Buying a timber frame
Here are some helpful hints and tips:
( lets hope you have not signed a contract yet )
1.) think about what kind of frame you want
machine cut , hand work , recycled ..... there are many options
2.) think about the surface treatment and the species of wood you want
The wood can be stained ,oiled with linseed oil, polished with bees wax , flamed and brushed and oiled etc
The species will likely be douglas fir if you are at the west coast od cedar for outside pieces
3.) think of how involved you want to be in building it
There are many ways of how to build a frame. You can get all the work done by someone else or help with some of the work or try to do it all yourself. Remember : even if you found a great book on timber framing that has these amazing plans there is a lot of detail planing and know how when it comes to joinery.
It is great to be able to use some specialty tools that cost a lot if you buy them for just one frame. We can help with design ( and we charge a reasonable amount and have a Cad works programm that is specially for timber framing.
This Cad proramm costs a lot but can also do a lot of things 3 d vision , detaled cutting lists etc. ) We can help with design/ laying out / cutting / set up or part of it.
It does help and often pays for itself if you get the help you need before you start the cutting of your timbers.
Conclusion on what type of a frame you should buy:
All of this is a question of taste and how you like to use resources.
I personaly like second growth wood that shows caracter by cracking and if you give it an old classy look and oil it anyone thinks it is recycled and you got an inexpensive frame that leaves our wonderful old growth forest standing. If the design is right you do not need any huge timbers anyway and you can live in a fun house for a reasonable price for many years to come. If you decide that you like old growth and that you could not live with a crack in your frame watch out for 2 things:
1.) before you pay the bill make sure you actually got old growth
(some companies will sell you a frame that has pieces mixed in which are second growth and let you pay as if everything is old growth wood. On some pieces it is not easy to tell the difference, specially if you do not have much experience. We do have the experience and , for a small fee, do consulting in case of doubt . So just give us a call if you need a hand )
2.) If someone will tell you the frame will never crack he could be wrong and try to sell you something
Wood is a natural material and in almost any frame there will be shrinking and some cracks. Of curse there will be a lot less cracks in old growth but it will also cost you a fair bit more.
Hope this helps , any doubts just call Richard 250 334 7868
Here are some helpful hints and tips:
( lets hope you have not signed a contract yet )
1.) think about what kind of frame you want
machine cut , hand work , recycled ..... there are many options
2.) think about the surface treatment and the species of wood you want
The wood can be stained ,oiled with linseed oil, polished with bees wax , flamed and brushed and oiled etc
The species will likely be douglas fir if you are at the west coast od cedar for outside pieces
3.) think of how involved you want to be in building it
There are many ways of how to build a frame. You can get all the work done by someone else or help with some of the work or try to do it all yourself. Remember : even if you found a great book on timber framing that has these amazing plans there is a lot of detail planing and know how when it comes to joinery.
It is great to be able to use some specialty tools that cost a lot if you buy them for just one frame. We can help with design ( and we charge a reasonable amount and have a Cad works programm that is specially for timber framing.
This Cad proramm costs a lot but can also do a lot of things 3 d vision , detaled cutting lists etc. ) We can help with design/ laying out / cutting / set up or part of it.
It does help and often pays for itself if you get the help you need before you start the cutting of your timbers.
Conclusion on what type of a frame you should buy:
All of this is a question of taste and how you like to use resources.
I personaly like second growth wood that shows caracter by cracking and if you give it an old classy look and oil it anyone thinks it is recycled and you got an inexpensive frame that leaves our wonderful old growth forest standing. If the design is right you do not need any huge timbers anyway and you can live in a fun house for a reasonable price for many years to come. If you decide that you like old growth and that you could not live with a crack in your frame watch out for 2 things:
1.) before you pay the bill make sure you actually got old growth
(some companies will sell you a frame that has pieces mixed in which are second growth and let you pay as if everything is old growth wood. On some pieces it is not easy to tell the difference, specially if you do not have much experience. We do have the experience and , for a small fee, do consulting in case of doubt . So just give us a call if you need a hand )
2.) If someone will tell you the frame will never crack he could be wrong and try to sell you something
Wood is a natural material and in almost any frame there will be shrinking and some cracks. Of curse there will be a lot less cracks in old growth but it will also cost you a fair bit more.
Hope this helps , any doubts just call Richard 250 334 7868
