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IN THIS AGE of convenience, quick fixes and blind allegiance to all things cookie cutter, there are a select few who take the path less traveled. Joshua Durst is one such pioneer hiking down this narrow (but expanding) trail. When he set out to build his ideal home, he chose timber for all the usual reasons: its beauty, its durability and its timelessness. But those weren’t his only considerations. “I build green homes,” says the developer and father of two, “and timber framing lends itself emotionally and theoretically to green construction.”
That is, Joshua believed timber would be the perfect material for constructing a home that not only looked good, but also was good for his family and for the planet.
Turns out he was right.
As his Norwich, Vermont, dwelling proves, it is possible to design a stunning timber house that’s as easy on the environment as it is on the eyes.
Eco-Friendly Approach
When Joshua (with help from an architect friend) first conjured his 3,100-square-foot home, he knew what he wanted—four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a substantial stone patio—as well as what he didn’t.
“I tried to avoid as many outgassing materials as possible,” he explains. “So instead of plywood, we went with advantech panels, which are held together with a superglue-type adhesive that cures inertly, whereas plywood uses a formaldehyde-based binder.”
Even some naturally derived products—including linseed oil and turpentine—were verboten, give that they’re volatile organics.
Joshua’s commitment to going green also meant opting for low-VOC paint on the walls and a water-based finish on the timber, as well as relying on solar panels to harness as much natural energy as possible. (Vermont winters are cold, though, so propane heat supplements the solar when the mercury dives below freezing.)
Natural Selection
When it came time to select a timber company, Joshua—who spent roughly two years building the home with help from a few friends and subcontractors—chose nearby North Woods Joinery. Joshua had worked with the company on previous projects, and says that he “liked their philosophy and their readiness to design around my concepts.”
Larry Kruse, co-owner of North Woods, which has |
