Due to the sheer beauty and uniqueness of timber frame homes, many people automatically assume they are extremely expensive to build. However, if you play your cards right and work with a reputable timber frame company like Hamill Creek, there are several ways to save money during the planning and building phases.
Once a builder and rough plan are in place, you can implement other methods to lower overhead expenses, including:
- Pre-designed floor plans,
- Design modifications, and
- Material choices.
If built correctly, energy-efficient design elements of your timber frame home can also help reduce long-term utility expenses.
How Much Does a Timber Frame Home Typically Cost?
From the size of the structure to wood selection, there are many factors that impact the cost of a timber frame home. Similarly, your chosen building site and the number of custom touches you opt for directly impact total project expenses.
Hamill Creek timber frame kits typically cost between $40-$60 per square foot. In turn, these packages include all of the materials needed to build your timber frame home—such as engineered drawings, timber pieces, joinery, hardware, and oak pegs.
Most Hamill Creek customers order timber frame kits from us then hire a local contractor to handle the actual construction. Therefore, you should expect significant additional expenses since you also need to build a site foundation, raise the structure, and finish the home. For a turnkey timber frame home, you should plan on paying anywhere from $250-$500 per square foot.
Ways to Reduce the Cost of Timber Frame Homes
In order to save money on your timber frame home, Hamill Creek recommends you conduct thorough research, consult experts, and plan meticulously to avoid costly mistakes.
Pre-designed Floor Plans
With pre-designed floor plans, you can get a beautiful timber frame home without all the extra expenses that come with designing a structure from scratch with an architect.
Having built timber frame homes for over 30 years, Hamill Creek has come to appreciate which designs are particularly popular among our customers. Thus, we’ve taken note of which floor plans are the most versatile concerning different site conditions and local climates.
Hamill Creek has a number of timber frame floor plans for small, medium, and large homes. By choosing from one of our floor plans, you can get a unique and beautiful timber frame home without designing everything from scratch.
Design Modifications
Design modifications are a great cost-saving strategy when building a timber frame home. By carefully analyzing the building plan, you can identify areas where adjustments can optimize space, materials, and construction costs.
One of the most obvious ways to cut costs is to reduce the overall square footage of your timber frame home. As such, reassessing “needs” versus “wants” is a great way to save money on your timber frame project. For example, using standard-sized windows and doors while also minimizing the number of corners and angles can lower construction costs.
Material Choices
Your choice of building materials can significantly impact the cost of building a timber frame home. From the type of wood utilized in the timber frame to the materials used to finish floors, ceilings, cabinets, and countertops, everything adds up to the final cost of your home.
Carefully selecting affordable yet aesthetically pleasing finishes and fixtures can contribute to cost savings. To illustrate, drywall is far more affordable than tongue and groove wood planks for ceilings and walls. Similarly, using slate or tile for your kitchen countertops will save significantly over granite. All things considered, consulting with builders like Hamill Creek will help you make informed decisions on budgeting for a timber frame home.
How Can I Find a Reputable and Cost-Effective Timber Frame Supplier?
If timber frame home price is a concern, there are several key steps you can take to find a reputable and cost-effective timber frame supplier.
Look for companies specializing in timber frame construction and browse their websites to assess their experience and portfolio. Once you have found these businesses, be sure to conduct research online for customer reviews in places like Google My Business and Yelp. Even more, it’s always a good idea to see if the company is certified by organizations like the Better Business Bureau and OSHA.
Before you hire anyone, communicate directly with timber frame builders to ask about their design process, material sourcing, and project timelines.
Affordable Timber Frame Homes with Hamill Creek
The best way to keep your timber frame project within budget is to work with a reputable builder. Contact Hamill Creek to save on your dream home!