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Timber Frame King Post Trusses with black steel plates in a pavilion at the Bechtel Summit home of the National Boy Scout Jamboree

Building With Wood vs Steel

By Caitlin on February 21, 2020

  Most people don’t consider steel when thinking about building a home. But for people building a barn or commercial space, they first have to decide whether they’re going to build with steel or wood. Today we’re going to go over some of the considerations for both building materials.   […]

Timber frame pavilion at the Bechtel Summit in West Virginia home of the National Boy Scout Jamboree, leadership training, and Adventure Camp.

The Importance of the Peg

By Caitlin on February 13, 2020

Today I thought we’d take a closer look at the Pegs that are used to secure the connections of our Timber Frames.     When using traditional joinery to make connections in a Timber Frame, the pegs are there to stabilize the connections and keep them secure.     Unlike […]

The Pole Barn vs The Timber Frame Barn

The Pole Barn vs The Timber Frame Barn

By Caitlin on May 29, 2019

People often call us asking for Post and Beam Barns, Pole Barns, or Timber Frame Barns, oftentimes using the terms interchangeably. While it’s understandable how people could get all the terms mixed up or think they were the same thing, today we’re going to break down the differences between the […]

Applying Timber Finish

Our Favorite Wood Stains at VTW

By Caitlin on August 31, 2018

Applying Finish Here, dark walnut Minwax stain is being applied to the chamfered edge on the timbers using a foam brush. Each beam has stain applied to all four sides and in all the pockets and joints.   There are many important choices to make when considering the details of […]

White Washed Hemlock Beams in the Cornwall Library in CT

Back to School with Vermont Timber Works

By Caitlin on August 24, 2018

Lately, in the morning and evening there’s been a noticable chill in the air, which is an unmistakable mark of the end of summer and the beginning of the Fall. And of course, that means we’ve now entered the back-to-school season as well. So today, I thought we’d take a […]

Close up of the steel compression ring and timbers in the Octagon Timber Frame in the Chapel for Holy Apostles Church

Scrolls, Finials, & Corbels

By Caitlin on August 17, 2018

Every Timber Frame Vermont Timber Works builds is a completely custom creation. This allows our clients to make sure that they get exactly what they’ve been picturing. Today I’d like to talk about some decorative accents you can incorporate into your frame that can help you further customize your timber […]

Timber Frame Dining Hall

Summer Camp with Vermont Timber Works

By Caitlin on August 03, 2018

Even though it’s early August and it’s still pretty hot out, we’re already starting to see back-to-school ads and considering the end of the summer and sending our children back to school. While summer may be winding down, it’s not over just yet! In honor of the last few weeks […]

Outdoor Timber Frame Pool House

Pool Houses by VTW

By Caitlin on July 13, 2018

I thought that since it’s been so hot this summer that we could take a look at some of the Timber Frames that VTW has fabricated for Pool Houses in the past. Take a look at each of these past projects that feature a mix of indoor and outdoor pools […]

Fabricated Timber Frame Unassembled

8 Facts About Timber Framing

By Caitlin on July 05, 2018

Timber Framing is a Very Old Building Tradition Timber Framing is an ancient building method that goes back hundreds if not thousands of years. The building method was developed as a way to build strong and secure buildings out of large pieces of wood, without metal nails, which were expensive […]

Shipping Timber Trusses

The Time Frame of a VTW Timber Frame

By Caitlin on June 21, 2018

Our clients often wonder how long the timber frame process will take, starting from the time they sign their contract to when the timber frame is delivered to their building site. Time Frame is an understandable question to have when you’re trying to coordinate with different building partners. The time […]

Shenandoah State Park Visitors Center built with Native Hemlock Timber with Traditional and Steel Joinery.

8 Parks You Should Visit This Summer

By Caitlin on June 07, 2018

Since we’re approaching the official start of summer, I thought it would be nice to look back at some of the Timber Frame structures VTW has put up in parks across the country. So look over this list and discover some parks where you can have fun outside as well […]

Exterior of the off the grid timber frame Barn style home in Sandwich NH

The Log Cabin, Post and Beam, and Timber Frame Home: What’s the Difference?

By Caitlin on May 31, 2018

Today I thought it would be helpful to look at some of the similarities and differences between Timber Frame Homes, Log Cabin Homes, and Post and Beam Homes. There seems to be some confusion as to how to define each, and whether it’s a difference of style, design, or construction. […]

Trusses and Exposed Beams in Wakenah Great Room

The Difference Between Building a Timber Framed Home and a Conventionally Framed Home

By Caitlin on May 11, 2018

Most people who are interested in building a custom home are already somewhat well-versed in the building process and what it entails. However, when using a timber frame instead of a stick frame for your custom home, the building process can look a little different. People often ask us how […]

The Woodmont Liquor Store in Londonderry, NH has a Heavy Timber Entryway with black steel galvanized plates built by Vermont Timber Works.

Commonly Asked Questions At Vermont Timber Works

By Caitlin on April 19, 2018

Today I thought it might be helpful to answer some of the more common questions we get at Vermont Timber Works. Some of these questions we’ve answered before in other blog posts and elsewhere on the website, but I thought it might be good to put all these answers together […]

Walt Whitman Timber Frame Barn

Springtime at Vermont Timber Works

By Caitlin on April 05, 2018

It might not feel like it’s exactly springtime here in Vermont, but whether you notice it or not, the days are getting brighter and a little warmer, the snow is melting and the ground is starting to thaw and everything is starting to get muddy. There’s a nice, earthy smell […]

Exterior of the Barn Style Souther Vermont Welcome Center

Timber Framing With A Vermont Business

By Margaux Friant on March 29, 2018

Vermont Timber Works, as the name implies, is a Vermont based business. It was founded in Vermont in 1987 and has operated from Vermont for all of the 30 years since its beginning. Our office and shop are located in Springfield, VT and it is from this location that we […]

Looking Back at a Few of Our Favorite Local Projects

Looking Back at a Few of Our Favorite Local Projects

By Caitlin on March 22, 2018

While Vermont Timber Works enjoys being able to build Timber Frames all over the country (and sometimes internationally!), there’s something satisfying about building in your home state, for people who are your neighbors. Vermont is one of those unique places that just has an atmosphere about it. There is a […]

Weathered Timber Walkway at Clay Pit Ponds Visitor Center in Staten Island, NJ

Weathered Beams

By Caitlin on March 15, 2018

Today we’ll take a more in-depth look at weathered beams, the process, the look, and some examples. Weathering is an option you can choose for your timber that gives it an aged, antique look. The weathered beams generally look much older than they actually are and they give a space […]

Ox Hill Barn in Vermont Fabricated from Glulam and Douglas Fir.

What Wood Species Should I Build With?

By Caitlin on March 01, 2018

When you start to plan your Timber Frame project, one of the biggest questions you’ll have to answer is what species of wood you want to use for your frame. The wood species you choose will affect the price of your frame, the dimensions of the wood members, and other […]

Oak Timber Frame with Steel Tie Rods in Traditional Rich Barn

Timber Checking

By Caitlin on February 22, 2018

Wood is a natural material prone to change and variation. Like people, no two trees are exactly the same, and no piece of wood from two individual trees will ever look perfectly identical. The nice thing about wood is that pieces of timber will always complement each other even if […]

Solar Power at Vermont Timber Works

Solar Power at Vermont Timber Works

By Caitlin on January 11, 2018

Did you know that since 2015 our shop has been powered completely by solar energy? In October 2014, we began the process of becoming a solar-powered timber frame shop by contacting Tim Biebel at Prudent Living, a Net-Zero Design and Building Company in Windsor Vermont. We wanted to be up […]

The King Post Trusses in the Christina Seix Academy in Trenton, NJ were made with Kiln-dried Douglas fir. The King Post Trusses highlight the cathedral ceiling and tall stone fireplace.

Basic Truss Styles

By Caitlin on January 05, 2018

The Truss is the heart of the timber frame and is functional as well as decorative. Our clients can choose their truss style based on their stylistic vision for their home and the load bearing requirements of their structure. Today we’re going to look at 4 basic styles of Trusses. […]

Pool Table in the Eberhart Gambrel Barn

Honoring The Timber Framing Tradition

By Caitlin on November 28, 2017

Today we’re going to talk about why Vermont Timber Works stays true to the traditional way of creating Timber Frames, and what makes our workshop completely custom.   What Makes Timber Framing So Special? Timber Framing is a building technique that has been around for hundreds of years. There are […]

Interior of Mahamudra Buddhist retreat with high ceilings and glulam arches.

Glulam vs. Solid Beams: Which Is Best For Your Project?

By Caitlin on November 07, 2017

Customers often ask us about using Glulam in their building projects and want to know how this material differs from solid WOOD beams. And how do you know when to use Glulam in your project and when to use timber?     Glulam Glued laminated timber, also called Glulam, is a type […]

The Old Mill Museum

5 Timber Frame Structures That Are Haunted!

By Caitlin on October 31, 2017

In honor of Halloween, today Vermont Timber Works takes a look at 5 Timber Frame Structures from around the world that are haunted!     The Fairbanks House in Dedham, MA The Fairbanks House in Dedham, Massachusetts was built between 1637 and 1641 making it the oldest Timber Frame Home […]

Interior Kitchen and Living room of a Barn Style home in NH

Open Concept Living: Why Great Rooms Are So Great!

By Caitlin on October 25, 2017

Within the last ten years, the idea of the open concept floor plan has come to reign supreme in home design. People can’t seem to get enough of large, open rooms that serve a variety of functions instead of having compartmentalized rooms each with an individual purpose. In the Timber […]

Interior of a Heavy Timber Frame Dining Hall for a Boy Scout Camp in CT

5 Details That Make Your Timber Frame Home Unique!

By Caitlin on October 18, 2017

Ideas and Inspiration for designing and decorating your custom Timber Frame Home!     Windows Windows are the eyes of the house. They let in light, and allow the view of a home’s natural surroundings to inform the feelings inside. There are many interesting window options that look especially unique […]

Exterior beams with stone post bases on the porch of the Night Pasture Farm in Chelsea, VT

Rot in Heavy Timber Columns

By Doug Friant on April 12, 2017

    This heavy timber column looks terrific after 20 years of use, but there is a serious design problem with the stone surround. The column base is actually a stone veneer built on plywood and sealed at the top. Water was able to seep into the buildup, even after […]

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