Thursday, May 26, 2011

Commercial Timber Frame Project

Timber frame golf club restaurant

Does Davis Frame Work on Commercial Timber Frame Projects?

Here at Davis Timber Frame, we have worked on several light commercial projects over the years. We have designed and built a timber frame bank, golf club, pet store, aviation center, restaurant and timber frame general store.

If you have plans to build a timber frame commercial building or you are looking for timber frame accent pieces or glulams for your commercial structure, give us a call today at 1-800-636-0993 to speak with one of our project coordinators!

Timber frame aviation center

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Beachfront Timber Frame Home in South Carolina

oceanfront post and beam

Back in 2003, we worked on a spectacular beachfront timber frame home in South Carolina. Ed and Lexy, the homeowners, spent years researching how they were going to build their new home. In the late 1980's, their beachfront home was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo and they wanted to find a construction method that would make their home resistant to hurricanes. The couple came to the harsh reality that there is no construction method that is completely hurricane proof. However, it is possible to minimize how much a hurricane can impact a house said their engineer Ken.

According to Ken, there were only two ways to build a home with an open floor plan  that could withstand a category 4 or 5 storm. He suggested to the homeowners to look into timber frame or steel. Ed and Lexy did not like the idea of steel, but loved the idea of a timber frame home. The couple decided to use Davis Frame Company to manufacturer the timber frame. Dense Select Structural Douglas fir timbers were used for the frame because this grade fir adds 30% in bending stress which allows the timber skeleton to resist the force of high winds. Traditional mortise and tenon joinery is typically used for Davis timber frame homes, but we used reinforced metal joinery to increase storm resistance. We were able to design the home to hide the metal joinery so that it wouldn't distract from the beauty of the wood.

The homeowners were very happy with the outcome and are still enjoying their beachfront timber frame home in South Carolina. Waking up every day with the view of the beach is a dream come true.

cathedral ceiling timber frame great room
Timber frame stairs lead to the loft that overlooks the main floor

South carolina timber frame
The kitchen opens into the great room and dining area; this is a perfect entertaining space!

oceanfront timber frame bedroom
The master bedroom captures beautiful views of the sunrise and sunset. What a great place to wake up!

oceanfront timber frame great room
A view of the timber frame great room from the loft.

south carolina coast timber frame home
Rear view of this Oceanside timber frame home.

We have worked with several clients on their oceanfront timber frame homes to ensure they are built to be durable and use materials that stand up to hurricane force winds. Learn more about our timber frame homes today by calling 1-800-636-0993 today!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Douglas Fir Timber Grade

Example of Douglas fir timbers

What Grade Douglas Fir timbers does Davis Frame Offer?

At Davis Timber Frame, we only use free of heart center timbers for a couple reasons. FOHC timbers offer the highest quality Douglas fir timbers available and will create less checking. Douglas fir FOHC timbers are usually the most popular choice with our clients due to the minimal checking; however a few of our clients like the checking aspect of some of the other timber species available that offer a more rustic look.

Douglas fir timbers also offers a beautiful vertical wood grain and strength and durability.

If you would like to find out more information about our timber frame homes, give us a call today at 1-800-636-0993!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

New Timber Frame Home Under Construction in Tennessee

Front elevation for timber frame home

We are currently working on a new timber frame home in Tennessee! This new custom Davis Timber Frame home will feature one floor living and a loft. The main floor will host a large 21'X18' great room with a game room to the left and an open concept dining room and kitchen to the right. Off of the kitchen, there will be a spacious pantry, every cook’s dream. To the left of the kitchen, there will be a half bath, den and spacious master bedroom suite.  Timber frame stairs in the great room will lead to an open loft, the perfect place to relax and enjoy timber home living.

Construction was delayed due to the tornado warnings in Tennessee this spring, but now this new timber frame home is well on its way to being constructed! The crew is working on finishing up the exterior shell. We will have more pictures to share soon; keep checking back for updates on this new timber frame in Tennessee!

tennessee timber frame home
Timber frame bent being raised by a crane

south timber frame homes
Timber frame features 5 custom timber frame bents

southeast post and beam
Timber frame raising complete, next SIPs installation

Are you looking to build a new timber frame home? We ship our timber frame packages nationwide. Call us today to speak with one of our project coordinators about your upcoming home project.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Incorporating Timber Framing Into Your Home

Traditional design with timber framing

One of the most common questions we receive from our clients is "Can I incorporate timber frame in an existing floor plan design?"

The answer is yes! Timber framing is very adaptable to different architectural styles. We have worked with clients on traditional designs, modern and contemporary designs and mountain home designs. Many of our clients bring us a design for a conventional home and we can usually incorporate timber framing into the design; however, we are careful not to reproduce any copyrighted plans from other companies, and work with you to use your plan as a starting point to develop a custom timber frame home that is uniquely yours.

If you have any questions or want to speak to a project coordinator, give us a call today 1-800-636-0993!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Vacation Home in Wine Country Oregon

wine country oregon timber frame

This barn style timber frame home nestled in Wine Country, Oregon has become one of my favorite Davis Frame homes. I have already blogged about this beautiful barn home twice, but I just can't get enough of it!

If you're a wine enthusiast like I am, you can appreciate why the homeowners chose to build their vacation home in wine country. Not only does this new timber frame home offer views of a vineyard below, but it is also located on the Oregon wine trail. The photos below show how beautiful a timber frame home can be at night with the right lighting. Read our previous blog post on lighting a timber frame home.

timber frame home by the vineyard
Future timber frame great room; to light this room, track lighting and wall sconces were used.

timber frame cupola on barn home
Track lights enhance the beauty of the Douglas fir timbers. The cupola with provide lots of natural light during the day.

barn home near wine vineyard
Timber frame kitchen

barn home in oregon
The loft is a great place to enjoy the beauty of the timbers and is a great place to be during the daylight hours to enjoy the stunning views of the rolling hills.

Often people think of Northern California when it comes to wineries, but Oregon is just as beautiful and the best kept secret for wine. Check out Oregon Wine Country's website to learn more.

If you are looking to build a new home in the Pacific Northwest, our reps Doug and Leanne are located in Oregon and can help you with your dream home. We will post more updated photos of this barn home as soon as we receive them!

For more information on our timber frame packages call us today at 1-800-636-0993!