When driving past a unique-looking home or browsing homes online, people often stop and marvel at timber-frame homes. They appreciate the open concept design and elaborate carpentry on the trusses.
Timber frame homes use traditional building techniques with large timbers to create a unique and beautiful structure. These homes are recognizable by the exposed beams and open-concept layout.
Compared to standard 2-by-4 stick frame construction, timber frame construction creates a unique home you’ll love forever.
Joinery and Trusses
Traditional timber frame homes use wood-to-wood joinery instead of screws, nails and bolts to create the structure. Wooden joints are two parts—a mortise and a tenon.
The mortise is the hole carved out of wood, and the tenon is the tongue. Once assembled, wooden pegs lock the joints, creating a solid joint that can last decades. You’ve probably seen custom joinery like this on fine furniture.
After each joint is laid out and cut, timbers trusses are built to support the roof and connect the structure together. Each truss is aesthetically pleasing since they are exposed in the open concept.
Multiple variations of trusses can be built, from Hammerbeam, Queen Post, King Post and Scissor inside a timber home.
As with any home, there are advantages and disadvantages.
Five Advantages of a Timber Frame Home
- Best of both worlds. With the rustic style of a log home and all the modern conveniences of a stick frame construction.
- It is more efficient. Using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) to envelope the timber structure will result in a high efficiency structure. Saving time on construction, and money on utility costs.
- Timber frame designs are flexible. Going back to the best of both worlds, timber frame homes do not sacrifice options for the homeowners.
- Environmentally friendly. Trees and timbers are a renewable resource, often handpicked from specific areas. The SIPs assist with reducing energy consumption and construction waste.
- Timber homes are strong. Timber frame homes can last hundreds of years with proper maintenance. They have higher fire tolerance due to the mass of the timbers. They also absorb ground movement, and have better resistance to strong winds than conventional types of construction.
Three Disadvantages of a Timber Frame Home
With any building type, there will be disadvantages.
- Building Time. All timber frame homes require a significant lead time from placing the order to the delivery time. Time can vary between builders, but it should be considered for new builds.
- Costs. Timber frame homes cost more than traditional stick construction since there is more time off-site for building and fabricating the beams and joints.
- Maintenance. Here is one of the most prominent disadvantages. Since the exterior timbers are exposed to the environment, they are susceptible to damage if not properly maintained. This means sealing and weatherproofing exterior beams as needed every few years.
What is the life span of a timber frame house?
Timber frame homes are unique for their durable construction. The combination of mortise and tenon joints, sturdy supports, and integrity of Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) allow timber frame homes to survive extreme weather events easier than most homes. Properly maintained timber homes can last multiple lifetimes and stay in your family for generations.
Are timber frame houses cheaper to build?
When building a new home, cost is always a factor. Due to the customized nature and higher quality of timber homes, they are more expensive to construct. However, having a picturesque home will increase in value due to its rarity.
There are many significant advantages to a timber frame home, like the aesthetics of exposed beams or open-concept design. Of course, with all the positives comes the increased costs, maintenance, and time.
When you are ready, the dedicated craftsmen at Back Country Log & Timber Homes can assist you with everything to start your timber home. Contact us here for more information on timber home construction.
