Joinery Center in Lafayette, Colorado, this spring!