Information for Architects:
Design Services: We work with builders, owners and their architects to design
high quality custom timber frames and post & beam frames for individual projects.
We rarely cut the same frame twice, although we often build on ideas that our
clients like from previous projects. Our in-house
structural engineer evaluates all our frames to make sure they meet all local
and national building codes.
Heavy Timber Trusses – Division
06130: We design and pre-engineer heavy
timber commercial roof trusses that from the very simple to the most elegant
spanning from sixteen to sixty feet. Traditional
wood joinery as well as metal plated connections are used. Common roof truss
designs include: king post trusses, queen post trusses, hammer beam trusses,
scissor trusses, modified trusses, and girder trusses. Click
here to see typical truss designs.
Churches, Chapels and Monasteries: We
love to timber frame churches and have worked on many church and monastery projects
over the years. Often, we can value engineer beautiful frames ranging from simple
king post truss designs with curved knee braces to complex scissor truss or hammer
beam designs for the most elegant sanctuaries.
Horse Barns & Stables: Post and beam
framing is perfect for the spans needed in horse barns and stables. Most barn
designs are based on a 10’x12’ or 12’x12’ stall grid
with a 10 foot or 12 foot center aisle. We have done rustic frames out of native
hemlock for country barns; and elegant stable frames out of smooth and highly
finished Douglas fir beams. Hemlock and Douglas fir are the best choices for
woods species as they are less prone to rotting and because the horses don’t
like to curb on them (horses eat native white pine like candy).
Pre-finish: Most heavy
timber framing is done with green timbers before the wood has a chance to dry,
twist and crack – it is the best way. Once a frame is put together, the
wood and/or steel plate joinery with hold the timbers in place. Checking is
minimized by a coat of pre-finish or sealer applied to all surfaces including
the insides of the mortise and tenon joints. Over the years, we have found that
two coats of finish are even better, and now we offer a second coat of finish
as an option. Please click here to find out more information on wood finishes.
Interior Designs: More and more, interior designers are turning to wood beams
to add special touches to their projects. Beams can be rough and rustic, have
a French country look, blend into a southwestern adobe house, or fit perfectly
into an elegant English manor home. An interior design project doesn't have to
encompass an entire house or building. Often, we will fabricate custom trusses
and ceiling beams for a single room, porch, entry or Porte Cochere. Sometimes
an indoor swimming pool is perfect with natural timber beams above it, and sometimes
a few posts and beams make a simple living room into a ‘great room’.
Wood Finishes: We
pride ourselves on finishing our timbers with the right color stain or paint
color for an individual project. We work hard to send out samples and match our
clients’ desired finish. Of course, there are natural variations in all
beams, which is one of the beauties of timber design.
Dining Halls, Pavilions, State Parks
and Camper Cabins: Post and Beam timber framing is great for picnic
pavilions, dinning halls,
camper cabins, boat houses and state parks.
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