Don't Forget to Attend a Timber Frame Open House this Weekend!

Don't forget to visit a Davis Timber Frame home this Saturday, May 1st from 1:00pm-4:00pm! Visiting a timber frame home in person is the best way to gather ideas for your upcoming timber frame project.

Locations include:

-York, Maine

-Claremont, New Hampshire

-Adams, Massachusetts

-Poascoag, Rhode Island

-Eastern, Pennsylvania

-Breckenridge, Colorado

-Sisters, Oregon

To see photos of the timber frame open house locations, please visit our events webpage.

Call today to register and receive directions! 800.636.0993

How to Budget for Your New Timber Frame Home

Reprinted from our Spring 2005 newsletter

Here at Davis Timber Frame, many clients come to us concerned about being able to work within their budget. Many things affect the budget, including the design of the plan, the wood species of the timber frame, choice of windows, and what material you choose to finish your house.

Remember, the timber frame package, which includes the exterior shell of the home (timber frame, Structural Insulated Panels, windows, doors, siding, roofing, and trim) is only one part of the house. As soon as your plans start to formulate, consider these things.

• What kind of heating system do I want?
• What kind of siding will we have?
• What kind of flooring will be used and where?
• What type of kitchen cabinets and appliances will I be using?
• How much money will site work require?

How do you go about establishing costs that fit into your budget? First, interview local custom builders. Begin by consulting acquaintances who have built custom homes or check with your local chapter of the National Home Builders Association. Your builder will help you establish costs for all areas of the house.Next, prioritize the rooms according to your main focus. For instance, most timber frame homes highlight the Great Room. And, if you're an aspiring Chef or plan to do a lot of entertaining, the kitchen will also be a big focus. Look at those areas first and choose a timber frame system that enhances those areas but stays within your allowance for those rooms. Then work with your builder to establish a budget to work within. Then you can determine how the rest of the house can be finished to stay within your budget.

If your budget is tight, consider a hybrid system, combining timber framing with conventional stick frame construction for other areas of the house. Your builder can also recommend appliances, flooring, and finish materials to help you stay within budget.

Contact Davis Frame today by calling 1-800-636-0993 to receive our construction budget worksheet to help you get started! We are happy to answer your questions in regards to budgeting and costs.

Timber Frame Floor Plan Feature: Classic Colonial 1B

Very popular in the American colonies from 1690 to 1830, the distinctive features of a colonial style home include the squared, symmetrical shape, central door, and straight, aligned windows on the first and second floors. For a fresh take on tradition, we’ve opened up the living and dining room areas to make them perfect for modern entertaining. We have two Classic Colonial timber frame floor plans and the historical look is a very popular choice here at Davis Timber Frame!


The first floor of Classic Colonial 1B features a larger entertaining space for the first floor plan than Classic Colonial 1A. The first floor offers a large open living room. Also included on the first floor is a spacious dining room, kitchen and breakfast nook. The big difference between both Colonial floor plans is that all the bedrooms are located on the second floor for Classic Colonial 1B. This allows for more space on the first floor. However Classic Colonial 1A is a good choice if you are looking for an additional bedroom.

The second floor of this timber frame floor plan offers a large timber frame master suite. Two additional bedrooms and a bathroom are also located on the second floor. This floor plan is a great option for families looking for the bedrooms all on one floor.

Check out our timber frame colonial gallery!

Contact Davis Frame today to get started on your new timber frame project by calling 800.636.0993!

Geothermal Heat is a Great Option For Your New Home

Many countries around the world are now incorporating geothermal heat rather than relying on fossil fuels to heat buildings and homes. An interesting fact I found is that the United States has more geothermal capacity than any other country in the world. Most of the capacity is found in California, Oregon and Nevada; however geothermal energy can be used virtually anywhere.

Incorporating geothermal energy involves the process of tapping into the near-constant temperature of the earth below the frost line. Below the earth’s crust is a layer of hot molten rock called magma. Heat is constantly produced there and amount of heat within 10,000 meters (about 33,000 feet) of Earth's surface contains 50,000 times more energy than all the oil and natural gas resources in the world. (Fact taken from:http://www.ucsusa.org/) This type of heating and cooling system lessens our dependence on fossil fuels and also heats and cools buildings in a cost effective way and also burns clean.

What does all this have to do with timber frame homes? As we build more and more homes, we're starting to witness a greater interest from our clients in the use of geothermal heating. Davis Frame clients come to us with the understanding that tapping geothermal energy is an affordable and sustainable solution to reducing their dependence on fossil fuels, and the global warming and public health risks that result from their use.

• Costs: typically, a geothermal system costs twice the amount of a conventional system. However, one can expect his or her electric bill to decrease by approximately 25 percent.


• Most geo-exchange systems will be able to provide a significant source for the home's hot water needs but it's still a good idea to have a backup heater (in cooler locations).


• Many closed-loop systems rely on an antifreeze solution to keep the loop water from freezing in cold temperature conditions.


• Open-loop systems require a large supply of clean water in order to be cost effective. Because of this, it can be a limiting factor for use in coastal areas or sites adjacent to lakes, streams, or rivers. Additionally, an acceptable method of recycling the used water to the environment must be in place. This may be limited not only by environmental factors (such as no place to dump that much water), but also by local and state regulations.

Regardless, a geothermal (geo-exchange) heating and cooling system is a great solution to consider when building a timber frame home. Combined with solar, use of SIPs, reclaimed or standing dead timber, a new timber frame and post and beam home can be an extremely energy efficient green way to build!

For more information on geothermal, please visit http://www.ucsusa.org/ or feel free to give us a call at 800.636.0993!

Resources:
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-geothermal-energy-works.html

http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/hydropower-geothermal/4331401

Tax Credit Information: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index#c6

Updated Timber Frame Spring Open House Locations

Here at Davis Timber Frame, every spring and fall we host a nationwide timber frame open house tour! We just added another timber frame home to our list of locations for this spring's event. The new timber frame home is under construction and located in Pascoag, Rhode Island. Come see how a timber frame home is built!

Date: Saturday, May 1st

Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm

Also included in the open house event are the following timber frame locations: York, ME; Claremont, NH; Adams, MA; Zionsville, PA; Breckenridge, CO; and Sisters, OR. To see pictures of these timber frame homes, please visit Davis Frame's events webpage!

Contact Davis Frame today to register for one of our spring timber frame open house events by calling 800.636.0993!

New Jersey Timber Frame Private Art Gallery Photos

Davis Frame's mid-atlantic timber frame representative, Timber Frames Unlimited, worked with a client in New Jersey building a timber frame addition to his existing conventional home. The timber frame addition was designed and built to display the homeowner's many art collections. This timber frame addition doesn't just host his art collection, but also serves as an entertainment area for family and friends. Check out the beautiful photos below:

Timber Frame Art Gallery

King Post Trusses were used

The second floor looks over the main floor gallery

A small sitting area and library is located off the second floor

If you are looking to build a timber frame home, timber frame addition or add timber frame accents, give us a call today by calling 800.636.0993 to speak with a project coordinator!

Timber Frame Article Feature: Introducing Timber Frame Homes in Southern Maine

Reprinted from the Greater York Region Chamber Publication Featured Member section
Written by Linda Peters Drake

"Dreams Do Come True" is proudly etched into the mantel of their own timber frame home located here is Cape Neddick, Maine. It is their profound belief and the foundation of their decision to become Independent Representatives for Davis Timber Frame.

Dave and Jackie's journey here is one made of dreams and a desire to do what they truly love to do. Dave's background began as an accountant. Wanting something more gratifying, he became a remodeling contractor in 1987. Jackie's background was initially in Human Resources when they purchased their first rehab home in Connecticut. It was burned out, condemned and had no roof and here began their journey. Jackie was soon swinging a hammer, roofing, and doing whatever needed to be done alongside her husband. Her background in Human Resources and Dave's background in Accounting gave them the business skills to start profitably "flipping" houses full time. After nearly a dozen rehabs, the time had come to build their retirement home in the York, Maine area where they vacationed for years.

Having decided they wanted the beauty of a timber frame home, they research the market and selected Davis Frame of Claremont, New Hampshire to design and build their home. The quality of service they received from Davis was instrumental in their decision to join the Davis Frame team.

Timber frames offer an alternative building style to stick frame construction that is beautiful, environmentally friendly and extremely energy efficient. Dream Timber Frame Homes can offer timber frame construction, aesthetic detailing, SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels), eSIPS (Energy Smart Insulated Panel System) and precut stick construction. The Dewey's are looking forward to sharing this information with architects, fine home builders and real estate professionals to expand the design options with their clients.

They routinely hold open houses at their home in Cape Neddick, Maine. Call to schedule an appointment and get directions to see how a dream timber frame home can fit anyone's design style and taste. Karamel, their lovely golden retriever, will greet you at the door and give you a tour. She just might hand over the keys for a piece of cheese.

You may contact Dave and Jackie at 207.361.7015 or visit them at their website http://www.dreamtimberframehomes.com/ to find out when the next open house will take place. In addition, Dave is principal to the Get it Done Guy, providing window and door replacements and handyman services. The Dewey's joined the Chamber so they can become acquainted with fellow members of the Chamber and surrounding businesses.

Davis Timber Frame Spring Open House Event

Breckenridge, Colorado Timber Frame Great Room

Tour a Davis Frame timber frame home this spring during our spring open house event! We will have timber frame locations in the northeast, mid-atlantic, mid-west and also in the western part of the US.

Date: Saturday, May 1, 2010
Location: Nationwide
Time: 1:00pm-4:00pm

**We have a home in Perkiomenville, Pennsylvania available for tours year round. The home will not be available May 1st for the nationwide event. If you would like to visit the finished timber frame home in Perkiomenville, contact Drew Skelton at 610.476.4985.

Check out our spring open house locations below:

York Maine Davis Timber Frame Model Home

Davis Timber Frame Model Home in Claremont, New Hampshire

Berkshires Massachusetts Timber Frame Home: still under construction


Eastern Pennsylvania Timber Frame Home: still under construction

Breckenridge Colorado Davis Timber Frame Model Home

Sisters Oregon Davis Timber Frame Model Home

Contact Davis Frame Company today at 800.636.0993 to register for an open house and receive directions!