Director at Wilde Spooner Raleigh Chartered Building Surveyors | SAVA assessor
Have You Heard of Dragon Ties in Historic Buildings? When we think about historic buildings, we often admire their charm and beauty, but behind the scenes, there’s some incredible engineering that keeps them standing. One fascinating feature found in older timber-framed buildings is the dragon tie. So, what is a dragon tie? It’s a diagonal timber beam used in the corners of buildings, particularly in medieval and Tudor timber-framed houses. Its purpose is to support the structure where walls meet at right angles, helping to distribute the roof load and strengthen the frame. Think of it as an early (and elegant) form of reinforcement! Dragon ties allowed builders to achieve larger overhangs – those striking jettied upper floors that give historic buildings their iconic look. As we work to preserve these structures today, it’s a reminder of how traditional building techniques still inspire modern solutions. Does anyone know why they are referred to a dragon ties? There are a few theories…….. #HistoricBuildings #Architecture #TraditionalCraftsmanship #TimberFrame #BuildingConservation #Engineering
There is a modern version of this which involves using ply, a little less elegant but does the job. I think there's a standard detail somewhere with the NHBC. I've used it a few times. It's a very useful (and relatively unknown) detail for a structural engineer. Primarily used to reign in the dragons kick, from a very long hip rafter that is 😉
En España, ese elemento se llama cuadral y a la pieza perpendicular que coge el cuadral y la esquina de unión de los durmientes, se llama aguilon.
Called dragon ties as it derives from diagon referring to the diagonal nature of the tie. Sadly nothing to do with fire breathing dragons!!
Adrian Taylor
1mo
In use in modern timber framed buildings in NZ, though nothing quite as elegant as that.
Martin Stiles
1mo
Yes and the 3D detail shows the diagonal member between the wall plates nicely. A means of stiffening and keeping together a corner that otherwise might be pulled apart by tension developing due to loading conditions. I’ve read that the term started from ‘dragging’ apart, but who knows!
Roddy Woolgar
1mo
I thought they started life as "dragging ties / beams" and it's morphed from there. All parts pull against each other to give the increased stability.
We still look for a dragon tie or corner brace in cut roofs today. If the ceiling is to be vaulted or hybrid then the tie is usually placed at the purlin abutment to a hip rather than at plate.
Aiden Mulryan
1mo
The dragon ties I’ve replaced in the past the hip is quite substantial and is connected by a diminished tenon and the tie is half lapoed through with a dove tail, and a dowel or massive nail👍, I’ve heard some areas of the country refer to it as a saddle. Also great for traditional internal gutter systems👍🍺😎.
Not sure of the origins of the term, but seen them in various barn conversions where they've always been referred to as Dragon ties
Director at Wilde Spooner Raleigh Chartered Building Surveyors | SAVA assessor
1moOr due to the old English term ‘dragan / dragen’ meaning ‘to carry / to bear’…….