Timber Frame Homes ~ 

Through years of designing and building timber frames we have found that people who desire a timber framed home first appreciate the beauty of the wood. Homestead Timber Frames uses native white oak as much as we can. It’s a traditional wood and gives the homeowner a handsome timber frame of character and warmth.  

Handcrafted joinery is the second reason customers long for this type of construction. Our joinery is still done by hand with fine chisels, wood mallets, and wood planes to add the finishing touches on our timbers. Timbers are rubbed with high quality natural oils that bring the grain patterns in the oak to a rich patina. This is what you will discern and value in a finely crafted timber frame from our shop.



The third reason people yearn for buildings that are timber framed is that they become acquainted with the craftsman who builds it. The client-builder relationship blooms and a mutual base of respect is created. We value that aspect of building high quality homes for our clients. We pay attention to detail and to you.

 

Reducing building costs ~
Homestead Timber Frames believes there is such a thing as an affordable, beautiful, and well built timber frame home. Here are a few ideas to consider so that you can build responsibly while reducing costs:

Small is beautiful ~
Sarah Susanka says it best – “The Not-So-Big House”. That philosophy is making sense to many in our society today. Our mission is to help people realize they can achieve a beautiful, light-filled, and spacious home without heating and cooling thousands of square feet. Well organized living areas can be created – and can be especially handsome when timber framed.

Design Considerations ~
Keep your exterior shape simple. The fewer corners in your outside walls and the fewer roofline changes will help keep your costs down. Pay attention to ceiling heights and minimize grand open spaces. A greater than average number of windows or odd custom windows will increase your overall budget also. Keep It Simple…….

Building in stages ~
There are several ways to design a home that allows you to build your timber frame in different stages. This helps you keep within your budget and plan ahead for the next stage. We’ll be happy to work with you to design a home in which you can control how you proceed to the finishing date.

Timber framing a portion of the home ~
We understand some clients love the heavy timbers and the feel they give their home while their budget does not allow for a whole timber framed house. The alternative is to design the house around a timber framed main living area while building the rest of the house using structural insulated panels. These are referred to as hybrid timber frame homes. We are happy to oblige.

Doing a major part of the work yourself ~
Many of you readers are probably “do-it-yourselfers”.  You can save a lot of money by choosing to do the work you are best at yourself. Involve the family, too. All of us enjoy being a part of creating our home.

Using recycled building materials ~
So many successful homes have that appeal due to using salvaged materials such as doors, cabinetry, and furniture. We can even use recycled timbers for your frame if you choose. Consider the thrill of discovering five matching old doors to use on the interior. They save you money while providing you with the feel of “gently used” but durable doorways to enjoy for years to come. And you’ve got the satisfaction of recycling perfectly good building materials!