Log and Timber Home Living Log Home Buyer's Guide December 2021

Do you love timber frame homes? If you’re not sure of the answer to that question, that’s ok, but something caused you to pick up this magazine. Chances are that their natural beauty and unmistakable elegance were the first things to catch your eye; however, once you learn more about them, you’ll discover that their appeal goes well beyond their good looks. For starters, timber framing has a storied past, and we’re talking centuries — even millennia — of history. The oldest timber-framed building still standing dates back to 7th century Tibet. In North America, the Fairbanks House in Massachusetts has been around since 1641, and countless timber-framed structures that dot Europe and Asia have celebrated centennial birthdays several times over. The reason these buildings have enjoyed long, healthy lifespans is directly attributable…

Timber framing just may be the most recognizable form of home design and construction you aren’t familiar with. Wait – how can that be? If it’s so “recognizable,” you should know what it is, right? Not necessarily. Timber-framed homes and buildings are right in front of you all the time, but often, people don’t understand what they are seeing. The graceful, strong, natural element timbers lend to a space provide the perfect setting for everything from cathedrals to furniture catalogs. They’re elegant and yet comfortable, and the artful way in which they’re crafted coupled with the extraordinary level of engineering that goes into them is a combination that makes them as sturdy as they are beautiful. A timber home uses a framework of large posts and beams joined by wood pegs or other…

Posts. The vertical members. Beams. The horizontal members. Truss. A rigid triangle of timbers. Trusses provide column-free floor space and are incorporated at ceiling height. Bents. Created when the vertical and horizontal components are joined together with the trusses. Bents form the cross-section of a timber frame and enable it to carry the structural load. Joints. Where two timbers or frame pieces come together. Joints can range from simple to highly decorative and include lap joints, mortise-and-tenon joints, dovetailed joints, pegged joints and others. Brace. Short, diagonally positioned timber supports are used as reinforcement in the corners of a frame to prevent horizontal shear. Trunnel. A wood dowel or peg used as a fastener. Depending on the builder or owner’s prerogatives, the exposed pegs are either cut off flat to the face of the timbers or…

A dream home is something that (dare we say) everyone aspires to own one day. While this aspiration isn’t new, the events of the past two years have encouraged many long-time dreamers to become no-time-like-the-present doers. People have decided to stop wishing for and start living in that ideal abode. That vision of the perfect place to live is different for everybody, but those who long for timber frame homes are in a distinct category of their own. These discerning enthusiasts appreciate the natural beauty and understand the rugged elegance that exposed wood adds to a house. To own a timber frame is to live in a home like no other. Each decision along the road to customhome ownership, from choosing the ideal property to fine tuning your design to selecting your…

Q: Do you provide free preliminary estimates? A: Precise cost figures may require blueprints, which carry a fee. This design fee is often applied against the cost of the package when you commit to a timber provider. Q: When will I receive a price quote? A: Every home (and site) is unique, and price quotes need to reflect the cost of exactly what’s needed to build the home. The quotations you receive should contain specific information on the payment schedule, delivery cost, service policies, warranties and any special charges in designing and building your home. Price quotes also should include a complete bill of materials, including material-grade specifications. Q: Will you need a deposit? A: Before working on blueprints or providing firm price information, many companies require a deposit. Be sure you understand what you're…

What does a timber home cost? It’s the question on every buyer’s mind, but it’s not one with a pat answer. A timber home is a custom home, and everything from wood species and frame complexity to finishing materials and local labor costs will impact the bottom line. Although it’s impossible to generalize prices nationwide, timber homes are comparable to other forms of custom construction. Put another way, the average custom home today costs roughly 22 percent more than your standard tract home, which affords few upgrades and no changes to floor plan — not an unreasonable price to pay to get exactly what you want. Earlier this year, our biennial Industry Insights* survey showed that the average base price of a timber frame home hovers in the neighborhood of $185 per square foot,…