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The traditl*n aneJ benefits of the ccnturies-old buile*ing r:"rethed of tin"lber fnaming are right at home in modern times.

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Ouestions to Ask a Timber Producer armth and wonder. Asia to Europe, and utilizes techniques r What type of materials package do you lt's seldom these two, dating back to Neolithic times. Howev- offer and what's included in the cost? words are used togeth- er, timber has historically been I Do you offer in-house design services? er to describe a building, but it's the re- most popular in regions where decidu- t Do you finish the house to "turnkey" curring sentiment evokbd by a timber ous hardwoodso like , thrive. level? lf not can you provide a list of frame home. Modern timber frames emigrated from the preferred builderc? embody the ideal of craftsmanship and Old World the to New, continuing the Would you provide my builderwith attention to detail, paired with materi- traditions and styles of European struc- technical assistance? als hand-selected to suit the structure tures. After 1750, structures built in the and reflect the setting, The men and United States tended to be more "Amer- women of timber framing today follow ican" in response to the local climate I ls there a shipping or delivery charge? a rich tradition of knowledge earned and agricultural practices. through years of training, apprentice- In the mid-1800s, the demand for r What species do you use? ship and hands-on experience. cheap housing that went up fast pushed I Will your homesconformto my tocal The tradition of timber framing the construction industry in a new direc- building codes? claims roots around the world, from tion, bringing dimensional to the What kind of warranties do you offer?

1 6 | log&li|1|ber hnme plarlner zot$ h- THE SIPS ADVANTAGE Structural insulated panels (aka, SlPs) are almost synonymous with timber homes' By far the most common way to enclose a timber frame, SlPs offer a number of advantages. Made of solid'core I insulation wrapped in (OSB) I thermal the panels offer a nearly uninterrupted : envelope that can super'insulate your home. ln fact, according to SIP manufaeturer lnsulspan, as basic SlPs can achieve triple the insulating value i

I enhanced products can add as fiberglass batts, and i much as 20 percent more energy efficiency on top of that. The upfront investment for SlPs is higher than batt or even spray'foam insulation, but the EU tong term savings are well worth it. o o !o o a o J TIMBER FRAME Timbu Framing p - o^ BUYING OPTIONS us. Postqnd-Beam o co Every timber frame comPanY of- WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE? I materials packages fers different You'll often hear timber homes referred to as be- a (sometimes "kits")for the o called ing either timber-framed or post-and-beam. You there's no E homes they sell. Because may think it's the same thing, but actually it's not. -o standard, it's important industry-wide The difference has to do with the joinery methods ! O to ask framers you are considering used to attach the timber components together. ! what building materials, other than A post-and-beam home uses metal fasten- :c the timber frame itself, they offer. ers, which can either be hidden or exposed, to b' so Some may only supPlY the timbers; fasten the pieces. llmber framing. on the other o provide everything nec- wood pegs to secure the frame's E others may hand, uses only r essary to complete the home. Here's mortise-and-tenon ioinery. No meta I fasteners, .9 choice lies in o a sample of what timber home not even nails, are used at all. Your o o companies may offer: the level of detail, craftsmanship and speed of F o construction you're looking for. E Frame Only: The timber framer will L cut and erect the timber frame for you, but provide nothing else. forefront, rvl-rere it persists todal'. Hon' hands-on eclucatiou for members, but as framing in the United States a lasting puhlic lcg:rcr for conltttttttilies to Frame with Walls & Roof: The framer ever, timber experiet-rced a revival in the eqjo_y will erect your frame and install the and Car-rada People u'ho value strensth, beatrq' Todal; hundreds of craftspeople are wall and roof panels. 1970s. and energy efficiency found tirnber fi'an'r- keeping the tirnber alt a'live. Frotrl small Weathertight Shell: This Package ing u.ell suited to the era's procliviry to- artisans rvho craft one to trr'o fr:rtlres per the frame, wall and roof contains rvard a more "natural" and er-rrironmen- year to major tin-rbet' hottre prodr-tcers, panels, windows, doors and all other tally conscious way of life. creating scores of hotne-. anultallr'. there's needed to fully enclose the materials In 1987, the a *.ide range of options fbr prospective home. lvas fonnded, u'ith the express purpose of buyers. In the end. hot-neorr-ners ale the Complete Package: lncludes the retaining and celebrating the traclitional ones who trttlv beuefit 1l'orlr this meticu- timber frame, as well as all materials craft of tin-rber framing. Guilcl members lous preservation of tradition. because needed to construct the home. lt may are devoted to the craft and share it r'r'ith they not onll'get to lirr irt a house they even include labor to build the house. the rest of the lvorld through communitv love, they get to lile in a u-rte piece of art building projects that not only serve as and histor,r,. o

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