How to Choose the Right Timber Frame Builder for Your Dream Home

Dwight Smith   |   Jan 30, 2025

If you know you want to build a timber frame home, your next step is to find timber frame home builders you can rely on to do the job right. Choosing the right timber frame company is important for multiple reasons—these are the people you are going to trust to build your dream home, after all!

Fortunately, you don’t have to look far to find the best timber frame home builders. We are all right here, at Hamill Creek. Your resource for experienced timber frame builders, custom designs, and more.

What Should I Consider When Choosing a Timber Home Builder?

It’s great that you are doing your research and looking for timber framing services that you can trust with your investment. After so many years in this business, we can tell you that there are certain things you should always consider when choosing a builder for your timber home. These include:

Experience

Experience is so important in construction, particularly when it comes to timber frame homes. Although this type of construction has become more popular in recent years, it is still fairly niche. Depending on your design, you might require unique craftspeople to correctly join your structural timbers. Knowing how to deal with this kind of boutique building approach takes years—and is not something you will find with just any builder.

Expertise

Timber framing is one of the oldest building methods still used today. But just because it’s been around a long time doesn’t mean that many people understand how to do it right. Our designers have designed countless timber frame homes and the teams we work with have cultivated deep knowledge in their respective crafts.

Reviews

The nice thing about finding a business to work with today is that you can easily find reviews of their work. You should be able to quickly search for online reviews of the particular builder you are considering. We also recommend getting more in-depth testimonials and speaking with recent clients of the builder before signing a contract. You can learn a lot about a company by talking with previous clients.

What Certifications Should a Timber Frame Home Builder Have?

The exact certifications your builder should have will depend on different factors, particularly where you are building and the type of structure you are building. Some common certifications a builder may have include:

  • State licensing: Many states require custom home builders to be licensed, which includes builders offering custom timber framing.
  • Professional memberships: A builder might have membership in relevant professional organizations, such as the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the Timber Framers Guild.
  • Sustainable certifications: It’s possible for builders to get certification in Energy Star, Earth Advantage, and other environmentally-focused organizations.
  • Insurance: Most of the above is voluntary, but one specification you should definitely require is adequate insurance. The builder needs general liability insurance, worker’s comp insurance, and any other insurance required by the state.

As you can see, most of the potential certifications that a builder might have are not necessarily required. That being said, it can be comforting to know that the builder you choose has taken the time and effort to get certified in areas that are important to you.

For example, at Hamill Creek, we have focused on membership in organizations that matter most to us. These include the Canadian Home Builders Association and the Timber Frame Guild of North America. We are also members of the Timber Frame Business Council.

Get Help from Our Experienced Team Today!

We can’t wait to help you build a home that exceeds your expectations. From a team that truly cares about the outcome to years of expertise, it’s clear why we’re a leading timber frame

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