Welcome to the foundational principles of timber frame construction, a method steeped in tradition and renowned for its strength, beauty, and longevity.
At Canadian Timberframes, we employ the age-old technique of mortise and tenon joinery, where wooden beams are intricately joined together to form a stable and aesthetically pleasing structure.
Both styles use exposed timbers on the interior and exterior of the home. Timber frame homes provide more design flexibility than log homes.
With log homes, what you see on the outside is what you are going to see on the inside. Timber frame homes rarely give you an idea of the interior design when looking at the outside. The floor plan turns out to be quite flexible due to the frame's interlocking configuration; which eliminates the need for load bearing interior walls. Timber frame homes provide opportunity for open spaces, vaulted ceilings and large window walls which bathe the interior in natural light.
Overall, timber frame homes are perceived as being easier and quicker to raise and CTF can pre-manufacture and engineer the timber frame to fit together on site along with the wall panels, roof system and siding. Although timber framing is a very old craft, yesterday’s timber frame homes were a far cry from the open-plan, cathedral-ceiling homes that many people associate with timber framing today.
A timber frame allows the structural timbers to be displayed. These exposed timbers are finely prepared and detailed with as many architectural features as you desire. They can act as a prominent design feature, or can be used to accent certain rooms and exterior elements of the home.
Exposed wooden timbers impart images of strength, natural beauty and warmth. Imagine vaulted ceilings and open spaces. Today's timber frame home offers evident structural integrity, countless decorative possibilities, fully-integrated mechanical systems and a particularly high degree of energy efficiency.
Whether your taste runs to rustic style or contemporary décor is more to your liking; whether you plan to build in the mountains, near the shore or on the plains, wood timbers can add warmth and charm to any home. While a timber frame can be structural, there are hybrid and decorative timber frame options available.
Canadian Timberframes Ltd. primarily uses a traditional style of pegged mortise and tenon joinery. When the mortise and tenon is combined with housings, dove tail tenons, bird’s mouths, half laps, and spline connections there is usually very little need for steel or modern connectors within your frame. When the engineering requirements or style of joint demand the use of a steel connector, we are able to design and contract the fabrication of required steel components. These steel components are test fitted in our shop before shipping the whole assembly to your job site.
The joinery on our frames is always designed with the raising in mind; our goal is to provide you with a frame that can be assembled on site easily and efficiently without modification or specialized equipment.
Planning your custom-built timber home will be exciting, challenging and ultimately deeply rewarding. In order to make the process as successful and stress-free as possible, we suggest doing some homework first.Start collecting what you love, styles, designs, and design elements, layouts as well as color, stains and timber frame architecture. Begin to build your team with a local contractor, designer/architect, & timber company!
