Choosing the right building style for your new home or commercial structure can be a hard decision. There are pros and cons to each construction method. While timber framing has a unique set of benefits, other structures can’t match. Let’s dive into some of the benefits when choosing to build a timber frame home or commercial building.
7 Benefits of Timber Frame
- Timber Frame homes and commercial buildings are energy efficient
- Timber Frames are easy to remodel, with no need for load-bearing walls
- Timber Framing is strong and durable
- Timber Frame structures reduce unwanted noise
- Timber Framing is versatile, from residential to commercial
- Timber Frame construction is fast
- Timber-Framed structures have a beautiful aesthetic
1.) Timber frame Homes and Commercial buildings are Energy Efficient
Timber frame homes and commercial structures are among the most energy-efficient building styles on the market when married with Structural Insulated Panel’s, also known as SIP’s.
The combination of large timbers enclosed with SIP’s helps decrease thermal bridging, saving you money on heating and cooling costs. To put this in perspective, combining a timber frame with SIP’s is almost twice as energy-efficient compared to a traditional stick-built home.
One often-overlooked factor when building a home is how much you’re continuously spending once the structure is finished. The two main contributors to this extra cost are how much you’re paying in utilities and maintenance.
Timber frames help cut costs on both of those factors, potentially saving you tens to hundreds of thousands throughout the life of your home.
2.) Timber Frames are easy to remodel, with no need for load-bearing walls
Load barring walls are the number one reason for limiting what you can do when choosing to remodel. New ideas or life changes can come way after your new home is completed. When remodeling traditionally built homes working around load-barring walls can drive up labor costs and limit turning your dreams into reality.
Maybe you realized your bathroom is too small and would like to expand it into the guest bedroom, or maybe your kids moved out, and you would like to combine their rooms into an additional master bedroom. With a timber frame, this can be as easy as demolishing the adjacent wall while cosmetically adjusting the two rooms’ transitions to be seamless.
3.) Timber framing is strong and durable.
Timber frame homes provide durability unmatched by conventional builds. Your foundation’s natural adjustment can cause cracks or other damages to brick or other rigid materials. Timbers can flex slightly without losing any strength, meaning shifts in your foundation will not decrease your structure’s stability, along with requiring very little maintenance.
Timbers are also more resistant to the unfortunate event of fire damage. Conventional structures use thinner cuts of wood, while thick timbers are more resistant to burning completely through. In essence, a timber frame structure has the ability to last you a lifetime
4.) Timber frame Homes and Commercial Structures reduce unwanted noise.
Timber frame homes and commercial structures have the power to prevent echoes and absorb internal sound waves through the wood’s property. The benefit of internal sound absorption makes this building style ideal for commercial establishments such as concert venues, breweries, wineries, or even retirement homes.
To decrease unwanted external noise, such as passing traffic or that noisy neighbor you might have. At Trinity Building Systems, we enclose every timber frame home with Structural Insulated Pannel’s (SIP’s). SIP’s reduce the amount of sound passing through walls; many materials just can’t match—this is a huge bonus, especially in bedrooms, home offices, and media rooms.
5.) Timber framing is versatile, from residential to commercial.
The best part of building a timber frame home or commercial structure is the endless design possibilities. Without the need for load barring walls, the floor plan can be as open as you wish. When building a brewery or winery, this is optimal for extensive seating within your business.
When building your dream home, you can structure your floorplan exactly how you wish. For example, if you want to designate most of your floor plan to your bedroom, that is possible. Or maybe you want an indoor drive-in RV storage connected to your home like this one. Or even a full walk-around workshop like this home here. The possibilities are endless and versatile for almost any purpose when building a timber frame home or commercial structure.
6.) Timber frame construction is fast
At Trinity Building Systems, each timber is precut, and hand-finished specific for each project. Meaning assembling the frame of the structure is simple and easy. Unlike most standard construction methods, the frame of your build can be erected within a matter of one to two weeks! Timber framing significantly decreases your home’s overall build time, whereas traditional builds can take up to two months to frame.
7.) Timber-framed Homes have a beautiful aesthetic
Timber frames have a beautiful aesthetic look to them. Hand craftsmanship is a trait unlost in this construction style and creates a real wow factor. Timber framing provides the opportunity to create stunning entryways, living areas, and everything in between. Exposing the timbers throughout the home is a popular choice for individuals that choose to build a timber frame home.
The wooden accent brings a warming feel through a home and can vary in color, depending on the type of stain or timbers you choose. The joinery is the most remarkable part of a timber frame structure.
Unlike most other construction styles, timber frames are secured together without metal joinery or nails. The timbers are joined together by precut mortise and tenon joints and are fastened together with wooden pegs; this is where true craftsmanship comes into play.
At Trinity Building Systems, all timbers are hand-selected, hand-fitted, and tested to ensuring the mortise and tenons are an optimal fit and ready to be assembled on site.
Conclusion
These are only some of the benefits of choosing to build a timber frame home or commercial building. If you’re still unsure if choosing to build a timber frame home is the right fit for you, please reach out to one of our project managers. They are more than happy to answer any question you might have and can further explain the pros and cons of this building process.