Construction Techniques: Lattice Frameworks
Lattice frames are carpentry works that form the sturdy frame or skeleton of a set or design element. Frames can be vertical, horizontal, or inclined. In each of these cases, they are called:
- Vertical: Lattice walls.
- Horizontal: Lattice floors and ceilings.
- Inclined: Lattice deck.
Horizontal Components of a Lattice
Carrera – A horizontal beam placed on walls and designed to support other parts or to link buildings; for example, beams that constitute the forging of the floors.
Lintel – A timber that forms the top of doors, windows, or other openings.
Pedestal – A timber at the bottom of a void.
Solera-crossbeam – A crossbeam for other horizontal, vertical, or inclined parts to rest on.
Floor slab (also, overtravel) – A solera arranged on the beams that constitute the forging of the floors.
Sopanda – A horizontal timber supported at both ends by uprights and bent pieces called struts, which serves to strengthen longer pieces like *carreras*.
Vertical Components of a Lattice
Horns – A piece of wood that forms the corner of a vertical truss.
Dwarf – A small piece of wood intended to serve as a liaison between horizontal pieces, like the lintel and the superior *carrera*, or the base and the sill.
Right foot – Wood placed vertically so that it loads on other parts. It is situated between two successive *carreras*.
Virotillo or strut – A piece of wood smaller than the uprights. It binds the *carreras* with the tilted elements.
Bracing Elements
St. Andrew’s Cross – Wood pieces that intersect to form two acute and two obtuse angles, resulting in an X-shape.
Jabalcón – A timber assembly in a vertical plane to a horizontal or inclined plane.
Strut – Part of the timber for the triangular spaces formed by rectangular horizontal and vertical timbers, ensuring the frame structure.
Fillers in Vertical Lattices
The empty spaces left by the pieces that form the lattices are filled. These spaces are called quarters.
These spaces are formed by:
- Rubble and Plaster: To apply the rubble, a formwork with wooden battens is used on the walls. To encourage and strengthen the overall adhesion, nails are driven into the wood. Tomiza (esparto rope or halter) may also be used.
- Brick and Mortar-Plaster: The bricks are laid in horizontal courses like brick walls. It may happen that the thickness of the wood pieces does not match any of the measures of brick. In this case, special pieces are used. When the length of these bricks is between 20 and 22 cm, they are called shotguns.
Horizontal Half-Timbered Construction
Large Spans: Placing beams separated by more than 30 cm. Joists are placed across them. Sometimes, joists should not reach the beam, so a brochal is used. This is an auxiliary piece linking between the wall and a beam or between two joists. The frame can be an auxiliary metal to dovetail or dovetail with a booster. The beam that ends in a *brochal* is called a *lame* beam.
Construction Techniques: Forged Elements
Forged elements: In general, this refers to the infill, made of various materials, of any of the spaces within a framework. There are several types of forging, depending on the system.