Canadian Timberframes was recently awarded Top Mid-Size Manufacturer by Kootenay Business Magazine.

Out of 150 manufactures they awarded 3 manufacturing awards to Small, Mid & Large Manufactures in the region.

They winners were judged on growth, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit knowing that these manufacturers in this region are major creators of jobs and opportunities and wanted to recognize them for it.

We thank Kootenay Business Magazine for recognizing Canadian Timberframes in this way & thank all of our employees who are the driving force behind this award.

Our employees step up every day to produce world class products, offer professional service & unprecedented client support from the beginning of design until the very last timber is put in place. We revel in our top notch service & client satisfaction.  

Thank you to all of our clients and industry professionals whom we have worked with over the past year – we appreciate your business & continued support for our organization.

Sincerely,

The Canadian TImberframes Team

The Q3 CTF Duct Tape Award

Is Presented to…..

Kimberly Pawley

For the outstanding accomplishment of:

Taking on many responsibilities outside of your job description (Dust mitigation etc) with a smile and bringing a thorough & quality approach. For looking for ways to add value & going the extra mile to help make stakeholders work lives easier!    

Thank You Kimberly!!

You might have heard of a Net Zero home in the news or read about it in a magazine.  So, what is it?  A Net Zero home means that a house produces as much energy as it consumes. Energy consumption within a building is rated using the HERS index (Home Energy Rating System.) Reaching a 0 rating means the home is completely self-sustaining. A typical house has a HERS rating of 100-130.

A Net Zero house minimizes energy use within a house and any energy that it needs, it produces through renewable energy systems like solar panels.  Therefore, the house is not dependent on getting its energy from an outside producer.  It is self-sufficient.  Sound pretty nice? Well, below are some ways that you can incorporate some of the Net Zero concepts into your home:

Footprint:  Utilizing a modest building footprint and not over-building for your needs may be a first good step.  The larger and more spread out a building is, the more energy it will consume.

Climate Responsiveness:  Employ passive design techniques such as south-facing windows that promote natural heating and daylighting. Also, limiting east/west exposure in hot climates helps to reduce cooling loads.

Quality Construction:   Incorporating good building practices such as correct flashing, sealing, framing, effective insulation, etc. to achieve a super-tight envelope is important. Quality of the construction should be integral to the design and really helps to minimize envelope loads.

Systems Sizing:  Integrating and sizing systems efficiently including heating, cooling, ventilation and dehumidification can really help to optimize the building’s performance.

Renewable Energy:  Homes need to utilize on-site renewable/alternative energy to generate power and heat. Solar panels, fuel cells, micro-turbines, etc. can be used to make and store energy to meet critical energy loads.

These are just a few of the more important avenues to reach a home that is completely self-sufficient and considered Net Zero.  By studying these important concepts we can produce a house that is much less energy reliant and contains a much smaller carbon footprint.

Canadian Timberframes offers decades of experience working with clients throughout the United States and would love to meet up with you between September 30, 2016- October 2, 2016 booth # 137!
 
4 Amazing Reasons to Visit the Canadian Timberframes Ltd booth at the upcoming Denver Log & Timber Home Show and discuss your 2016, 2017  project:

1. In January 2016, an already strong U.S. dollar hit an 11-year high against other major currencies. Did you know that with the lift in your US Greenback – as an example: you could possibly get your wall systems for free!
The lift in your dollar could possible pay for our pre-manufactured wall systems for your whole house! Now that’s the type of SAVINGS you will see if you buy with Canadian Timberframes now!

2. We have built a solid reputation as one of the world’s premiere timber frame companies not only because of our quality, precision, and passion but because we truly care about our client’s needs.
 
3. Bottom line: CTF wall & roof systems + additional components offer exceptional value during the installation process and provides an efficient & cost effective solution.
Offering cost savings to home owners & time savings to builders in various ways.
 
4. You do not pay duty on shipping across the boarder – we are sending our complete packages all across the United States.
 
View our Western US projects

If you are looking to build that glamourous getaway; a new cottage deck; a timber addition; an expansion to an existing building; or a complete new customized home for your family, we can assist you with your 2016, 2017 or even 2018 goals. Contact us or Drop us a line @ sales@canadiantimberframes.com or call 1.877.348.9924 or better yet, come drop by our booth # 137 and let us know where we can help you out.

PS. We would be happy to provide a complimentary ticket for you to attend the show, please let us know if you are interested @ sales@canadiantimberframes.com.

 

Warm weather, swimming and vacations — such events often announce the arrival of summer. Following the tell tail signs of the days getting longer and the nights getting shorter and the kids getting out of school! The home is now a hustle & bustle of bodies; the energy increases and family plans and schedules are re-defined.

We all love the feeling of summer, the excitement of taking an extra-long weekend, planning that family vacation time; or just creating space & time to relax a little bit more - become happier, more balanced and hopefully recharging our batteries.

While others are hopefully slowing down a little bit, Canadian Timberframes continues to ramp up. Our mill works over time & our manufacturing facility is on full tilt, turning out all the plans that run through the floor creating and forming the structure to many dream homes. We have seen it all recently, from fresh white painted timbers, to raw timbers that will be white-washed in on location to rustic and the elegant; we manufacture it all. If you can dream it, we will produce it and are always up for solving a new challenge. We thrive on collaboration; complexity and serving our customers with extreme pride and professionalism.

So, if you are looking to build that glamourous getaway; a new cottage deck; timber addition; expansion to an existing building; or a complete new customized home for your family, we can assist you with your 2016 goals. Drop us a line @ sales@canadiantimberframes.com or call 1.877.348.9924- let us know where we can help you out.

Jeff Bowes

President & Partner

Canadian Timberframes

We all know that having an airtight house cuts down on our heating and cooling costs. But how tight do they need to be?  Is it really necessary to have an extremely high performance house or should we be somewhere in the middle?  Well, in the next few blogs I will be discussing insulation as well as air tightness and several methods that can be used to achieve the specific goal you want to strive for.

The first standard I want to talk about is called Passive Houses. Passive Houses are an energy standard that can bring down a building’s heating and cooling loads by 90% over standard construction. There are clearly defined targets that the house must achieve to gain the Passive House status. It uses super insulation methods along with air tightness and other methods to reduce heating and cooling loads to such low levels that the house can be operational through mostly passive measures and minimal active measures.  So, how is this achieved?  Here are the 6 main objectives:

Insulation:

The building envelope must consist of highly insulated exterior walls, roof and floor. This keeps the desired warmth in the house or undesirable heat out.

Windows:

Highly efficient triple pane windows are a must. They also need to be low-e glazing, argon-filled and have airtight frames. With these windows on the coldest day of the year, you can touch the glass and it will not feel cold!

Thermal-Bridge Free Design:

This means no part of the structure can act as a roadway for heating energy that can travel and escape right through your walls.

Super-Tight Construction:

With the Passive House standard, air infiltration can be no greater than 0.6 air changes per hour, at 50 pascals. That is a super airtight house!

Sun Exposure:

Orient your home so that the sun helps to heat it. Sun exposure can really help to keep your energy costs down.

Air Exchanges:

With a super tight house, clean fresh air is a must. By using an Energy Recovery Ventilator your house will experience 7 complete air exchanges in 24 hours.

So, you might be thinking that this is pretty extreme.  You also might be wondering how expensive this is. Initially the costs may be higher, but over time your energy costs would skydive. This is just an overview of the Passive House method, but it demonstrates some things that we could do within our houses to help save energy and therefore become less energy dependent.
 

Canadian Timberframes is proud to be one of the primary sponsors of the Schacher Trail in Golden BC. This single track trail will take 3 years to fully complete. And phase 2 (a total of 4.5 km of trail) was completed in time for the Singletrack 6 trans Canada Rockies Stage Race today.

We had a ribbon cutting ceremony to 'officially' open the trail as the competitors of this world class event rode the new trail. 

There will be one additional phase adding 8 more km of trial, taking the trail to the top of Mount 7 where a Gazebo will proudly sit as a memorial to Sean Schacher, whom the trail was named after. This trail will provide single track bike access to the top of Mount 7, where previously the only option was an old logging road. So now enthusiasts can ride up to the monumental down hill ride of Mount 7.

This trail is hugely significant for our company since Sean Schacher was a long term employee of ours….this project is really important to our company & all of our employees who have worked with Sean for years (and his Father Rick, who still works for us). It means a lot to everyone, the constant pride within our organization around the building of the trail & his tribute.

“ We at Canadian Timberframes are very proud to sponsor this project, not only because what it offers our community & visitors but for the Legacy of Sean Schacher. Sean was a valued employee of ours and we think this trail is a very fitting tribute to Sean & his family." Says Stephanie Bowes, Executive Director at Canadian Timberframes.

We at Canadian Timberframes & all of our employees are thrilled to see the continuous effort on this trail for Sean & the amazing access it opens up to mountain biking community! 

This couple in Bowling Green, Kentucky loved the rustic ambiance of timber frame homes and contacted Canadian Timberframes to figure out how to start the process in building their dream home on a golf course. Read the full Timber Home Living Magazine article here. It was featured in the August 2016 issue pages 36 - 41.

It’s hard to imagine a home so stunning it could rival the natural beauty of the Canadian countryside. But take one look at this farmhouse-inspired retreat by Canadian Timberframes of Golden, British Columbia, and that’s exactly what you’ll see. 

Read the full article in the attached document.

Did you know it was possible to incorporate your senses into your new home?  I will discuss our five senses and the strategies you might use to integrate these into your new space.

Sight:

Sight is an obvious one and definitely the most used sense relating to architecture.  To view a space is to see not only the solid forms but also the openness and space of an area.  Using both light and structure in combination can make its occupants feel comfortable. The merger of these components can also take your home from just ordinary to something special and a place you want to hang out in!

Hearing:

Acoustics of a building, though not initially obvious to us, can return a space’s movements and create an atmosphere that we can connect with.  Increasing sound can boost the intensity of a space just like a sound track from a movie.  To adjust the impact of sound, we can use sound absorbers or sound optimizers.  Also, the forms of the building can affect sound.  The ceiling height or shape of the room can affect the acoustics.  With a high ceiling, sound has further to travel than with a shortened height. Also, different shapes of surfaces can bounce sound in specific directions to create an interesting effect.

Touch:

The sense of touch within a building can create a feeling of either relating or dislike.  The touch of building materials itself can create this feeling but it‘s also possible to feel a space without touching its components. You can feel if a space is dim or bright just by being in it.  The easiest example is the feeling of sunlight on your skin as you inhabit the space.

Smell:

Smell is our sense that is most closely connected to our memories.  The smell of different materials or fragrances we use within a space can be recorded in our memory for a later time.  Connections to these distinct smells can be recalled later and can stimulate various emotions that we might have had while being in the space.

Taste:

Taste is probably the toughest sense to link to in architecture.  It has been proven though that architecture can stimulate taste through vision.  It is possible that by mixing certain colors within objects of a building, it elicits some oral sensations.

In conclusion, our senses are how we experience the world in which we live. Within a building we can use our senses to create special environments that are both memorable and a joy to be in.

This warm & comfortable cottage designed by Walter R. Powell, Architect, at Sunshine Coast Home Design is a spectacular representation of recreational living. The interior palette of bright ‘sea glass’ colours brings the ocean setting inside and lights up the interior space.

Enjoy perusing through the images, let the design & location inspire you.

If this design speaks to you, we encourage you to jump on Sunshine Coast Home Design’s website to go through their entire gallery of homes. Or you can follow Walter Powell on Houzz @ houzz.com/pro/walterpowell/__public or on twitter @ twitter.com/walterrpowell.

We would also like to thank Linda Sabiston of First Impression Photography for the use of the incredible images.

Thanks Doris for picking up the slack & taking on the extra work load the past Quarter!

Your efforts & dedication are greatly appreciated!!

The Management Team :)

Natural light is a very important component in your new home design.  There are numerous ways you can utilize specific techniques to take advantage of the sun, but also keep excessive sunlight out.  Here are a few examples:

Building orientation:

This is probably the most important factor in deciding how your home will react to its natural surroundings and thus daylighting conditions. I have included several discussions about this in some of my previous blogs, so feel free to refer to my articles that address designing for specific climates.  I will point out though that the most important thing to remember is orienting your building to collect sunlight when needed at specific times of the year and then reflecting the sun during the other seasons.

Window openings:

When thinking about daylighting, this is probably the first thing that comes to your mind. Windows have two essential functions in a building: daylight admittance and view allowance to its occupants. The size and location of windows are key to both of these functions.  As a general rule, the higher the window head height, the deeper into the space the daylight can travel.  However, the window still needs to be low enough for its occupants to see out.  Another thing to consider is that too much sunlight can make the interior space uncomfortable, so there’s definitely a balance here and it depends on orientation, climate, window size and location.

Skylights:

Skylights can be incorporated into a home to admit daylight in from above. Skylights can be either passive or active. Most skylights are passive which allows sunlight to penetrate a diffusing material through an opening in the roof.  By contrast, an active system utilizes mirrors to capture the sun and channels the sunlight down into the skylight well to increase the performance of the skylight.

Tubular daylight devices:

This is another type of toplighting device. They use a highly reflective film on an interior surface of a tube to channel light from a lens on the roof to a lens at the ceiling plane.

These tubes tend to be much smaller than skylights, but still deliver sufficient daylighting benefits.

Daylight redirection devices:

These devices take incoming direct sunlight and redirect it, usually into the ceiling of a space. They serve two functions, glare control and daylight penetration further into the space.  They usually take on one of two forms: a large horizontal element (a light shelf) or a louvered system.  

Building Design Techniques:

By designing a building in specific ways, you are able to direct sunlight.  For example, sloping an interior ceiling brings more light into a space.  Also, designing a relatively narrow home allows more sunlight to enter the space.  There are many other techniques, but these are just a few to consider.

So, when you are working on the design of your new home, be sure to consider its daylighting needs from the very beginning. The sooner you identify and incorporate what specific orientations and techniques you desire, the better home you will have in the end.

Did you know that as humans we crave a connection to our natural world?  Having contact with nature in our everyday lives provides numerous health benefits and makes us happier people! Designing buildings to connect with nature can be accomplished in many ways.

Views:

Making nature visible within a building elevates the spirit. It gives us a visual connection with the outdoors and our natural environment.  It can reduce stress, produce more positive emotional functioning and actually improve our concentration. Views can be accomplished with glazing placed at strategic locations throughout the building.  Having large expanses of glass means the outdoors can flow seamlessly into the indoors. Windows with views to natural places help to achieve this important connection to nature.

Sunlight:

Daylighting also introduces a part of nature into a building.  Sunlight can improve our mood and bring a more natural and comfortable feel to the interior of a building.  It also reduces our reliance on artificial lighting and thus less energy use.

Airflow:

Fresh air is an important aspect of introducing nature into architecture as well.  It can stimulate our olfactory senses and provide pleasant breezes that just make us feel in tune with our natural environment.  It can also contribute to the cooling of our spaces without the use of artificial cooling systems.

Presence of Water:

Did you know that hearing or viewing aspects of nature such as water can also improve our mood and overall health?  Whether it means including a water feature within our building design or providing openings to listen to or view natural water features outside, water can have a positive impact on our everyday lives. 

Material Connection:

The materials that make up our building can also improve our connection to nature.  Construction materials such as wood and stone can create a more natural-feeling living environment that establishes a more comfortable setting.  Colors of interior spaces can also have an impact on our mood and overall mental health.

Indoor vegetation:

Having indoor plants within our architecture can produce positive effects as well. The plants purify, humidify and oxygenate the air within a space, thus improving indoor air quality greatly. They also visually help to connect an occupant to his/her natural environment when direct views of the outdoors are not possible.

In summary, a connection to nature within our built environment is crucial to our overall well-being.  By utilizing just a few of these methods to connect us to our natural environment, we become healthier, happier and more productive people!
 

We are thrilled to welcome David to our team & are excited about his extensive knowledge of the Quebec Market where he lived for most of his life, up until the last 7 years. David, obviously bilingual, lets us expand into a market where we could not previously service appropriately because of the language barrier but, can now approach with confidence. David will focus on the Laurentians, Eastern Townships, Outaouais, Lanaudière, Charlevoix to name a few but happy to help anyone out who is interested in more information about timber frame construction & design.

David brings with him a long history in the building construction industry with over 10 years of combined stick frame, timber & log building experience. He also has extensive background in the ski industry with over 7 years of soft & hard good sales and, was with the Canadian Snowboard Cross Team for 4 years leading up to the Sochi Olympics. David is thrilled to be working with Canadian Timberframes where he can put many of his passions to work. He loves to get to know clients stories, what drives their dreams and loves helping shape them into a new reality; a custom timber frame home, chalet or cottage.

Please join us in welcoming David to the team.

Fell free to reach out to David at dgagne@canadiantimberframes.com

The Canadian Timberframes Team

A NEW YEAR IS UPON US

 
...And with it comes renewed promises and new technologies, products & services to make life amazing.  We are all looking at the past year & how we can improve ourselves and our results in 2016. So many people live their lives on max – stressing about the lack of time, lack of convenience and lack of connection to loved ones. We are all looking for short cuts & support spots in our lives where we can make our lives easier – from apps to digital problem solvers. We are looking for places that bring us solitude & connection to ourselves and our families. We at CTF understand how busy people’s lives are and are committed to providing exceptional & responsive service to our clients; this is what we believe in.

Enjoy reading through our Winter newsletter & enjoy the new designs & projects that are on the go.

It is very exciting to be awarded 2 wins from the Annual Timber Home Living Readers Choice Awards. We at Canadian Timberframes are honored that readers not only voted but chose Canadian Timberframes to be the best!

We won in 2 categories:

Canadin Timberframes Won Best Kitchen & Best Great Room.

Enjoy the article & the fantastic entries & winners.

Thanks Timber Home Living Readers for your support!

Jet Set Magazine published a Canadian Timberframes article describing different Architectural Design Styles.

Enjoy the read & pick which Design Style best resonates with you & your lifestyle.

This is my final blog covering the four broad climate types we find in North America.  To close the conversation, I would like to discuss Alpine zones.

The main characteristics of the alpine climate include:

• Low humidity, high diurnal temperature range
• Four distinct seasons, winter exceeds human comfort range
• Cold to very cold winters
• Warm, dry summers
• Highly variable spring and autumn conditions

Homes in alpine environments have the highest thermal comfort energy use of any climate zone. The general objectives for buildings in the alpine zone is to reduce heat loss, provide protection against cold winds and provide alternate heating sources. Because the need for cooling is low, design strategies can mainly focus on heating energy use.

Here are some design ideas:

-Sunlight is key.  Try not building on sites without good access to sunlight.

-Minimize east/west axis with good southern exposure

-Site new homes with adequate sunlight and protection from cold winter winds

-Plant coniferous trees on north, east and west sides of buildings to protect from winds

-Locate living areas on south for sun exposure and bedroom and service areas on north

-Consider multi-level designs that allows sunlight into all rooms while maintaining a

compact form

-Provide airlocks to entries

-Minimize and shade east and west facing glass in the summer

-Use windows for ventilation and night-time cooling in the summer

It’s difficult to harness the solar radiation from the sun without compromising the insulation effects of the building form. In the Alpine climate, it’s definitely a balancing act.

This concludes my series on design for specific climates.  I hope that this has made you aware of various design principles that you can utilize within the design of your new home to better fit your specific environment.