Frequently Asked Questions

 

Energy figures calculated in 1998 @ approx $1.00 per gallon

Today, fuel costs are 3-4 times that in 1998.

Our homes Energy consumption is approx 1/3 of conventional 2x6 construction.

How much do your Homes and Barns cost?
Our timber frame home packages are almost always less expensive than other home manufacturers, even when you add for shipping! Our homes are also extremely competitive with 2x6 construction and are the easiest to put together. Frame & panel packages usually range from $18 - $32 per sq ft depending upon the design. Most of our homes on the design page, fall somewhere between $20 - $26 psf.

Barn kits usually range from $10 - $20 psf with pine shiplap siding, flooring and roof boards included. The barn styles shown on the design page run around $15 psf.

Our finished homes can be built between $50 - $80 psf. This includes average site, septic and well costs, but excludes your land. Homes having one floor will run towards the $80 psf while homes with a 3rd floor loft lean towards $50 psf. These figures are based on average amenities with you acting as the General Contractor (we can show you how). Completed costs depend upon site conditions, design complexity and your choices of kitchens, baths, windows & doors, flooring, roofing and siding etc. Building up is more cost effective than building out. When building up, the cost of the roof and foundation remain the same. Therefore, the most economical design would be a rectangular shaped building having two floors or more.

Figuring out what home to build can be a bit of a "Catch 22". You don't know what house to design because you don't know how much it will cost. The way to begin is to pick a point. By that we mean, start by figuring $75 per sq ft for the overall budget. From there, add for extras, such as an elaborate fieldstone fireplace and subtract if you choose to put the frame & panels up yourself. It's a matter of give and take, and at times, finding an alternative solution to lower a cost. Need some help? Give us a call!

How do you determine the price for the timber frame & panel package?
Using our pricing program, we enter the individual frame components and the sq. ft. of panel material required for the walls & roof, plus dormers, valleys and bump-outs etc. (if you don't have it in your plan, you don't pay for it.) There are a number of variables that effect the price; the number of corner braces, the amount of posts, which can increase the number of beams and the amount of joinery etc. Factors such as these can increase or decrease the price point of your frame.

The square foot figures we discuss with you, are used for ballpark estimating and do not effect the actual price of a building. It's the cubic footage or volume of space as well as complexity of the design that will more accurately reflect a higher or lower cost for a structure.

Erecting the Frame and  Panel Installation  estimates will be provided for you to compare pricing that you obtain from a local carpenter (based on what we would charge locally). It will also show you how much you can save by assembling the shell yourself, not to mention the costs involved in sending frame and panel crews to your site.

Are they difficult to finish?
A great amount of effort has gone into finding simple, quality, low cost ways to complete our homes. Standard tradesmen such as carpenters, plumbers and electricians are all that's required for finishing. Any differences from what they are used to, are minor. Out of the ordinary features, like downsized heating systems can be used. (in most cases with heat supplied to the first floor only).

There are ways to keep finishing costs from your subcontractors lower than you might expect. Basically once your subs see the actual shell assembled, they can see what's involved. In combination with our manual, many will understand that with our homes, lots of things are easier than what they are normally used to, and is contrary to what they may have heard about log and timber frames in general. 

What kind of wood do you use?
Our choice of wood is Eastern White Pine, we use only the "heartwood" the best part of the log. Pine is extremely stable and versatile. It shrinks less than any other domestic wood; in fact, radial shrinkage is two and half time less than white oak! It's reasonably abundant, making it cost effective, and pine can be stained a variety of colors to enhance your decor. A natural pine frame will darken over time to a light reddish brown hue, while painting or staining in the future is always an option. We apply a clear penetrating sealer and no other maintenance is required.

Are there more ways you differ?
Structural Panels are used on exterior walls. Having OSB directly behind the drywall makes it convenient for attaching things like pictures, cabinets and shelving. Exterior walls can be drywalled or boards applied. With our system, the wall covering is easily slipped behind the posts & beams, eliminating the need for taping the edges. Sheetrock can be applied either vertically or horizontally for just one seam to tape!
And by the way, if drywall is preferred between rafters, it will be installed on the panels - basically priming and painting is all that’s left to do!

We use rafters for our roof system where most other companies use perlins. Generally perlins can't be spaced symmetrically, so they look unbalanced. Rafters also make the roof panel installation much easier.

Another area we differ is the wiring system. Most, if not all other companies provide wire chases in the panels. This can be a problem if the installers aren’t paying attention. In our homes, a wire chase is provided around the perimeter of each floor. Wiring is as easy, if not easier than conventional construction. Simply screw on the baseboard trim and you’ll have future access to your wiring.

Are high R-Values important?
Yes, but equally important is air infiltration for comfort and energy efficiency... The tight construction created using stresskins, makes our homes much more efficient than standard 2x6 construction, with virtually no drafts or cold spots.

In 2x6 construction, air moves through the walls, contributing to high fluctuations in temperature. During the winter months condensation can occur inside the wall cavities, lowering fiberglass insulation R-Values as much as 35% and eventually causing rot and mold growth. Air gaps, framing studs and the nature of fiberglass insulation may average out to approx. R-12 vs. the R-25 value of the stresskin panels we utilize.  

How do your homes compare to other forms of construction?
There really is no comparison to other forms of construction, Timber frames utilizing stressed skin panels is a superior way to build.

All of our homes are structurally engineered using the same engineering principles as skyscrapers. Weight loads are transferred from the frame directly to the foundation at each post location. The walls don't carry any of the buildings weight, consequently, there is no wall movement due to weight loads or moisture, virtually eliminating any settling problems.

Are your homes considered to be Green?
Yes, the term green basically means good for the environment, inside your home as well. Just about everything having to do with our homes would be considered green. There is less wood used in a timber frame vs 2x6 or log construction. It's a renewable resource! The panels are inert and have no harmful out gassing of chemicals, including no formaldehyde. The oriented strand board (OSB) used for the outer skin is made from scrap wood. Utilizing these panels saves tremendous amounts of energy. The ventilation system required exhausts indoor air pollutants from such things as cleaning agents, overall ensuring a healthier living environment. We are believers in recycling and conservation. We burn our scrap wood to heat 100% of our building and our planer shavings are given away for animal bedding.

Is mechanical ventilation necessary?
All homes should have some form of ventilation system. We make available an inexpensive continuous fresh air ventilation system. This simple system exhausts indoor air pollutants and moisture while bringing in fresh outside air at a gentle rate. By controlling moisture levels, this system works to minimize the growth of bacteria, viruses, fungi and lessens the chance of respiratory infection, allergic Rhinitis and asthma.

All in all, it's nice to know that your home is always filled with fresh air!

Does the foundation have to be specially built?
 No! Other than the length and width may differ to accommodate our timber frame dimensions, they are the same as in conventional construction. The first deck is built the same as well.