Photo: Church of Nativity, Bethlehem

People today are looking where ever they can to get the most beauty, quality and value for their money. Sometimes, when we consider the hard work and traditional values of our ancestors we will find an answer that fits our modern need better than the current trends. This is certainly true for the timber frame home. Timber framing is the building method in which beautiful heavy timbers are joined together by the use of mortise and tenon joinery. A select few companies specialize in preserving the quality and craftsmanship of timber frame construction.

When a person decides to the construction of their new dream home they want to be inspired every time they walk in the door. They want to know that their investment has created a masterpiece. No form of construction accomplishes this better than the timber frame. No wonder so many churches are built using timber frame design! The exposed beauty and natural warmth of the timber frame gives an individual the feeling of strength and security. If a person walks into 10 new homes that are built conventionally they will have a hard time remembering anything that stands out from one house to another. However, if one of those homes they walked into was a timber frame, the sight and inspired feeling from that home will stay forever with them in their memories of that day.

You may sometimes find that a bid for a timber frame is placed next to a bid for a conventionally built structure of the same size the timber frame will sometimes be slightly more to build. In terms of value this is misleading. Homes that are built with studs and nails typically have a lifespan of only 50 years. A timber frame, properly maintained, will last centuries. Consider many of the classic, historic buildings in Europe that were built using traditional timber frame construction. Surviving weather and war, even the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem stands as in testimony for the strength and stability of a timber frame.

A major advantage of the timber frame home is its energy efficiency. In a conventional home the frame is locked between the outside wall and a layer of sheetrock on the inside. The insulation is placed between the studs. This creates poor insulation in the corners and around the windows of a home. A timber frame home has its frame exposed to the inside. Much like a skeleton, it is completely surrounded by a skin like layer of Structural Insulated Panels or SIPS. These SIPS turn a timber frame into an insulated cooler, keeping your home a perfect temperature at a minimum of wasted energy. As a result, energy bills for a timber frame will always be at least 30% lower. The timber frame will continue to save you money as long as you live in your home. With the constant increase of energy costs this is a powerful value to consider.

There are three reasons that the timber frame has remained on top of the building industry for two thousand years of ever changing construction methods; beauty, quality and value. We encourage you to consider a traditional timber frame as a cutting-edge answer to the age old question of where to live!