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Your Link to Timber Frame News & Information | |
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Need help finding a timber frame professional? |
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| Webinar Now Available for Download |
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 Our recent webinar, "How to Build a Timber Frame Home", is now available for download on our website. If you happened to miss it the first time around, or simply want to check it out again, please don't miss out on this opportunity!
You will learn valuable information regarding the timber frame home from start to finish, including:
- How to start the process
- Establishing a budget
- Home design and considerations
- Selecting a timber framer
- Understanding construction time frame and scheduling
- Getting the process started
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| What Tax Credits are Available for Energy Efficiency Improvements to My Property? |
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Home Improvement
Tax credits are available for the following improvements placed in service before January 1, 2008. The credits are for 10 percent of the cost of improvements and can be combined to earn up to $500 total credit per homeowner.
- Insulation and envelope improvements meeting IECC specifications
- Windows meeting IECC specifications, with a cap of $200 per homeowner. Installation costs are not included.
- Roofs that meet ENERGY STAR criteria for reflectivity and are specifically designed to reduce heat gain in your home.
- Central air conditioners or heat pumps meeting 2006 Consortium for Energy Efficiency specifications: 15 SEER and 12.5 EER), capped at $300
- Furnaces and boilers with Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency of 95 or better, capped at $150
- Water heaters with Energy Factor of .80 or better, capped at $300
- Heat pump water heaters with an Energy Factor of 2.0 or better, capped at $300
- Ground source heat pumps meeting ENERGY STAR criteria, capped at $300
These credits were available for home improvements placed in service from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007. If you made any qualified home improvements in 2006, but did not claim them on your 2006 taxes, you will need to file an amended return. The home in question must be your primary residence.
Renewable Energy
Tax credits for solar electricity, solar hot water heating, and fuel cells have been extended and apply to any improvements placed in service from January 1, 2006 through December 2008. The $500 cap noted above does not apply to these credits.
- Solar electricity (called PV and including Building Integrated PV): 30 percent of materials and installation costs up to but not exceeding $2000.
- Solar hot water heating: 30 percent of materials and installation costs up to but not exceeding $2000. Systems must be certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC) or a comparable state endorsed entity. Solar hot water heating systems must provide at least half of a home's annual hot water use to be eligible.
- Fuel Cells: 30 percent of materials and installation costs up to $500 per 0.5 KW.
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| Timber Frame of the Month: Lakewood Home |
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 This month's Timber Frame comes from Timberpeg , based out of Claremont, NH.
Constructed from Douglas Fir, this timber frame vacation home is not only beautiful, but extremely energy efficient as well. At the request of the owner, someone committed to conservation and the environment, geothermal heat, solar hot water and solar electricity were added in addition to the many other "green" features already included in the home. Although the initial expense was costly, the owner felt these features would be beneficial to her family in later years, and would payoff in the long run.
With an open floor plan for the living, dining room and kitchen, this home features a first floor master suite with cedar siding and cathedral great room that boasts king post trusses. A second floor loft overlooks the great room and the view beyond. Incorporating a European feel to the home, the owner requested that each bedroom have a single sink "en suite", as well as a bath that had its tub and sink separate from the toilet, allowing for separate use.
To see the floor plan of this project, click here. | |
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| Trend Watch: Copper |
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In the war on germs, people usually don't think of their sink as a weapon. But, it just might be. There is scientific evidence now to show that copper kills 99% of bacteria, including super bugs like MRSA, within two hours of contact. Research also has shown that H1N1, commonly referred to as the swine flu virus, likewise does not survive on copper. Based on a review of the studies and its own independent lab tests, the EPA earlier this year announced that copper has antimicrobial properties, capable of killing bacteria as well as viruses.
A copper sink has become a popular design choice for the home. Few customers were aware, though, of its germ fighting status as they chose one for its uniqueness, unusual color and handwrought texture. "The anti-microbial characteristic has come as a pleasant surprise benefit to consumers and designers alike," says Naomi Howard, president of Native Trails, the country's largest producer of hand-hammered sinks and tubs. "A copper sink is not a substitute for good hygienic practices, but it's nice to know that the copper surface actually has a role in disinfecting your sink."
Copper is used on many other areas of the house, including inlaid copper panels on the front door, and the custom copper panel garage doors with overlapping batten details and colored-glass diamond windows. |
| 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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