Comprehensive Planning & Risk Management

Preconstruction planning lays the foundation for the entire project. It’s during this phase that scope, budget, and schedule are defined, and potential risks are identified and addressed. Without this groundwork, timber frame projects are vulnerable to budget overruns, design mismatches, and delays due to unresolved site issues or coordination failures. Timber buildings are unique in that they involve larger components and specialized techniques, so there is even more risk in starting without a thoroughly detailed plan.

Material Procurement & Logistics

A defining attribute of timber construction is its reliance on prefabricated elements and precise logistical timing. Structural components are ideally delivered for just-in-time installation. If material procurement or delivery is off, the consequences can be detrimental. Preconstruction ensures that lead times and delivery windows are clearly understood and managed. Likewise, acknowledging and adjusting for delays is crucial, as is proper handling and storage of the components if they should arrive outside of the preferred window. This planning is vital in today’s supply chain environment, where delays are often common and always costly.

Design & Engineering Coordination

Successful timber projects depend on close coordination between architects, engineers, manufacturers, fabricators, and construction managers. In preconstruction, these parties work collaboratively to align on structural detailing, code requirements, construction process, and sequencing. This alignment is essential for prefabricated timber. Early-stage coordination reduces rework, ensures compliance, and optimizes the use of materials.

Cost Control & Value Engineering

Budget control starts with early and accurate cost estimation. Preconstruction allows for value engineering, a process of evaluating design choices and material options to maximize performance and efficiency within budget constraints. Timber, especially in its engineered forms, can be costly and logistically demanding. Exploring options for structural layout, finishes, and modularity in this phase can produce big savings without sacrificing quality.

Stakeholder Alignment

Bringing all stakeholders together during preconstruction is critical to aligning expectations. A   communication strategy must be developed to keep key stakeholders informed about the project’s progress. This includes not just the design and build teams, but also the client, permitting authorities, and other consultants. Timber frame projects often carry aesthetic and sustainability goals that require shared vision and early buy-in. Misalignment at this stage can result in change orders and costly scope revisions later.

Regulatory & Environmental Considerations

Timber buildings must adhere to local building codes, environmental requirements, and, increasingly, green building certifications. Addressing these factors early ensures that the structure meets compliance standards and avoids red tape mid-build. For example, timber’s fire performance and acoustics require special design considerations in compliance with IBC ratings.

Preconstruction Is Key to Controlling a Project

In timber frame building projects, preconstruction isn’t just a helpful step — it’s a make-or-break phase. From risk management and material planning to cost control and stakeholder alignment, the upfront investment in time and coordination pays off in smoother execution, fewer surprises, more accurate budgeting, and better results. Timber buildings are as much about precision as they are about beauty, and that precision starts long before the first beam is raised.

Before your next timber frame project gets underway, consult with us at Mid-Atlantic Timberframes. Our experienced team will help guide you and your project stakeholders on the wisest and most efficient ways to complete a successful timber build. Call us at 717.288.2460 or visit our contact page to get started.

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Embracing the Benefits of Biophilic Design

As society moves toward an increasingly indoor existence, we’re losing our connection to the natural world — and the benefits that come with it. More time indoors leads to mental stress and physical issues for which greenery, sunshine, and fresh air provide an antidote.

But there is a solution that can help. Designing spaces with biophilia in mind can counteract this disconnect and give back what we’ve lost in health, well-being, and productivity.

What Is Biophilic Design?

Stemming from the German psychologist Erich Fromm, biophilia means “the love of life or living things.” Biophilic design combines natural materials such as stone, timber framing, and other wood elements with water features, green roofs, and plenty of opportunities for natural light.

These environmental touchpoints give a feeling of biophilia, the tranquility that comes from a calming, natural interior atmosphere, helping to shed stress. This makes an ideal space for educational facilities, offices, healthcare facilities, and places where an anxiety-free feeling is required, such as spas, behavioral health centers, and homes.

The benefits of biophilic design are many:

1. Improved Well-Being & Mental Health: Environments designed with biophilic intent create tranquil spaces that promote inner peace and serenity. According to Portland Health & Science University, exposure to nature lowers a person’s cortisol levels, a key indicator of stress. Depression symptoms can also be alleviated, as our natural inclination toward greenery and organic materials grounds us and heightens our sense of well-being.
2. Enhanced Cognitive Function & Productivity: Studies have shown that natural environments stimulate brain activity, increasing focus, boosting creativity, and enhancing problem-solving abilities. For settings such as offices and schools, this can be hugely beneficial. Stronger and longer concentration periods equate to higher productivity, easier learning, and innovative thinking.
3. Increased Physical Health: Interiors that employ biophilic design have a positive effect on physical health. According to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, natural lighting regulates our circadian rhythms, which leads to more fulfilling sleep patterns and boosted energy levels. By using the strength of timber framing to span wide distances, larger windows can be incorporated into a structure, letting more sunlight pour inside while the organic aesthetic of the beams reinforces our bond with the natural world.
4. Social Connectivity & Community Building: Large indoor spaces with timber beams stretching overhead, indoor gardens with plenty of greenery, and sunny outdoor courtyards and rooftop gardens all draw people together, fostering interaction and strengthening community. In a residential application, this can be key to linking apartment or condo dwellers; in a commercial or business situation, this common area brings customers and employees into an enjoyable space to interact calmly and casually.
5. Reduced Energy Consumption: To reduce reliance on artificial lighting, cooling, and heating, biophilic design brings in natural light, with shading systems to block the hot sun in the summer. Timber beams and wood elements hold heat in the winter, unlike poor insulators like steel beams that shed heat. Studies show a green roof on top of a structure can help maintain a steady temperature inside, as well, by blocking harsh sunlight from baking a metal or shingled roof.
6. Better Indoor Environmental Quality: Natural elements such as wood, stone, and plants create a pleasant living and working space, but also act as an acoustic dampener, making large, open spaces less noisy. This further enhances the ability to interact with others in the space, fostering a sense of collaboration and community. Additionally, some plants are known to improve indoor air quality, such as pothos, snake plant, ficus, and dracaena.

Biophilic Design: More Than a Trend

Biophilic design has become a buzzworthy architectural trend in recent years. At Mid-Atlantic Timberframes, we’ve been pushing for its adoption for all of our 20+ years in business. In a world that increasingly detaches itself from nature, biophilia is a vital bridge back to a time when we shared a healthy coexistence with the world.

To learn more about biophilia and how Mid-Atlantic Timberframes designs with it in mind, contact us through our website or call us at 717.288.2460.

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That’s why working with an architect early in the building process can be a great benefit. These trained professionals have the education and experience to work with homeowners and other building professionals to get your project off on the right foot.

Here are five good reasons you’ll want to contact an architect in the beginning phase of planning your new timber frame home:

1. They bring your vision to life. Taking advantage of a professional’s expertise means you can have a home that’s perfectly suited for your lifestyle, hobbies, sustainability goals, and more. An architect will evaluate your lot and help you determine the optimal layout for the grade, slope, shade, sun exposure, and specific location of your home. They can highlight the priorities you value most and fit them into the design, so the home you build is the one you’ve always wanted. If building a sustainable home is important to you, architects can help you incorporate energy efficiency into the design by considering sun and natural light. They can also help you reduce heating and cooling bills throughout the year through various building materials and techniques. Their knowledge and experience can help you achieve the goals you have in mind for cutting costs and going green. Architectural drawings are incredibly detailed thanks to modern technology and software programs, so you get a real sense of what your home will look like even before the builders break ground. This lessens the chance of any hidden surprises later, and you can feel confident in what you’re getting. Also, it’s much easier and more cost-effective to make changes to the plan at this point, before major construction begins. Working with an architect early in the planning process means you’re more likely to get the home, and the features, you want.
2. They’ll make your project even better. For important decisions in life, it’s best to consult the experts. Architects go through rigorous training and have years of expertise to make them the ideal professionals for designing the home you want. They complete five to six years of training at a university to obtain a degree, followed by an additional two years of post-graduate work experience, before taking exams to officially become an architect. They’re also required to complete training each year to stay on top of new technologies, techniques, and materials as well as new legislation and regulations. Architects can enhance your plans, visions, and ideas for your new home. They have the education, training, and experience to walk you through every step of the process with confidence. In fact, they can help you plan aspects you may not have considered. They’ll make sure you have enough electrical outlets, light fixtures, and ventilation for each room — features you may have overlooked. Architects also have a knack for utilizing materials and space creatively. In the hands of these skilled professionals, a cramped one-bedroom studio apartment can be transformed into a space that feels like it has a much larger footprint. Maximizing every inch of the layout ensures clients get everything they want in their designs. Architects are also likely to have existing working relationships with engineers and other building professionals, such as structural, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineers, as well as plumbing and HVAC specialists. Having connections and knowing the right people can help cut costs and improve the functionality of home designs. For example, electrical engineers might suggest moving the placement of outlets or fixtures to cut costs and increase functionality while maintaining the integrity of the blueprint. Relying on the experience of trained professionals creates a smooth building process to bring you the home you’ll love.
3. An architect can help you avoid surprise costs. No one likes reaching into their pockets for more money. If you have a firm budget in place for building a new home, it can feel defeating every time an unexpected expense pops up. Relying on the expertise of an architect means you’re less likely to find surprises on the bottom line. Architects rely on their years of experience to develop precise drawings that aid in pricing out all aspects of your home, and they can help you make cost-effective decisions early in the process so you can stay within your budget. Architects also know tricks and tips for optimizing a design to reduce wasted materials, which decreases overall costs. For example, if you planned to build a wall that was 8’2″ tall, you would have to buy 10′ studs instead of the standard 8′ studs, which means lots of wasted material and money down the drain. Changing the wall’s height by a mere 2″ will save considerable amounts of money without affecting much of the overall design. Architects are also familiar with various materials and products, which can help you save money on maintenance and replacement costs down the road. Choosing the right doors, windows, flooring, and building materials can help you cut down on up-front costs as well as replacement fees in a few years. Architects have seen it all, so they have a good idea of products that are worth your money and which ones will drain your bank account. Using an architect early in the building process can even help you make money over time. They have the knowledge and expertise of what makes a good design, and buildings with good design have a higher resale value. So, while you may be planning on building your forever home, you should still consider its resale value just in case. Homes with good design and high resale value are easier to sell. Using an architect from the very beginning is a decision you’ll be glad you made, whether you stay in your new home forever or sell it a few years later.
4. An architect can help you avoid legal matters.  Home builders are often shocked when they meet unexpected legal roadblocks early in the planning phase. Zoning restrictions and regulations can press pause on building plans until all legal matters are addressed. Working with an architect early in the process can help everything run smoothly from start to finish. Because of architects’ ongoing education and training, they are typically up-to-date on zoning restrictions, building codes, and safety standards. Addressing the legal aspects of a construction project early in the process can save time, money, and headaches. No one wants to get halfway through a construction project only to find out it doesn’t meet proper safety standards or building codes. Doing things right means relying on the expertise of the professionals. Having an architect on your building team helps to ensure your home meets the necessary standards.
5. They make the overall building process a smoother experience. Working with an architect from the very beginning results in design continuity for the entire project. Architects maintain a schedule that will help you stick to key milestone dates as you work toward completion. They work on your behalf to coordinate with the contractor to make sure the timeline stays on track and to ensure you’re getting the standard of quality you expect. Architects understand common questions and mistakes, and they can address concerns before they become a problem. When you work with an architect, you have an expert on your team to guide you through the process. They coordinate with everyone involved, fielding questions and responding to messages, so you don’t have to be the middleman. You can build with confidence because they know what you need, even before you realize it, which makes the whole process much simpler.

Thinking About a Timber Frame Home?

Are you dreaming about your next home? Choosing to work with an architect is one of the best decisions you can make before starting the building process. Adding their experience and expertise to your building team will lead to a home you love with fewer headaches along the way. If you’re ready to start building a beautiful timber frame home, barn, or other venue, contact us. We’d love to partner with you and your architect to build something impressive. Let’s start a conversation today.

The post 5 Reasons to Engage an Architect Early in the Home Building Process appeared first on Mid-Atlantic Timberframes.

When to Use Glulam Instead of Heavy Timber

Glued laminated timber (or glulam), along with CLT (cross-laminated timber), is often used in mass timber construction. It is a structurally engineered wood product composed of individual wood laminations bonded together by durable, moisture-resistant adhesives. Glulam has excellent strength and stiffness, making it ideal for items such as columns and beams.

Where solid-sawn heavy timber has a traditional natural look, glulam provides a cleaner, more modern feel, which can make it the more appropriate choice for achieving certain styles. There are also times when solid-sawn heavy timber is not sufficient to withstand the loads of a large span truss or a lengthy span, usually in commercial structures, making glulam a suitable option.

Glulam is a good fit for commercial projects when engineered beams are required, but it has become increasingly popular in residential structures too. While its look is different, it still provides a warm feel. And because of its lighter weight, it can span longer distances than traditional heavy timber. Glulam can even be mixed with heavy timber for great structural results and a unique look.

How to Choose a Wood Species

There are thousands of different types of trees in the world, but some wood species are not strong or straight enough to build with. Even so, many wood species are suitable for construction purposes. At Mid-Atlantic Timberframes, we mainly use Douglas fir, eastern white pine, red cedar, and oak. Douglas fir is our first choice for timber frames because of its strength and tendency to be straighter than other species of wood.

To narrow down your options, work with a heavy timber partner to select the best wood species for your project. There are two perspectives to consider when choosing: the practical and the personal.

The Practical: Your best option of wood species may well be because of geography. If you’re building in a region heavy with oak, its proximity, availability, and lower cost of delivery will make it a very practical choice. Also, a species of wood common in the local area may be more durable for the climate too.

The Personal: Personal taste and preference may outweigh all other reasoning when it comes to building with heavy timber. For example, you may absolutely love the feel and coloring of cedar over any other wood species, so even though it tends to cost more, you may choose it anyway. If you have a specific request for a custom wood species, just know that it might add to the cost of your timber frame home or commercial structure.

However, there are ways to suit your personal preference while still being practical. If you love the look and color of a certain type of wood but it’s unavailable or outside of your budget, you can stain your heavy timber to match that species. You may also consider designing a hybrid structure, where multiple types of building materials are used. Heavy timber could be supplemented with materials such as concrete or metal — letting the wood’s appearance shine while allowing less costly materials to do the heavy lifting.

Work with a Timber Expert

Between traditional heavy timber and modern mass timber, there are a number of wood species to choose from to suit all building styles and budgets. When you are ready to design your mass or heavy timber structure — whether commercial or residential — please contact us, and we’ll help you choose the best type of timber and wood species for your project!

The post Which Timber Type & Wood Species Are Best for My Project? appeared first on Mid-Atlantic Timberframes.

Whether you are building an outdoor pavilion, a custom timber frame home, a log home, or something as large as a commercial timber frames building, timber frame construction allows for structural integrity and beauty both indoors and outdoors. At Mid-Atlantic Timberframes, our timbers come mainly from Douglas fir, eastern white pine, red cedar, and oak. These natural materials are strong and beautiful, but also easy to maintain. To keep your high-quality timber frame buildings looking brand new, keep the following maintenance tips in mind.

Exterior Maintenance of Timber Frame Construction

When it comes to preventing damage or decay to your heavy timber structure, protecting it from the weather is an important first step in maintaining its beauty and structural integrity. At Mid-Atlantic Timberframes, we incorporate the following into our outdoor timber frame construction designs:

• Stainless steel or aluminum plates hold timber frame posts or columns of concrete or flagstone floors. This prevents cracks due to trapped moisture from forming.

• Roof gutters prevent back splash.

• Large roof overhangs shade and protect the structure from the elements, including rain and UV rays.

After the preventative steps taken during design and construction, your timber frame house or timber frame commercial building requires very little building maintenance. However, you should still make regular checks of the structure as part of your building or home maintenance routine and be mindful of the weather in your climate.

Weather of any kind — rain, snow, wind, and sun — will cause damage to a heavy timber structure, anything from discoloration to deterioration and rot. Wood can dry out, or it can be damaged by mold or mildew from too much moisture. To help protect your timber frame building, the best thing to do is apply one or two coats of a high-performance outdoor stain within two months of your structure being built. If you have the opportunity, you can even do this before the structure is erected. Applying that second coat of stain will increase the lifespan of the first application by a few years.

Of course, outdoor timber frame structures still require new stain every two to six years, depending on UV and weather exposure. For an exterior timber frame, you need a product that aggressively repels water while still allowing the wood to breathe. We recommend applying stain:

• Every 2–3 years if your posts and other features are exposed to sunlight / UV rays and weather.

• Every 5–6 years for rafters and roof structures that are under cover and not exposed to the sun, rain, wind, and snow.

Keep an eye on your exposed timbers. When they start to fade, it is time to reapply a coat of stain. If you wait until the stain is completely broken down or faded, you have waited too long.

Do not wait until the wood grays and weathers, or you’ll likely have to strip the stain and start over. Even if you use a medium- to dark-colored stain on the timber, direct exposure to sunlight every day will cause the color to fade.

Keep the following rules of stain application in mind. If you are diligent and able to stain before you notice any graying, it will be a much easier job:

1. Wash your heavy timber structure with TSP (tri-sodium phosphate). It is a general-purpose, but powerful, detergent that will remove grime, dirt, and mildew along with any old finish that is not adhering to the wood. Mix half a cup of TSP with two gallons of hot water and apply to your wood and scrub. Make sure you follow all safety precautions and directions on the product’s instructions.
2. Rinse with a pressure washer to ensure no soapy residue remains, and allow the wood to dry for a few days.
3. Apply new stain.

If timber has grayed and weathered, you will want to do the following instead:

1. Use a chemical called oxalic acid. It is also referred to as wood bleach and is less harmful than chlorine bleach. Mix one part oxalic acid with six parts warm water, apply liberally to the wood, and scrub with a brush. The oxalic acid will strip the old stain and prepare your timber frame structure for a new coat of stain. Make sure you follow all safety precautions and directions on the product’s instructions.
2. Use a pressure washer to remove any residue, and allow the wood to dry for a few days.
3. Apply new stain.

There are several outdoor stains on the market today in a variety of shades and saturations. They are available in natural translucent, saturated and ultra-saturated. The oversaturated shades have so much pigment, they’re almost like paint, but they still remain breathable, which is important for building maintenance.

This is a good time to mention protection against insects too, which can also damage heavy timbers. Treating wood with a borate solution can help. This should be done before you oil or stain the wood.

Interior Maintenance of Timber Frame Construction

While we have been focusing mainly on maintaining the integrity of the exterior of your timber frame structure, you should not forget about the interior of your timber frame home or other timber frame building. The beauty of the interior of your timber frame structure is that it doesn’t need much maintenance.

A natural oil, like a linseed or tung oil, is a great product to use on interior timber frame components. It’s easy to apply — just use a brush, rag, or roller, and follow the instructions on the packaging. You’ll want to look for a product that is wet enough for quick penetration but with enough solids for a rich, water-resistant coat. The final look will be a matte finish with a nice sheen.

An oil finish also helps make it easier to keep timber frames clean and dust-free, because dust will sit on the surface and not seep into the wood. Year after year, just a quick dusting of your timber frame home interior will be all you need to keep it clean!

We have seen a trend in painted wood frame interiors, particularly for modern-style timber frame homes. There are many nice products to choose from; however, we recommend using a solid stain in lieu of paint, because it allows the timbers to dry naturally and properly. If you do paint the timbers with an actual commercial-grade paint, the timbers must be fully dried (kiln dried) before paint is applied.

We also recommend the use of a humidifier in your timber frame home or commercial building. We consider timber to be a living, breathing tree for, basically, forever, but especially in the first few years. One of the biggest enemies of heavy timber is super-low humidity. If your commercial timber frames building or home uses forced air or radiator heating, your air can become very dry, making for an interior with very low humidity, which can affect timber even if it is kiln dried. While your timbers are acclimating to their new environment, they expand and contract, so it is important to have a humidifier as part of your system (NOT a dehumidifier) to keep humidity at a perfect level. And, not to mention, it’s a healthy home enhancement too.

Building with heavy timber provides you with unsurpassed strength and durability, timeless elegance, and beauty. When you consider timber frame cost per square foot and the time and resources to build this way, you want to protect your investment. Following these maintenance tips will help keep your timber frame structure strong and beautiful for generations!

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To understand why SIPs are such a powerful addition to timber frame structures, let’s take a closer look at what they are and how they work.

What Are SIPs?

Structural insulated panels (SIPs) are high-performance building components used in walls, roofs, and floors. Each panel consists of a rigid foam insulation core sandwiched between two structural facings, most commonly oriented strand board (OSB). This design results in a panel that is both strong and highly energy efficient.

Because SIPs are manufactured in large sections, they reduce the number of joints, seams, and thermal bridges in a building envelope. The result is a tight, well-insulated shell that performs far better than traditional stick-built framing in terms of airtightness, thermal control, and speed of installation.

How SIPs Integrate with Timber Frame Structures

SIPs are a natural complement to timber framing. In a traditional timber frame structure, the heavy timber posts and beams carry the full structural load. That means the exterior walls don’t need to be load-bearing, which makes SIPs an ideal solution.

Rather than interrupting or hiding the frame, SIPs are custom-cut and installed around the outside of the timber skeleton. This approach fully encloses the structure in a continuous, insulated envelope while keeping the timbers exposed on the interior. The result is a building that combines strength, character, and next-level performance.

Together, timber framing and SIPs form a high-performance system: the timbers provide architectural beauty, open floor plans, and structural integrity, while the SIPs ensure maximum energy efficiency, airtightness, and long-term sustainability.

Aesthetics of SIPs in Timber Frame Construction

One of the biggest draws of timber framing is its visual impact — massive beams, elegant trusses, and cathedral ceilings that add warmth and timeless character. Fortunately, using SIPs doesn’t take away from that aesthetic; it enhances it.

Because SIPs are installed outside the timber frame, the beams, braces, and posts remain fully visible inside the home. This allows homeowners and architects to showcase the craftsmanship of the timber components without interference from studs, insulation, or drywall seams. In fact, SIPs eliminate the need for interior framing, making it easier to highlight the structure’s clean lines and natural wood grain.

On the exterior, SIPs offer a smooth, continuous surface that accepts nearly any cladding: wood siding, stone veneer, stucco, or metal. This flexibility means your building can match a rustic, modern, or transitional aesthetic while still benefiting from cutting-edge insulation and air sealing.

In short, SIPs preserve and amplify the design intent of a timber frame structure, delivering both form and function in perfect balance.

Looking to Start a Project?

While the benefits of SIPs and timber framing sound impressive on paper, experiencing them in a finished structure is even better. Are you ready to move forward with a project of your own? Mid-Atlantic Timberframes is here to help. Working alongside your architect, we’ll bring your vision to life with precision and care. Contact us today to learn more, or browse our project gallery to see what we’ve built for clients across North America.

The post The Benefits of SIPs in Timber Frame Homes appeared first on Mid-Atlantic Timberframes.

Timber frames will always be held together with mortise-and-tenon connections and secured with wooden pegs. What does that mean? A mortise-and-tenon joint connects the timbers of the truss system together. The mortise is the hole that receives a tenon, which is a projection at the end of a timber and is cut to fit exactly into the mortise. The timber frame joints are then held together with just a simple wooden peg. 

With post-and-beam construction, the timbers are typically butted together, and the joints are connected with steel plates and brackets and then secured with metal bolts. This can sometimes give post-and-beam construction a more industrial — rather than rustic — feel.

Timber framing can be traced back to medieval times and beyond, thanks to many structures still standing, which gives timber frame construction a superior edge. This is due in part to the fact that timber frames are simply solid pieces of wood, adding great strength to the structure’s integrity. In post-and-beam construction, the timbers are less dense, and the construction relies on fasteners made of other materials. Timber frame construction does tend to be more expensive because of the materials and specialty craftsmanship involved; however, the strength, beauty, and longevity of timber frames are second to none in the grand scheme of the final product. 

If you are interested in building with timber frames, we would love the opportunity to work with you and your general contractor, builder, or architect on the design. Whether it’s a residential or commercial project, allow us to showcase why timber frame construction far exceeds.

The post Why Timber Frames Exceed Post-and-Beam Construction appeared first on Mid-Atlantic Timberframes.

To learn more about it, let’s look at a few of the most popular timber frame questions we hear from our clients and build partners.

What Is Timber Framing?

Timber framing is a building method that has been around a very long time. Its methods date as far back as the Neolithic period and have been used throughout the world—including in Japan, England, Germany, the US, and other regions.

In timber frame construction, a structure is framed with timber frames instead of the more conventional slender, dimensional lumber. Structures that are commonly called “stick-built” use this slender, dimensional lumber. It’s typically found precut and is readily available at lumberyards.

What Makes Up Timber Frame Homes?

There are many elements that make up a timber frame home. Let’s look at a few:

Timbers are the wooden beams that create the home’s frame. The upright timbers are called the posts. A timber frame home is fully constructed of the upright/vertical posts and horizontal beams. At Mid-Atlantic Timberframes, our timber frames are constructed mainly from Douglas fir, eastern white pine, red cedar, and oak.

Crossbeams connect the post beams together and give the structure stability. The location where two beams come together is called a joint.

In true timber frame homes, the timbers are cut to fit into each other at the joints. Those joints are connected with mortise and tenons and secured with wooden pegs. There are many kinds of joints, ranging from simple to complex. Common ones include lap joints, mortise-and-tenon joints, and dovetailed and pegged joints.

Trusses are a rigid triangle of timbers. A truss provides support for the roof but also allows for column-free floor space, typically on the top floor of a structure.

Timber Frame Home vs. Log Home: What’s the Difference?

One of the most common questions we hear is, How do timber frame homes differ from log homes? The biggest difference is how the wood is used.

Log homes are built by simply stacking logs horizontally. This creates the walls—and a very distinct look. The look of timber frame homes might not be as easily recognizable because different exterior materials might be used, giving it a different profile compared to the interior. In a log home, however, the look of the home’s interior is the same as the look of the exterior.

Why Timber Frames?

There are many advantages to choosing custom timber framing. Timber framing is suitable for just about any style and shape of building. Its versatile open-air design makes it ideal for large spaces like a public library or riding arena. And the warmth of natural wood makes it a great choice for more private, personal spaces like a spa or restaurant.

Timber framing also offers the flexibility of customization. From a grand, formal look to a modern, chic vibe, there’s truly no limit to what you can design and build.

Timber framing is friendly to the environment. Timber is a natural, renewable resource, and our suppliers plant as many as 10 times the number of trees they cut down. A timber frame home paired with structural insulated panels (SIPs) is energy efficient. Unlike in a standard framed or stick-built home, SIPs don’t have the thermal breaks created by studs as 16-inch centers. This allows for reduced energy costs.

Last but certainly not least, timber frame construction is low maintenance. Even 100 years later, you’ll have a beautiful, structurally sound, and energy efficient structure.

If you have more questions about custom timber framing, connect with our expert team. We’re here to share our knowledge and help you take the next step in your timber frame construction journey!

The post Timber Frame Questions? We Have Answers! appeared first on Mid-Atlantic Timberframes.

Over the years, we have found a lot of confusion exists among consumers, as well as those within the industry, as to the difference between timber frame construction and post and beam construction. The main difference between post and beam vs timber frame lies in how the timber frames are connected to each other.

Both types of timber frame homes are built using large timbers and an exposed frame as part of the overall design. However, in true timber frame homes, the timbers are cut to fit into each other at the joints, and those joints are connected with mortise and tenons and then secured with wooden pegs. In a post and beam timber home, the timbers are typically butted together, and the joints are connected with steel plates and brackets and then secured with metal bolts.

The craft of custom timber framing can be traced back to medieval times, when mechanical fasteners were not readily available. Many timber frame structures erected in Europe during medieval times are still standing today.

Both methods showcase the natural beauty of the timber frames and allow for open interiors and high, arching ceilings. While post and beam timber homes may resemble timber frame homes in appearance, the prominence of the steel connectors change the aesthetic, giving the home a more industrial rather than rustic feel. Timber frame construction tends to be more expensive because of the speciality craftsmanship involved in building the home with custom timber framing. However, the strength, beauty, and longevity of timber frame homes are second to none.

If you are a homebuyer who is interested in building your own timber frame home, we would love the opportunity to work with you and your custom builder or architect on the design of your next timber frame home. We also partner with commercial builders on everything from community gathering spaces to restaurants, breweries, and wineries. Call us about your next build project!

The post Post and Beam vs Timber Frame? Know the Difference appeared first on Mid-Atlantic Timberframes.

• A Mid-Atlantic Timberframes home is 30% more efficient than other construction due to the use of SIP panels, or structural insulated panels.
• SIP buildings are more energy efficient, stronger, quieter and more airtight than a conventionally timber framed home.
• Using passive design techniques allows us to take advantage of the natural climate to maintain thermal comfort, so your home can be affordably heated when the temperature drops.
• Even though timber frames have an open and airy design, the natural wood actually adds warmth to any room.
• Timber frame homes require little maintenance and will still be beautiful, structurally sound and energy efficient long into the future. Thus, making timber frame home living a popular choice among custom builders and architects and timber frames cost being more cost effective in the long-term.

Contact us today to discuss further benefits to timber frame construction or for a consult about timber frame home projects.

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