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Trendy Timbers | Timber Home Construction Trends
by: Wyatt Myers | Timber Home Living
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
This old adage applies to a number of things in life. But what's surprising is that when it comes to the tried-and-true timber home—one of the world's oldest construction methods, mind you—change is definitely in the air.
One only has to look at some of the jaw-dropping design techniques employed on today's timber homes to see that timber frames have definitely broken out of the box (or out of the barn, as the case may be). But with so much change in the air, how do you know which trends are just passing fads, and which ones are here to stay? We talked to a number of top timber home architects and designers to get their thoughts.
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 Hybrids Are In
A timber-frame structure, while unarguably unique, is limited in terms of the shapes and styles it can assume. Enter the hybrid home, which incorporates timber-framed rooms within a conventionally built home, opening a bold new world of possibilities in timber-home design.
"The majority of my projects over the past year have been a timber-framed foyer and great room, with timber accents in the other rooms," says Doug Tatham, a project manager with Hearthstone Inc. "By adding timber-frame elements to the conventionally built parts of the home, we can help our clients stick to their budgets while maintaining the ambiance of heavy-timber construction." |
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 Green Is Good
"Green" is definitely a big buzzword when it comes to home construction these days. But according to Tommi Jamison, marketing manager with Hearthstone Inc., the new push for more green products is being fueled by the consumer. "Clients are doing their homework and investigating what products are available," she says. "They want products that are earth-friendly and can help the environment, as well as cut down on maintenance for themselves."
Tommi says the green products topping her clients' lists are bamboo flooring (which matures faster than old-growth timber), composite decking products made from recycled plastics, and synthetic stone made from concrete. |
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 Planning for the Future
Many of today's timber-home buyers are planning to spend their retirement years in their home. And when you look at how timber homes are being built these days, you can definitely see that people are accounting for this early on, Tommi says.
"People are designing their homes with aging in mind," she says. "This includes details such as 3-foot doors to meet ADA codes, larger walk-in or roll-in showers, bigger living spaces on the first floor, floorplans with multiple master suites—even plans that account for elevators." |
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 Finishing With Fine Touches
The rustic touch of wood from exposed posts and beams used to be enough to satisfy timber-home buyers' cravings for a unique feature. These days, homeowners are demanding more elegant details, as well as additional millwork to further accentuate the timbers.
Tim Schafer, lead architect with PrecisionCraft and Mountain Architects, sees this trend playing out in the baseboards, crown molding, and door and window trim in many of the new homes he works on. "People like to match the timber frame material with the other trim and molding throughout the house," he says.
Truss design is another place where homeowners are looking for a unique, custom aesthetic. "We're seeing more requests for hammerbeam, arched and queen post trusses, as well as other uniquely designed trusses," Tim says. |
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 Mixing Materials
Although a timber home's trim and trusses will always remain rustic wood, homeowners are starting to branch out in the materials they select for their homes' exteriors. According to Tim, a unique blend of mixed materials is definitely in.
He says that blending the look of stone and timbers, or conventional wood siding and timbers, are both becoming more commonplace. One look he says is really catching on is the use of stone, exposed timbers and skirl siding, a unique rustic cedar siding with knotty boards and irregular edges that nicely complements the look of a timber home. |
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 Spreading the Timbers Around
Since a timber frame works so well inside your home, why not use it elsewhere on your property? Tim says this already popular trend has gained even more traction in recent years.
One place where this has especially caught on, he says, is the front porch, where builders will use timber-frame trusses to add visual impact. Decks and roof overhangs also are incorporating more timber-frame structural elements, such as braces and kickers. And finally, there's the timber-frame pergola, which is gaining popularity in gardens and other outdoor spaces. |
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 Dressing up the Basement
The final trend in timber-home design is shaping up downstairs in the basement, where Tim says homeowners want to incorporate the same rustic feel of the rest of their home. "Builders will use posts and beams as decorative elements to make the basement more livable," he says.
Another twist on this idea, adds Tim, is to use timber-frame components to construct a bar. Like many of the recent design trends, it's a small step that can add a lot of charm to your timber-frame home. |
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