Timber Frame Home, Hybrid input needed.

schweizer · Feb 13, 2012

Just found this thread while looking for something else. We just built our house; finished 1 year ago. We wanted timberframe w/ SIPs but the price was so high we looked at other options (after spending much $$$ w/ architect). We ended up with a log home which has squared hand-hewn logs from a company in Tennessee. With the wrap-around porch (included) there is minimal maintenance to the logs. It has true timber framing in the roof, as well as some real mortise & tenon joinery in the walls. The price was great! Cost included engineering, custom plans, and onsite setup of the house shell including the timberframe roof.
If you want to see our house go to: Stonemill House
Their website is Stonemill Log Homes

Marcus

Samandothers · Feb 14, 2012

Marcus
Thank you for your time to respond. We are looking at about 2000 squ feet. We took some prelim plans to a timberframer and estimate was about 2x what we wanted to spend even with hybrid design.
It is ironic that the wife commented just yesterday that the money saved from timberframing we could afford some log maintenance. So we may revisit log.
You have beautiful home I like the vaulted ceiling and all the wood. We will not live at our place permanently, at least not initiially. I guess there is a lot of heat mass in the logs that must be over come when you initially start to heat it up.
We are a ways away from starting and so I have some time. I have not given up on timber frame but I feel my grip loosening. Starting to think log or convention stick built with some timber accents. Could mill some of the old logs on site for open door framing.

Thanks of the input.

mattridessleds · Feb 14, 2012

Marcus,
Great job. Really enjoyed reading through your website.
-Matt

Uncle Doug · Feb 15, 2012

We had a 800 sqft shell home built on our property a few years ago. My grandson and I finished off the interior flooring, electric, plumbing, interior siding.
We have been in the home for 3+ years now.

The only thing I would of done different would be the exterior siding. The standard was hardi siding from the builder. I should of gone with an log or wood siding.

Samandothers · Feb 16, 2012

Uncle Doug
That is a great job! I am sure you had a gret time with your Grandson too. We have thought about doing as much as we can too

magicheater · Feb 16, 2012

Samandothers said:
Matt
that is one big beam and post. Nice place!

Jerry
I like the the radiant heat flloors they had on their site and the ground/closed loop to air heat pump.

These are things I like. Not sure what would be in our place eventually. Purse dictates quite a bit. I had thought about a closed loop heat pump.

Make your selections carefully, some of the systems are not easily changed. Variable heat sources for floors can enhance certain seasonal fluctuation inputs. The insulation package is key no matter how you heat/cool it.

Samandothers · Feb 19, 2012

Jery
Thanks for the input. I want to insulate well and thought of using SIPS. I am not sure what type of heat we'd use. We have room for a closed loop heat geothermal heat pump. There is a lot of wood on the property and I have tought about an external water boiler.

Soundguy · Feb 20, 2012

there must be some amish in whoever is cutting the wood and swinging the hammer.

looks beautiful!

foggy1111 · Feb 20, 2012

There are quite a few timber-frame contractors up in the lake country of MN....where I have my cabin. Google "MN Timber Frame homes" and I would bet you will get a look at some beaut's.

My cabin was built during the 60's and has three beams that are about 50 feet long through the center supported by huge posts. Each of these beams is 18" x 8" (or 24" x 10" ??) and are scroll cut on the ends. (I'm not sure how you could scroll cut those ends??) The cabin is then framed around these posts and beams. The roof decking is full 2" x 8" cedar tongue and groove....and the list goes on. There seemed to be little regard for material cost when some of these "oldies" were designed.