We are resuming our podcasts after a couple of years’ hiatus because we are excited to introduce our new Design Wizard, Moyer Fountain. We meet Moyer, and answer questions that folks have sent to us. We look forward to future podcasts as you send us more of your questions. Enjoy.

Our new Design Wizard, Moyer Fountain, is originally from North Carolina and has lived in South Carolina for years now. He has always liked to build things with wood. He has worked for timber frame companies, been self-employed, and has worked as a subcontractor for Timber Frame HQ in the past. Joining the team as Design Wizard was a good fit. Moyer even worked own Brice’s own house long ago under Moresun Timber Frames.

• Biggest pegs we use are 1 ¼”. That should be good in this case  
• Diameter of pegs affected by how many pegs per joint and placement of the pegs.
• A 4” tenon is very thick, it might be hard to make mortise for that. 1 ½” tenon would be fine
• It’s always a good idea to have an engineer to review, especially when pushing the envelope.
• Bigger pegs take more meat out of the tenons.

• Largest span Brice has done is 48 feet, but it had substantial engineering.
• 24-28 feet spans are generally ok,  it’s always good to have an engineer.
• Different types of trusses can span different lengths
• Heavier snow loads, roof pitch affect distance (steeper pitch=less thrust on post)

• DIY- woodworking experience helps. Start with a smaller project before you try to build your home. TFHQ is a good resource to practice. Take classes. Shelter Institute has an online class which is a great resource in these days of the Coronavirus. Brice has a Talk Radio episode: Episode 10: Can I Build My Own Timber Frame? (See Resources Below)
• Square foot pricing is not a good way to price timber frames. A lot of the time spent is in the joinery. Timber Frame is more expensive because it is unique.
• Brice designed a house that was built twice: once for $175 per sf and then for $345 per sf. It was the same frame. The difference was SIPs and finishes. 
• Ask around your area average square foot cost. Add 10-15% more for timber frame on average

• Timber Frame is generally 10-15% more than stick built.
• Try to get the insured value up by that 10-15%.
• Shop around! You may be able to set your own replacement cost.
• You may have to pay higher premium to get higher replacement costs.

That wraps up the questions for this show. The show will be based on your questions!  Send your questions in to [email protected]. If we don’t know the answers, we will find the experts who do!

We are with you under this coronavirus.  We are a remote-working team, and we will keep working straight through. So if you have any questions, need any help,or need someone to talk to about your project, drop us a line at [email protected].

• Episode 10 – Can I Build My Own Timber Frame?
• Shelter Institue Online Timber Frame Course

The post Episode 11: Peg Size, Span Distance, Cost of TF and Homeowners Insurance appeared first on Timber Frame HQ.

Do you ask yourself “Can I build my own timber frame?” In this episode we take a look at cutting a timber frame yourself and whether or not you have the skills to be successful.  Cutting a frame is tough work but something that most folks will be able to complete by gathering the skills you need before you start.

Remember you get to throw a party on raising day!

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In this episode we take sometime to answer some of the questions that you have been asking on the site.  Topics range from remodeling, pegs, what school to go to and whether boxed heart timbers are ok to use.  At the end of the show, I talk a little bit about the SE Regional Timber Framers Guild Meeting.  Enjoy.

Gary – Asks

I’d like to know if you have any recommendations on schools or instruction on learning timber framing.

Russ – Asks

Would very much like more detail on the pegs.

George Day – Asks

I am considering remodeling my 1976 ranch style house and would like to incorporate some timber frame features into the addition. Any advice on tying in the timber frame to the existing traditionally built structure?

Structural or non structural

Think through the options and make sure the timber are supported correctly.  Timbers are not light things and it often makes more sense to make them structural.  Especially in the roof system creating trusses, while they maybe for show they make be imparting loads on your framing.

James – Asks

Hey Brice. I hope your day is going well. In response to the question, the best way I know to answer that would be in a story. Remember, you asked….

A long story short, boxed out hearts for timbers, will it work as I think it will?

Review of the SE Guild Timber Framers Meet up on November 1st.  See post on the happenings at https://timberframehq.com/blog/take-2014-se-timber-framers-guild-meetup/

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GREAT Resource
by Bhoodes

LOVE This Show
by PROWLER58

Eposide 8 Transcript

The post Episode 8: Biggest Mistakes While Building My House appeared first on Timber Frame HQ.

Click Here to Review the Show in Itunes

The post Episode 7 – A Chat with Jack Dickinson with Texas Timber Frames appeared first on Timber Frame HQ.

In this episode we talk with Will Beemer from the Heartwood School about the different timber species that  one can choose for their timber frame projects as well as the pros and cons of each one in a lightning round event.  Will also talk in-depth about the process that he goes through to choose the species for his projects.

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Just to let folks know,  I met Will during a week at the Heartwood school, taking the compound joinery class – one that I would recommend to everyone. This was an extremely enjoyable week for me, actually taking some time off and doing it during a vacation and did enjoy learning the traditional method for laying out compound joinery and making new friends some that I still see at Guild events eight years later.  I even went relatively on the cheap – sleeping in the back of my pickup truck at the local state park.

Episode 6 – Timber Frame Talk Radio

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In this episode, we have a chat with Joel McCarty, the Executive Director of the Timber Framers Guild(TFG) about the organization and what it does.  We go in depth about the upcoming TFG Conference in Leesburg, VA, the various projects that they have had this year, as well as touch base and find out about the newly formed Apprenticeship Program.  Towards the end of the interview, we gain some insight into the state of the industry by Joel having a friendly cup of tea.

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A little bit about the Guild taken from their website:

The Timber Framers Guild was born in 1985 as a nonprofit [501c(3)], educational organization. A core group met in houses and workshops and called a charter conference in June 1985. 200 enthusiastic people met in a spirit of discovery and fellowship that remains very much alive today. The Guild is dedicated to establishing training programs for professional and beginning timber framers, disseminating information about timber framing and timber frame building design, displaying the art of timber framing to the public, and generally serving as a center of timber framing information for the professional and general public alike.

Guild Project Links:

Kentucky Pavilion Project

The Old Stone House

Enger Pavilion

Episode 5 – Timber Frame Talk Radio

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In this episode my guest will be Eric Morley with Carolina Timberworks, a contractor and timber framer.  We are going to dig into what a contractor is, the process of getting one, talk about the DIY home builder, his thoughts on the timber frame industry and where he sees it going.  We follow it all up with a tip from Eric about the real cost of contracting a house and a online resource called Houzz.com that may help you communicate your thoughts and visions to your architect or designer.

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A little about the guest:

The post Episode 4 – Digging Into General Contracting with Eric Morley appeared first on Timber Frame HQ.

I’m excited to be joined by David Hourdequin of D Remy and Co. , an engineering firm in the mountains of North Carolina. I’ve been working with David for a number of years on several timber frame projects and I thought it he would be a good candidate to be on the show to discuss timber frame engineering.

In the interview we are going to talk about the value a timber frame engineer brings to your project, the process to get a set of plans stamped and engineered, what the differences between the structural engineer and a timber frame engineer and we will follow all that up with a special message from David.

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Originally posted on his site at dremy.com

David Hourdequin, the President and Owner, received his Bachelor of Civil Engineering Degree from the University of Florida in 1964 after studying pre-engineering at Florida State University. He earned a Master’s Degree in Engineer Management at the University of South Florida in 1992 while working full time as an owner and manager of a commercial construction company. 

During his career, Mr. Hourdequin has been engaged as a structural sub-contractor, general contractor, construction manager, development manager, and structural engineer. Earlier in his career, he served as Director of Engineering for the Holiday Inn hotel system and Director of Engineering and Construction for the Hampton Inn hotel system. Mr. Hourdequin has also served on the Advisory Council to the School of Construction Management at Western Carolina University.

The post Episode 3 – A 30 Minute Discussion About Timber Frame Engineering with a Master of the Craft appeared first on Timber Frame HQ.

Today’s show is all about what is a timber frame , how much they cost and the process of getting one.  Our guests today will be Stephen Morrison with Moresun Woodworking, he gave me my first job as a timber framer in his shop and he puts it all on the table in my first interview on the show.  We also answer a question that was emailed to the show about the size of timbers in a space and how it affects the feel of a home.

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Stephen Morrison grew up in Roswell, GA and gained his love for woodworking early on from an inspirational high school shop teacher.  He started his first job building reproduction furniture just days after graduation.   Stephen was introduced to timber framing when he was offered a job working with a team of Belgian draft horses and a portable sawmill.  They would take the logs directly from the forest, mill them into squared timbers, cut them using mortise & tenon joinery, fit them together & peg each joint for the final installation.  When it came time to start his own business, Stephen wanted to utilize his wide range of woodworking skills, so MoreSun offers almost any type of wood craft.  He lives with his wife and two little girls, just up the hill from the MoreSun shop in a self-built timber frame house.  Stephen is committed to providing his clients with honest price quotes and strives to ensure that each project is built right and will last for generations.

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