Bringing a timber framed home to life takes careful planning and skilled execution. That being said, it’s something that people from all walks of life have done successfully. As long as you have the assistance of an experienced timber frame company, you can build the home of your dreams.
How Do I Start Planning My Timber Frame Home?
There are a few questions everyone needs to answer before they start the official planning of their timber framed home. They include:
- What is my budget?
- Where do I want to build?
- What are my goals with this home?
Timber frame home costs can vary considerably depending on the design you choose, so it’s important to have a clear picture of what your budget is as you start planning.
The location of the build can affect the budget and the timeframe of the building process. Some locations are easier to reach than others with large timbers, for example.
Knowing your goals for the home makes creating a floor plan easier and more productive. For instance, if you know you want a big kitchen and entertainment area, it’s best to know that in the early stages.
What Are the Key Steps in the Timber Frame Construction Process?
The steps of the building process for a timber framed home include:
- Planning and development: This is where we consider the big picture, including the answers to the questions we asked above.
- Materials selection: There are plenty of timber types to choose from in a timber frame home, including affordable options, luxury options, more durable options, and all in a range of finishes.
- Design and blueprint creation: Here we draw up the official design and blueprints to realize the vision for your home.
- Construction: With a detailed plan in place, we will begin building the home. This includes site preparation, construction, and bringing in artisans and craftspeople with experience in timber building.
- Personalization: We collaborate with homeowners throughout the building process to ensure they get what they want and need. This can include adjusting the design and adhering to your chosen aesthetic as we build out the home.
- Final touches and inspections: When we are done, we go through the home with you to show you what we have accomplished. There may be final touches that we need to make along with various inspections depending on the region, building codes and regulations.
Different builds have different requirements, so your experience may include more steps. But generally, you can expect to follow the above process.
What Maintenance Do Timber Frame Homes Require for Longevity?
There are several things you can do to help preserve the integrity of your timber framed home so it lasts years. These include:
- Choose a quality builder: It’s better to build the home correctly from the outset than to try to maintain a home built improperly. Choosing a builder that you can trust with a long track record of successful builds is important for the longevity of your home.
- Perform routine maintenance: It’s a good idea to have a professional inspect your home every year or two to identify potential problems, such as unusual warping or cracking of your timbers. Weatherproofing, chemical treatments and stains all need maintenance to perform correctly over the years.
- Check humidity levels: In some cases, it can be helpful to monitor the humidity levels in your home to prevent degradation of the wood, such as if you use a forced air heating system.
What Are the Final Steps Before Moving Into My Timber Frame House?
The final steps before moving into your timber frame can vary depending on your build. They can include:
- Complete interior finishing: The final step in most builds includes installing the interior finishings in the home. It can take many months to finish installing stairs, counters, doors, and other interior finishes.
- Do the final walkthrough: The builder will take you on a final walkthrough so you can review the work and sign off on the project. This is the opportunity for you to bring up any final concerns so they can be fixed by the builder.
- Move in: When the builder is done and has cleaned up, you are free to move into your new home!
Choose the Right Builder for Your Timber Frame Project
The home building process is challenging sometimes, but if you partner with the right builder, the process should go relatively smoothly. Of course, going with an inexperienced builder can make the whole thing much more difficult. That’s why we encourage everyone to choose a builder they can depend on. Let the pros take on the heavy lifting. At Hamill Creek, we truly believe that no one does timber frame homes quite like our skilled builders. Whether you’re dreaming of a charming small home or a grand, spacious design, we’re here to make your vision a reality every step of the way. Contact our team today about how we can get started.
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