Thursday, October 20, 2016

How to select the best wood to build your Timber Frame Home

What wood will create the look I want for my timber frame home? Which tree species is most durable to build with? How much will it cost? These are the most common questions we get asked by clients as they decide on the right timber for their home.

We previously wrote an article on the best type of wood to build a log home, you can read the article here. Timber frame and log homes are different, so wood selection may vary for each.  

When it comes to building a timber frame home, you’ll want to consider three things: the type of wood, how the timber is processed, and what finished look you desire.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Most common wood species used for building a timber frame homeWhat is the best wood for building a Timber Frame Home

It all starts with the species of wood you decide to use. Timber frame homes can been made from a variety of wood species. Choosing the right type of wood comes down to personal preference, climate, structure, and price point.

Below is a rundown of the most common wood species used for building timber frames.

Oak:
This is the strongest and hardest species of wood available. It’s commonly used in Europe and eastern Canada for building timber frames as it’s readily available. Oak timbers are becoming used less frequently due to increased difficulty in finding high quality pieces in suitable sizes

Douglas Fir:
This is the most popular species of wood used in timber frame homes due to its strength and beauty. Most timber frames built in Different types of best wood species for your timber frame homewestern Canada and in B.C. are made with Douglas Fir. This wood gets a high grade for its structural strength, which makes it an engineer’s favourite to build with.

Western Red Cedar: 
This is the premium choice for exposed timber homes since it can handle weather conditions better than any other species. One design consideration: Cedar is a softer and lighter wood, so beam sizes have to be larger compared to other species.

Pine and Spruce:
These are strong softwoods that are mostly used in eastern Canada. The name “softwood” does not mean that the wood is weak. In fact, softwood species (including Douglas Fir) are known for their structural strength and flexibility for design. Pine and spruce are some of the most economical varieties of timber available.

Deciding how the timbers are processed

What is the best wood for building a Timber Frame HomeHow wood is processed isn’t actually related to which part of the tree that it comes from. Below are some options that you can mix and match to choose the best timber processing methods for your home’s needs.

Free of heart centers (FOH): 
These timbers come without the center (or heart) of the tree trunk. This makes the timber more stable, straight, and more resilient to cracks, checking and twisting.

Boxed heart:
Boxed heart timbers are sawn or milled so that the center of a tree remains intact. These beams have more movement and are therefore more prone to cracking.

Green timbers: 
When a tree is first cut it’s considered green. The wood has not been dried and its moisture content is high. This means the timbers will shrink over time, causing movement along the way. To ensure your home doesn’t shift or twist in the years to come, we don’t recommend that you use green timbers.

Kiln dried timbers: 
Kiln drying is a process that carefully dries the wood at a very slow rate so that it doesn’t cause damage to the beams. Timbers that undergo kiln drying will typically have a consistent moisture content of 12-16%. The kiln drying process helps make the timber more stable, less likely to crack, and keeps shrinkage to a minimum.

Choosing the right finished look for your timber framed home

There are two main options for the finished look of your home: smooth and rustic. This breakdown will help you decide which finish matches your style.

Smooth finish:What is the best wood for building a Timber Frame Home
If you want a modern and sleek look for your timber frame, you’ll want a smooth finish. All four sides of each beam will be planed, which results in a consistent size and shape. This is the ideal look that many timber frame home owners want.


A rustic look:
If you are looking for a more natural feel, you might want to consider a rustic look. These timbers are not planed, so they have more character and a more unprocessed appearance. This is also the more economical finishing option.

So, which wood is best for your timber frame home?

At the end of the day, selecting the right wood species, processing, and finishing comes down to your own personal style and budget. We encourage you to discuss these options with your designer or log home company. They may have valuable suggestions based on your location, climate, and the species of wood that they have readily available.  

If you are considering building a timber frame home and are wondering which species of wood are available, please feel free to contact us at info@artisanlog.com



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Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Best Timber Frame Builders in BC

Looking at building a log and timber home and want to know who the best timber frame builders in B.C. are?

Timber Frame builders in BC are some of the best builders in the world. If you are in the market for building a custom timber frame home chances are you will be looking for a timer frame builder in BC.

It’s important that you do you research and find a company that can provide you the customer service and expertise that you need to build your home. While we build beautiful custom timber frame homes we understand that you may want to explore other options, styles and price points before you make your final decision.

Many people that we talk to ask us to refer some other companies that we might recommend so they can do a bit of research themselves. So here is our list of the best timber frame builders in BC.

British Columbia Timber Frame Co:
Focused on energy efficient homes, British Columbia Timber Frame Co. provides custom timber frame home packages, wall and roof enclosed systems. They also provide specialized timber work if your looking for a custom timber mantel, deck or truss.

Canadian Timber Fames Limited:
Since 1999 Canadian Timber Frames Limited has been services Canada with timber frame products from frames to walls and roof systems; ceilings and wall finishes, trim and exterior siding.

Tamlin Timber Frame Homes:
Located in Langley British Columbia, Tamlin Homes has been around since 1977. They specialize in custom timber frame homes with a west coast feel, providing as much timber feature as you would like.Timber frame truss

Purcell Timber Frame Homes:
Situated in the beautiful Kootenay mountains of Nelson B.C., Purcell Timber Frame Homes specializes in luxury timber frame homes. They focus on building natural, healthy and sustainable homes.

Okanagan Log & Timber Frame:
OK Timber Frame is a full service timber frame company located in Salmon Arm B.C. In addition to building traditional timber frame homes they also build hybrid homes, mixing other design elements from other timber home styles.

Whiskey Creek Timber Framing:
Specializing in timber frame homes, cottages and cabins, Whiskey Creek Timber Framing and been building since 1980. Located on Vancouver Island makes them a bit more difficult to get to as you have the ferry or an added plane ticket to incorporate.

Zirnhelt Timber Frames:
Using traditional Swiss and German styles for their Timber Frame designs Zirnhelt Timber Frames not only builds the timber frame shell but offer complete construction services.

In addition to the 7 timber frame builders in BC we listed above there are many other companies. Some specializing in Timber frames and others incorporating other log and timber work into their homes as well.

If you found this article helpful you might want to check these ones out as well:

As always, if you have any questions regarding timber frame or log homes, feel free to email us at info@artisanlog.com and we would be happy to help.



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