There are lots of details to consider and factors that must be analyzed when it comes to building the ideal timber frame home. This is why it’s so important to get assistance from an official forester. Someone who knows the ins and outs, costs, and building regulations for getting this type of work done. In fact, if you’ve ever had any plans of building your own timber frame home, you’re going to want to consult a professional.
Cost to build timber frame home
It’s hard to say how much it will cost you to build a timber frame home, because there are so many variables involved. It’s not just the cost of materials and labour, but also the size of your site, the location of your home, and whether or not you want to include things like an attached garage or basement.
Commercially available timber frame kits can be purchased from anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000. These kits are pre-engineered to meet local building codes and come with detailed instructions on how to assemble them.
If you’re building your home from scratch with no assistance from a kit, then you’ll need to consider each component separately. In addition to the framing materials themselves (such as lumber), other costs include:
Site preparation — clearing land, grading and excavating for drainage systems;
Foundation — pouring concrete footings into which posts will be set;
Roof trusses — large beams that span between walls and support roofing material;
Windows — if you use smaller windows instead of larger ones like those used in traditional house construction (see right), this may reduce your budget somewhat.
How much does it cost to build a timber frame home
Costs vary depending on the size of your house and the design. To get an accurate estimate, you’ll need to talk to a local contractor or builder.
A traditional timber frame home is built with solid wood beams and joists, which provide excellent insulation and structural strength. The walls are made of two-by-four studs or two-by-six studs, with plywood sheathing on the exterior and plasterboard or drywall on the interior.
If you’d like to build your own timber frame home, there are many resources available that can help you plan every aspect of the project from start to finish. If you’re not sure where to begin, check out this guide from DIY Network.