The Process of Building a Timber Frame Home

Once you have a few ideas in mind and have carefully considered your needs, we go through the following steps:

walkout-fundy-main-floor-planWe’ll show you floor plans for custom homes and structures we’ve previously built – a good starting point for designing your own home. Or look at our timber frame house plans to get ideas.

If you’re already working with a designer or architect, we’ll consult with them on the design process.

Once you’re happy with the design, we’ll go over all the unique and beautiful joinery techniques that can be used in your structure.

Upon signing of the contract for the frame, we provide a set of timber shop drawings including a complete floor plan, and can even supply detailed blueprints with elevations, electrical and foundation plans if you wish.

We ensure that all aspects of your timber frame are clear and any concerns you might have are addressed before actual construction begins.

Staining the timbers

Staining the timbers

The timbers for each project, crafted from top quality Eastern White Pine, Hemlock, Red or Black Spruce, Douglas Fir, or hardwoods, are hand-selected, sized and marked out for cutting.

These timbers are meticulously cut, sanded, clear stained, treated with an all-natural oil to control checking, then numbered and joined to ensure an accurate fit for on-site construction.

Raising your Timber Frame Home

The raising of the timber frame on your building site is an event to remember.

The raising of a timber frame structure is reminiscent of an old-fashioned barn raising. Most of the work of building the frame has been done at our shop, and things happen quickly. Follow us through the raising of a small frame….

Foundation ready for raisingLeft: Bright and early in the morning. The platform for this lakeside cottage has been prepared, and the entire Arlington Frame Company crew is on hand. All the pieces of the frame, with their mortises, tenons and notches already cut, have been unloaded onto the deck.

First bent raisedThe crew carefully wedge the tenons into the precision precut mortises and secure these large pieces together – not with nails, but hardwood pegs. When the timbers for the first bent are assembled, the bent is raised. For the first time, the structure starts to fill the three-dimensional space it will occupy.

raftersAs the bents are raised one by one (this structure has three), the connecting timbers are wedged into place and secured with hardwood pegs. The precut joists and rafters are added to fill in the structure.

Raised frameWhen the assembly is complete, the impressive wooden framework stands with a degree of permanence and reliability not found in most other contemporary structures. Timber frame structures built centuries ago still stand today – the techniques, craftsmanship and results stand the test of time!

Many more raised frames, large and small, can be seen in our Gallery.