TIMBERFRAME, POST and BEAM HOMES

FAQ About North Woods Joinery

We're located in beautiful Northern Vermont, about 30 minutes from Burlington. We've been hand crafting fine timber frame homes for people like you since 1983. Through the years we've been quizzed and queried about timber frame design, timber cutting methods, new ideas, and a long list of other things.

If you have constrution questions or if we can provide further details, please call us at 802-644-2400. We're always happy to help you! Whether you have a full set of home plans you want a quote for, or you want to find out more about our house design services, the answer is just a phone call away.

Our shop is open Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. Weekend appointments are sometimes available, and evening phone numbers are readily available.

So, call us soon! We look forward to speaking with you...and helping you create your own post & beam dream home!

Are you unsure which wood species to select?

Read our Various Timber Characteristics.

How much more does a timber frame cost?

Construction costs vary widely across the country. We've seen quotes that range between $125 and $175 per square foot for finished post & beam homes. Usually a timber frame will add about 10% per square foot to the cost of a "stick house." This depends on your choice of wood species and how complex your frame is.

What kind of timber joinery do you use?

We use traditional mortise and tenon joinery, secured with oak pegs. No bolts, nails or steel plates. Even though some other companies might produce timberframes with these short cuts, we feel strong allegiance to the thousand year old tradition of timber framing.

What kind of wood do you use? (read more details here)

We can cut your frame from almost any wood: white pine, Douglas fir, oak, hemlock, and recycled timbers. Your choice of wood species is really a matter of your personal preference and your budget. Each type of wood has its own unique characteristics. See our wood species comparison chart (back page) for more details.

Do you build my whole house?

We have, but our passion is for your timber frame. You will, however, have access to our extensive experience as general contractors. We've worked with building contractors all over the country that we could recommend.

Do I need a general contractor?

Unless you have a lot of construction experience, it's usually best to hire a general contractor. Your G.C. will work with us to schedule and coordinate the frame raising and the subcontractors for your house. We have, however, worked with many talented home owner-builders.

What do I need to do before my frame raising?

You'll need to have your foundation in place and back filled, and your first floor deck completed. It's handy to have accessibility for a 48 foot tractor trailer and a flat 25 foot x 25 foot area within 25 feet of your foundation for a crane. If your building site is really hard to access, we'll make special arrangements.

How do you enclose my timber frame?

We recommend R-Tight® stress skin panels (SIPs)to enclose your home. Stress skin panels let you to show off your entire frame and provide you the tightest, most energy efficient enclosure you can get. And, structural insulated panels are the fastest and most economical method of enclosing the frame. Roofing, siding, and interior finish is the same as any other home.

How do you do plumbing and electric?

Electrical chases are milled into the panels at the factory. Wiring a insulated panel systems home is different, but no harder than a conventional home. As with everything, good planning makes it all go smoother. Plumbing is run in interior walls just like in conventionally built homes.

Do you have a design service?

Yes! We offer you several home design options. If you don't have a solid plan, we'll help you put together a floor plan and home design custom tailored to your needs and desires. This'll allow us to estimate your timber frame and stres-skin panel prices. We also have home designers to assist you in much greater detail with the finishing touches.

Do you have home buildling kits?

A lot of our homes have become popular sellers. They're more traditional capes, colonials, and saltboxes and tend to be economical because of the number we cut and because there's less design work to do. Detail sheets are available on these homes...they're a great place to start.

How will you ship my timber frame?

We number your timbers for assembly and then wrap, strap, and cover them for protection. We then carefully load them onto a flat bed trailer and ship them to your site. A fork lift or crane will be needed to unload your timbers. Sometimes, the truck and trailer set up will include a crane for unloading.

Can I see one of your post and beam homes?

We'd love to show you! We have homes around the country. Here in Vermont we can arrange for you to see several North Woods Joinery homes.