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Your Link to Timber Frame News & Information | |
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January 2009, Issue 5 |
Dear Homeowner,
Welcome home to Issue 5 of "In Touch" - a newsletter that will grow around your questions, concerns and personal stories surrounding your timber frame project. This issue will provide information about selecting an Architect or Designer, building timber frame additions, new ways to save energy, and much more! We hope you will "contact us" and let us know your questions about the timber framing process and the answer may be contained in the next month's "In Touch."
We hope you enjoy this brief monthly communique. If you would like to opt out, please see the end of this email for opt-out details. However, we hope you stay connected as an "In Touch" reader! The Timber Frame Business Council (TFBC) is a non-profit trade association and will NOT share your contact information as a result of receiving this newsletter!
We look forward to staying "In Touch." |
| A Client's Guide |
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Selecting an Architect or Designer
Choosing the right architect or designer for your timber frame home will make a significant difference in your satisfaction with final results. Many timber frame companies offer either design services for completely custom homes, or have a portfolio of plans from which you can choose. Some offer both. Still others can recommend designers who are experienced with timber frame construction.
It is best to have your designated architect or designer work directly with a timber framing company early on in the design process to avoid any duplication of services and to ensure the integration of timber framing details into your plans.
Some companies ask for a modest- up-front deposit. Be sure you are clear on what this fee covers. You will probably be asked to make a series of payments during the process. Find out from your designer/architect how the payment schedule is established so you can budget accordingly.
When considering candidates to design your home, you should be able to see several examples of the designer's work, if not in person, at least in pictures. Request a list of references and call their previous customers. You can learn a lot by asking a few simple questions. Did they deliver on time and within budget? Were they responsive to the client's needs?
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| Building Additions using Timber Frame and Insulated Panels |
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By Molly Gagnon, Davis Frame Co.
Although we're facing difficult economic conditions, with labor and materials costs decreasing now is a great time to build a dream home. However, if this is not feasible at this time, have you considered an addition using timber frame construction?
Timber frame additions, as well as additions with SIP construction, are becoming increasingly popular with existing homeowners. We receive numerous requests to design and build an addition to an existing timber frame, panelized home, stick built home or log home.
Typically, people desire an addition to simply add room and more living space to their current home. Other times homeowners have already built their dream home modestly with intentions of adding on to their home in the future.
Another reason many homeowners use timber frame construction for their addition is because they love the look of timber frame, but don't want to build a timber frame home from scratch. Adding timber frame or using panelized construction to an existing home is much more cost effective than building a custom timber frame home. This is definitely a great option for those that want to add more space to their existing home or change the layout of the home.
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| Keeping Warm for Less |
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 A comfy, cozy winter doesn't have to break the bank or be an energy drain
By John D. Wagner
If you feel a shiver each time you open your utility bill, your house may be too cold. More likely, however, you're paying more than you should to heat it. In either case, you can make changes now that will make your home more comfortable and save you money. These aren't big projects like adding attic insulation or replacing your windows - save those for later. They're easy-to-do and inexpensive techniques. The most complicated will take a weekend afternoon, and many take little time and don't even require the purchase of materials, only changing a habit or two. Others can be done for as little as $10. We'll take a look first at the obvious stuff and then at more specialized - but still simple - energy-saving techniques.
Lower the Thermostat: Each degree you lower the thermostat on your heating system decreases your fuel bill by 3 percent. Going from 72 degrees down to 68 degrees doesn't matter much in terms of comfort, but it can save up to 12 percent on your heating bill. (All temperatures in this article are in degrees Fahrenheit.)
If you're using a coil-type thermostat, you'll get more accurate readings if you clean it. Pop off the thermostat cover and blow or gently swipe away the dust.
Cost: $0
It's Closed-Flue Season. Minimize Those Romantic Fires
An open fireplace damper lets the same amount of heated air escape up the chimney as a wide-open 48-inch window lets out. Make sure your flu is closed when you don't have a fire going. In fact, it is a good idea to reduce the number of times you use your fireplace. A roaring fire exhausts over 20,000 cubic feet of heated air per hour to the outside. Sure it feels warm by the fire, but every Btu that goes up the chimney is replaced by cold air pulled into the house elsewhere. And all that cold air has to be heated, a costly prospect. Can't resist a fire every few nights? Install a set of glass fireplace doors ($400 to $600). Closing these doors when you go to bed prevents large volumes of heated air in the living space from escaping after the fire has gone out. Cost: $0 CLICK HERE to read more. CLICK HERE to visit the This Old House website. |
| Ask the Expert |
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Do you have a question about your home or building project? Please forward your questions to pam@timberframe.org and the answer may be found in the next edition of "In Touch." |
| Tell Us Your Story |
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If you have built a timber frame home and you'd like to share your story with our readers, please pass along your story (and any photos) -- we'd like to highlight your project! Send your story to info@timberframe.org! |
| About the Timber Frame Business Council |
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Established in October 1995, the Timber Frame Business Council (TFBC) was created as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality, integrity and marketability of the timber frame industry. TFBC is committed to strengthening and advancing the business, communications and research capabilities within the timber frame industry.
Using its most traditional definition, timber framing is a specific type of post and beam construction in which a frame is created from solid wood timbers that are connected by several types of interlocking wood joinery including mortise and tenon, dovetails or scarfs secured with hardwood pegs.
Timber frames are enclosed using several methods. While traditional timber frames were typically in-filled (between the posts and beams) with various mixtures of clay, straw, lime and other regionally available materials, contemporary frames use several methods that effectively enclose the timber frame and allow the timbers to remain exposed to the interior of the building. Timber framing is a building system which lends itself well to both residential and commercial construction over a broad spectrum of architectural styles such as; traditional, rustic, modern, southwestern, oriental and colonial to name a few. Timber framing integrates well with many other building systems and materials, such as; structural insulated panels, log systems, engineered wood products, concrete and conventional stud framing. |
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| The Timber Frame Business Council is a non-profit trade association dedicated to putting you in touch with North America's best timber framing professionals. Please consider hiring a TFBC member for your next building project! And, remember, to stay "In Touch"!
Sincerely,
Pam Hinton, Executive Director
Timber Frame Business Council |
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Visit Us!!!
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Timber Frame Business Council
Your Link to Timber Frame Professionals, Resources & Information
104 Carlisle St.
Gettysburg, PA 17325 USA
888-560-9251
www.timberframe.org
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We'd like to hear from you! Email to info@timberframe.org or pam@timberframe.org
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