Timber Frame Facts

Had an interesting conversation with a local banker this morning.  We were discussing the gloom and doom reported daily by the media.  The R-word (recession) dominates the headlines.  He reminded me that there has never been a better time to build.   Rates are down, materials are available, labor is available.

Building a timber frame is an investment now…and long term.  A timber framed home, wrapped in insulated panels,  will save thousands upon thousand of dollars in energy savings for years to come.  Not only will you have a home of exceptional beauty and character, your cost to heat and cool it will be minimized by the energy efficient structure.

Today is the time to build.  Take advantage of the interest rates and don’t look back.   Have that home.  Preserve our resources.  Save money.

Goshen is adding another timber framer to their team.  This is an excellent opportunity to join a group of talented, dedicated timber framers.  Four day work weeks and great benefits complete the picture.  Don’t call, but do email bonnie@goshenframes.com if you are interested.

There is more to a timber frame home than meets the eye.  Make sure that the home package you purchase meets all of your needs.  Some contractors are comfortable raising and enclosing a frame.   Some are not.  If your contractor has never installed a frame package, you might want your timber frame company to either raise and enclose their package or send field advisors to assist.  Most companies will work with you to accomodate your particular needs, but work this out early in the process, before you sign an agreement.

Before building any home, especially a home that is not considered conventionally built, you should do your research. There are so many variables and so many options. Not only will you need to determine the style and size, but the cost. These factors all work together.

It’s easy to be caught up in the “cost per square foot” game. You figure, “okay, I can spend $600,000, so I can have a 3000 square foot home at $200 per square foot”. Not always. You can have a larger home if it is simple in style and if you keep your finishes within the “medium quality” range. You can spend the same amount to build a very small home with lots of corners, a complex roof, and high end finishes. Whether you opt for a rambling ranch single story home or a story and a half on a finished basement will make a huge difference in the cost to build.

The cost should be carefully calculated based on your needs and your budget. I was recently at a seminar and the speaker mentioned the “What do you want to spend? What could you spend if you pulled out all of the stops? and finally the “What are you willing to spend?” equations. The reality is we will always want to spend less, be able to spend more, but are willing to spend an amount somewhere in the middle.

There will be trade-offs. You will have to compromise. Size, unless you want a McMansion on a Cottage in the Woods budget, will probably be the least important factor. That 300 or 400 square feet won’t break the bank. The style (lots of corners and cornices, lots of dormers and gingerbread) will be a far greater determining factor.

Be realistic. There are things you can economize on and places you shouldn’t even consider cutting your budget. You can have great floors without busting the bank, but your windows should be the best you can afford.

Don’t believe that if you cut out a few hundred square feet you are going to save a bundle. That kitchen you want will cost the same in a 2500 square foot home and in a 3000 square foot home. You will still have “x” number of bathrooms.

All in all, budgeting for a timber frame is just like budgeting for any other home. You either feel that spending a little more to have a home that will stand the test of time, that will wow everyone who walks in the door, that will save thousands in energy costs is well worth the extra money spent, or you don’t.

Keep thinking about “willing to spend”…not “want to spend”.

Timber frames. It just doesn’t get any better. Built for centuries using minimally processed timbers, joinery (virtually unchanged), and tree nails (pegs), timber frames have survived the industrial/manufacturing ages. Today they can be either handcrafted or machine crafted. They are inherently green and, when wrapped in an energy efficient enclosure system, are among the most energy efficient buildings built.