We began our design and building of timberframe homes in 1994, simply because we love the product and it fit with our mission. There is nothing more natural than wood and it is certainly a renewable and recyclable resource. It works well with other natural products like stone, cork and bamboo. Exposing the structural parts on the inside allows the insulation layer to totally wrap the house, creating an envelope that is naturally, by design, more energy-efficient. Timberframing techniques have certainly been proven as they date back centuries and were the structures of choice for many of our European ancestors. When time is factored in, cost-effective has a lot of meaning. Many are still standing in Europe today, as well as the northeastern part of the US. Thus, our slogan "Building for more than one lifetime".
Unlike log homes of our early settlers, timberframing is a method of structure, not a style in itself. The structure is adaptable to many home styles, and can be anything from rustic to formal in design. For more comparisons, see our article, Is That Post and Beam or Log?
Many people love the feeling of a timberframe home, but think of it only in the mountains, at the lake or coast, as a place to go to when they are vacationing or retiring…mostly, as a second home. Having it as a primary home has the advantage of giving you that feeling every day. With the stress that is in the workplace today, a retreat when you get home has a therapeutic effect and could contribute to your well-being on a daily basis. We can attest to that!
But we realize a full timberframe home is not for everyone. The cost is considerably more than standard construction, even though the value is commensurate with it’s cost. Not everyone who likes a Mercedes can afford one. As in the car business, there are variables of products that are designed to give you the best features without the fully loaded model. Likewise, we offer a HYBRID timberframe, which features the main living areas as a timberframe structure and the lesser areas "stick-built", but cosmetically blended to the timberframe areas. The average of the two areas is less expensive than full timberframe and more expensive than just standard construction, depending on the ratio of each type of structure and the client’s choices of amenities.
In designing a custom timberframe home with you, we initially try to establish a budget range, determine the needed spaces and set priorities of features you would like. As we work thru the design, there is always a series of trade-offs that occur to keep the project in budget, or we re-establish the budget to incorporate the features. There is an old saying in the building business…"There are three components to building…budget, size, and quality. You can chose only two and the third is determined by the first two." I once saw a sign in a window that said, "The enjoyment of quality is felt long after the shock of the price is gone." I’ve never heard anyone regret a purchase if the product quality exceeded their expectations.
Timberframes
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T IMBER HOME L IVING magazine ... July 2009 still available
Also, 8-page article inside with more pics .
click cover below
