The nation’s premier log home magazine, Log Home Living encourages the dream of log home ownership. Each issue celebrates the log home lifestyle, provides practical advice, and offers photo tours of the nation’s most beautiful log homes.
Decisions are tough. This time last year, my daughter, a then high school senior, was weighing the pros and cons of various colleges. All the schools on her short list were good options for her major, but the intangibles muddied the waters: This one has a 400-year pedigree, with several of the country’s Founding Fathers as graduates; that one has progressive leadership and shiny new dorms (with air conditioning). To a lesser life-altering degree, my husband, a devout Washington Capitals fan, recently agonized over which color to paint our new rec room. No less than eight ever-so-slightly varying shades of cobalt blue were affixed to our walls as he pored over his options. (Caps Red was out of the question.) It took more than a week, but eventually he settled…
Timber frame homes are having a moment, which is an ironic statement considering that this building methodology has been around for thousands of years. Some of the oldest homes and cathedrals in Europe are timber-framed structures, and you simply can’t deny the Asian influence on our modern-day reincarnations of these buildings. Yet for all their history, not to mention their abundant use as settings in movies and advertisement backdrops, they still remain a bit of a mystery to most homebuyers. The fact is that they are among the most natural and stylistically versatile homes one can own. But let’s start at the beginning … A timber home uses a framework of large posts and beams joined by wood pegs or other types of fasteners. Almost always, the walls of the…
Timber framing has a language all its own, and below is a brief list of commonly used timber frame terms to help you better understand its main components. Posts. The vertical members. Beams. The horizontal members. Truss. A rigid triangle of timbers. Trusses provide column-free floor space and are incorporated at ceiling height. Bents. Created when the vertical and horizontal components are joined together with the trusses. Bents form the cross-section of a timber frame and enable it to carry the structural load. Joints. Where two timbers or frame pieces come together. Joints can range from simple to highly decorative and include lap joints, mortise-and-tenon joints, dovetailed joints, pegged joints and others. Brace. Short, diagonally positioned timber supports used as reinforcement in the corners of a frame to prevent horizontal…
To live in a timber frame home is to live in a piece of art. The craftsmanship and care that goes into the design and fabrication of this type of house is unparalleled. Because each one is an original, there’s a host of decisions that need to be made before your timber framer can get to work. When sorting through your options, it helps to have expert advice in your corner. From choosing the perfect property to drafting a dream team to fine-tuning your finishing touches, this issue will guide you through every step of the journey. Let’s dive in — here’s what to expect. GET TO KNOW TIMBER FRAMES Timber homes fall into one of several categories, based on how the timbers are used or are fastened. All timber…
How can you tell a timber frame from a post-and-beam home? A key difference is that post-and-beam uses metal fasteners, which are either tucked within the timbers or visible on the front faces. A timber frame uses only wooden fasteners — no metal — to secure its complex joinery. Whether you choose post-and-beam or timber framing, you can rest assured that you will have a solid, timeless place to call home.…
What to Ask: Do you provide free preliminary estimates? Why: Precise cost figures may require blueprints, which carry a fee. This design fee is often applied against the cost of the package when you commit to a timber provider. What to Ask: What is included in the price quote? Why: Every home (and site) is unique, and price quotes need to reflect the cost of exactly what’s needed to build the home. The quotations you receive should contain specific information on the payment schedule, delivery cost, service policies, warranties and any special charges in designing and building your home. Price quotes also should include a complete bill of materials, including quality/grade specifications. What to Ask: Will you need a deposit? Why: Before working on blueprints or providing firm price information,…
