A community of timber home enthusiasts and those who love energy-efficient homes
Building a Timber Frame
My wife and I plan on building a timber frame as our retirement home. We have the land and have been working with a local architect who we like very much. To date, we have an unfinished basic plan. However, with the housing slump, we put our project on tempory hold. During the interim, we have seen two design plans on-line that we like. I now have several questions, but the two most pressing are:
1) Can a timber frame company give the project the same care that a local architect can?
2) Since the on-line plans would need tweeking, there would be an added expense, hence my dilemna. Is there a reason to have the expense of both a local architect and a timber frame company design group?
If I sound a little confused it's because I am. The design of our home is critically important but I would like to put as much of the budget as possible into the construction of the home.
Any advice would be appreciated.
1) Can a timber frame company give the project the same care that a local architect can?
2) Since the on-line plans would need tweeking, there would be an added expense, hence my dilemna. Is there a reason to have the expense of both a local architect and a timber frame company design group?
If I sound a little confused it's because I am. The design of our home is critically important but I would like to put as much of the budget as possible into the construction of the home.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Chris Wood on -
Hello Bud,
There are creative architects and there are detailed architects. But rarely will you find both in the same body. As a maufacturer, we appreciate and need the creative input. If you suffer from "designers disease", we prefer you exhaust the services of the architect and get it drawn the way you want before we do the shop drawings and engineering. As a timber frame manufacturer, we don't have the time or talent to work out details outside of what we're providing. Stick framing, kitchen, landscaping, site planning, electrical, HVAC and trim details all need attention. The architect plays a vital role in working these things out so the builder can build.
Checks and balances usually pay for themselves----if you match the right players. Your team should include a creative guy (architect) and a detailed guy (builder) for best results. Get two detailed guys together and build a "cube", or two creative guys and it never gets finished. Too many cooks in the kitchen when matching talents. Opposites often attract when building something special.
We prefer to get involved and provide some structural input early in the conceptual sketch phase. So timber sizes, locations, species and some engineering can be included by the architect with the initial 1/4" CAD drawings. Once these CAD drawings are completed and you select the timber frame supplier, they can run with the production plans and the Architect can provide an extra set of eyes to check their work.
Another good reason to hire an architect or designer is if you are intent on bidding the plans or design. Like most manufacturers, we only want to invest the time and energy designing homes that we will actually build. Our fee structure and overhead is not set up to design homes for someone else to manufactur and supply. Hence the copyright issue.
If you find a plan that has already been done, you should use whomever designed that plan to make revisions and ultimately save the custom architectural fees. Or purchase the rights to the plan and let the timber frame manufacturer make the revisions and proceed with production. Good luck and let us know if we can help.
Chris Wood, VP Hearthstone, Inc.
www.hearthstonehomes.com
-
Permalink Reply by Jake Lappan on -
stop in and ask your local building official a couple of generic questions:
1. are the architectural drawings required to be sealed? Keep in mind that some states will let anybody design the house to code as long as it is under a certain habitable square footage.
2. do the frame and or panel shop drawings need to be sealed by an engineer. Since timber framing is not in the International Residential Code (Panels will be in the next release) the building officials have all the right to have the frame and panel shop drawings sealed by an engineer to protect the jurisdicition from being sued due to them not inspecting the structure properly since they might not be familiar with timber frame and structural insulating panels as compared to standard stick framing.
If the architectural drawings do not need to be sealed by an architect or engineer, i personally feel it would be more efficient to have the design work done through the timber frame company that will be supplying the timbers and panels. it will be designed for their system right from the start and they will have years of experience designing timber homes. If you have to get the frame and panel shop drawings sealed by an engineer, that is really not that big of a deal, it will just add a little more time to the production side of the process and the engineers fee.
Jake Lappan
Design Project Coordinator
Riverbend Timber Framing
-
Permalink Reply by Bonnie Pickartz on -
With the upswing in interest in timber frame construction, there are many architects out there who are embracing timber frames. However, I'd encourage you to bring in a timber framer early in the process to work with your architect. The timber frame company may design and build many timber frame projects annually and this may be the only one the architect is engaged in.
Many timber frame companies have in-house designers or architects. If they have plans available, the cost to revise them is usually less expensive than starting from scratch. These designers and architects are dedicated to designing homes that work well for the owner and most will work closely with you to develop your home plan.
We recently built our own home and I worked with our designers just as a client would. In doing so, I was able to take advantage of the timber frame's structure and incorporate the style I wanted. You can visit our project at "Building A Timber Frame".
That said, go with your instinct and Build Boldly.
Bonnie Pickartz
President
Goshen Timber Frames
-
Permalink Reply by Ford Hall Heirloom TimberFraming on -
Bud- I would also encourage to bring in a timber frame designer as early as possible to the process. It is important to remember a majority of architects have only been generally educated. If the project has areas that require more expertise a specialist is required. For example; a timber frame designer in this case.
I like to think of it as an orchestra. Each person specializes in a particular area and when brought together the out come is beauty. It would be ludicrous to see one person running around trying to fulfill all areas of instruments in an orchestra.
I recommend visiting the Timber Frame Business Council to find a designer which will fit your timber frame style. Also, one can find most all specialist through the TFBC.
I wish you the very best during your project adventure!
Ford Hall
Heirloom Timber Framing
© 2010 Brought to you by Timber Home Living
