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The Experience of Living in a Timber Frame House

March 31, 2021

Living in Timber Frame Homes

“I’ve never been in a timber frame home”

Joe Pinciotti’s words stopped me in my tracks. Hired by the Timber Framers Guild to convey what timber framing is about, Joe was trying to get up to speed on timber framing quickly. Despite knowing that timber framing represents a fraction of one percent of all construction, it had never occurred to me that most people have never actually been in timber frame homes. So this is my attempt to convey that feeling using quotes and observations I’ve jotted down over the years.

“The primary interest in timber framing is the aesthetics and the experience of living in the structures.”

—Jeff Arvin

Know the one thing almost everyone does upon entering a timber frame home?

Timber framing is an architectural solution to a structural problem.

You can sense the appeal: simple lines, clear proportions, exposed construction.

Wood is an aesthetic material. There’s a warm environment in these buildings.

A take on the Modern Farmhouse with reclaimed hand hewn beams

It doesn’t have to be rustic.

“True Authenticity is a lack of perfection”.

—Architect Gil Schafer

Built Poetry.

While watching architect Caleb Johnson of Biddeford, Maine discuss the winner of the 2015 Best New Home award, we were struck by his profound insights into the benefits of timber framing and why we were drawn to, and love timber framing.

“The whole structure can be understood as one thing, all the heavy timbers giving a clear integrity and visual coherence to it”.

—Architect Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big House

Wood is part of the solution to climate change.

Learn More

Ever notice that man-made materials look best the day they’re installed (and go downhill thereafter), while natural materials get better and better looking with every passing year?

“Buildings are a permanent record of ourselves—an effort to do something remarkable.”

—Tedd Benson, author & founder of a timber frame company

“Open pavilions are among the most compelling timber frames. There is no siding or interior portions to disrupt the concept’s pure architecture, engineering and craft at work”.

—Ben Brungrabber, Ph.D., P.E. Fire Tower Engineered Timber

Broadly, timber framing is everything that today’s sleek, mass-produced, technology saturated culture isn’t.

“I sometimes dream in timber frame.”

—James Lung

We build some of the world’s best timber frames.

And we’re nice.

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Carolina Timberworks in Nashville, Tennessee

February 21, 2021

Paul Defiglia Nashville — Paul Defiglia playing.
Photo credit: Joshua Black Wilkins

Did you know Carolina Timberworks has ties to Nashville? Gesche Morley’s (co-owner of Carolina Timberworks) son, Paul Defiglia, is an accomplished performer, producer, and engineer based in Nashville.

Our Favorite Design Concepts: Timber Frames in Nashville

Timber framing in Nashville first within its unique culture. Large outdoor timber frame pavilions are ideal for celebrating the acoustics of Music City, while timber frame sheds and lookout towers are perfect for building out your family’s farm. Whether you’re thinking large or small, you can invest in a variety of projects to add value and beauty to your Nashville property.

If you raise horses, building a timber frame barn is a great way to shelter your team in a majestic space. Whether you’d rather retrofit an antique barn or build the next largest horse barn in the U.S., our team has the necessary experience to raise this type of timber frame in your neck of the woods.

Have a tour bus for your band or a class A motorcoach? Store your oversized vehicles in style and keep them safe and sound while they’re off the road.

Who doesn’t love good BBQ? Nashville’s legendary dry and wet pork ribs and all-day brisket deserve to be smoked in a place worthy of their majesty. A timber frame BBQ shed adds another layer of flavor, if you will, to any party where meat is on the menu.

Do you love spending a lazy Saturday at the lake house with family and friends? Why not upgrade your dock to a beautiful boat house, complete with a sun porch for lounging or entertaining? A timber frame boat house is the perfect complement to the water’s natural beauty.

Owning land in Nashville is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the area’s natural beauty. Why not add a timber frame porte cochère to your family’s home so visitors can arrive in style?

Want to make better use of your beautiful outdoor space? Build a she shed to store tools and supplies or create a hideaway.

Need a little extra space for less tidy pursuits? Design a multi-purpose outbuilding for your workshop, gardening, or storage.

Firms That Design With Timber Framing in Nashville

Where Is Nashville?

Nashville is nestled near the center of the state in Davidson County, Tennessee. It’s about 35 miles northwest of Murfreesboro and about 130 miles northwest of Chattanooga. It’s also 180 miles west of Knoxville and 200 miles northeast of Memphis. The greater Nashville area is the home of country music star Amy Grant’s Porters Pavilion – a gorgeous timber frame pavilion for under-served communities built by the Timber Framers Guild.

As you can see, Nashville really is the heart of Tennessee.

People are sometimes surprised to learn that Carolina Timberworks installs its work across the United States. Our largest job ever was in Nebraska, so Nashville is only a six-hour hop, skip, and jump from our shop.

Communities in Nashville

Nashville is at the center of a diverse set of suburbs. Some of the most notable include Franklin, Whites Creek, East Nashville, Donelson, Hermitage, Hendersonville, and Madison. Many larger suburbs lie beyond Nashville’s city lines, such as Mt. Juliet, Leiper’s Fork, Brentwood, and Bellevue. Brentwood and Bellevue share some micro-suburbs, including Green Hills, Forest Hills, and Antioch.

No matter where you live in the Nashville area, Carolina Timberworks can work with you and the firm of your choice to design, engineer, fabricate, ship, and install the ideal timber frame addition for your property.

Nashville by the Numbers

Elevation	597′
Population (as of 2018)	692,587
Square miles	526
People per square mile	1,427
Acres	337,000
Number of farms	66,000
Median home value	$313,679
Property tax rate (per $100 USD in Davidson County)	$3.155
Median rent	$1,399
Median household income	$59,828
Households with broadband internet	82.4%
Average travel time to work	24.3 min.
Closest public airport (BNA)	26 min.
Closest major airport (BNA)	26 min.
Best Local Weather Forecast:	News Channel 5 and News 4 Nashville

Some of Our Favorite Things to Do in and Around Nashville

The Parthenon is a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Built in 1897, this Parthenon has stood the test of time – just like the original one!
The Hermitage was President Andrew Jackson’s home in Tennessee. This plantation and mansion is a must-see for history buffs.
Fort Negley is one of the only ones of its kind erected during the Civil War. After capturing Nashville, Union troops built this stone fortification as a forward base for incursions into the South.
A historic district in downtown Nashville, Music Row is home to radio stations, recording studios, and record label headquarters. Many offer tours, such as the historic Columbia and RCA studios.
National Museum of African American Music seeks to preserve and celebrate music created, inspired, and influenced by African Americans. Explore the curated collections and interactive technology and walk through America’s history as seen through musical heroes of past and present.
Station Inn is one of the original bluegrass concert venues.
Ryman Auditorium is the former home of the Grand Ole Opry – the most famous country music stage in North America.
Calling the Schermerhorn Symphony Center its home, the Nashville Symphony brings music from across the globe to Music City USA. The symphony has won multiple Grammys, and seeing a performance here is likely to leave you in awe.
Located in Germantown, the Tennessee State Museum and Archives showcases the Volunteer State’s numerous historic highlights, from Civil War archives to the civil rights movement and more.
If you love country music, checking out the Country Music Hall of Fame in the heart of Nashville should be on your bucket list.
Walk through every era of music history at the Musician’s Hall of Fame and Museum. . From explorations of American music culture to music studio experiences, you can truly get up close and personal with the instruments and people who shaped music history.
The Lane Motor Museum contains the largest collection of European motorcycles and cars in the United States. It’s a must for auto enthusiasts!
From giraffes to Bengal tigers, the Nashville Zoo brings a bit of the animal kingdom from around the world to Tennessee.
Have you ever been to an art museum tucked away in a botanical garden? Cheekwood Estate and Gardens is an essential stop for art and nature lovers alike.
Visit the state’s World War II memorial at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, an urban state park right in front of the State Capitol.
Held in September every year, the Tennessee State Fair brings the Volunteer State’s best to the State Fairgrounds.
Printers Alley is the center of Nashville’s once substantial printing industry. The Tennessean and Nashville Banner – two of the city’s largest newspapers – called this area home, and dozens of printing presses and distributors took up shop here. Now home to nightclubs and music halls, Nashville’s liveliest entertainment district has hosted performers like Hank Williams, Waylon Jennings, and Jimi Hendrix.
With more than 444 miles of recreational road, the Natchez Trace follows the travel corridor Native Americans originally developed. European settlers later took the same route, realizing its efficiency and being in awe of its beauty. Today, you can hike, bike, and camp along this route, which encompasses more than 10,000 years of history.
Nashville’s food scene is also worthy of your attention, whether it’s date night or an after-concert event. Some of our recommendations include Sean Brock’s, Husk, Audrey, Joyland as well as City House (recent Beard Award winner), Rolf and Daughters, and Folk.

Nashville International Airport

Nashville International Airport (BNA) is a public and military airport. It’s the primary airport for the Southeastern section of Tennessee. It hosts more than 20 airlines and averages 585 daily flights in and out of the city.

Opened in 1937, the airport’s original name was Berry Field. Today, the airport’s Berry Field Air National Guard Base is home to the 118th Airlift Wing of the Tennessee Air National Guard headquarters.

These days, BNA is undergoing major renovations as more airlines make Nashville a hub. The airport also offers international flights to London, Cancun, and a handful of Caribbean destinations.

A (Not So) Brief History of Nashville

Two women standing in front of Nashville mural — Credit: Photo by Katy Anne on Unsplash

Mississippian Native American tribes once called Nashville and the surrounding areas home. Shawnee, Chickasaw, and Cherokee moved into the area and began fur trading with French travelers in the early 1700s.

By the mid-19th century, these tribes were forced to leave the area, prompting the Trail of Tears to run through Nashville between 1830 and 1850. Today, the city is home to many historical sites that commemorate those who passed and look back at the area’s involvement in The Trail of Tears.

Manufacturing and Trading

Nashville has long thrived as a manufacturing and trade depot, thanks to its location on the Cumberland River. As railroad tracks started to criss-cross the East Coast, Nashville stood out as the perfect location to connect cities for trade.

American chestnut trees made up almost 25 percent of the forest in the state. This rot-resistant wood built homes and fences and was traded to surrounding areas as the land was cleared for farming.

Civil War

In February 1862, Nashville became the first Union-occupied Confederate state capital during the Civil War. More than two years later, the Battle of Nashville again put the city in the spotlight and effectively ended both the Army of Tennessee and large-scale fighting during the Civil War.

Almost all of south and west Nashville were part of the battle site, and communities like Green Hills, Oak Hill, and Lipscomb are built on top of the battlefield. Although the area isn’t an official historic site, scattered memorials throughout the area commemorate its importance in U.S. history.

Post-Civil War

The newly nicknamed “Athens of the South” grew and expanded rapidly in the postwar era, with many higher education institutions opening throughout the city. Universities like Belmont, Lipscomb, Vanderbilt, Tennessee State University, Fisk, Nossi College of Art, American Baptist College, Aquinas College, Meharry Medical College, Nashville State Technical Institute, and more have called Nashville home.

Civil rights icon and late U.S. Representative John Lewis attended Nashville’s American Baptist College at 17. Lewis credited the city with igniting his passion for the movement, for activism, and for causing good trouble. Lewis believed if he hadn’t attended American Baptist College, he might not have gone on to change the course of American history for African Americans.

Music City USA

Nashville’s musical roots were first planted by Davy Crocket, who arrived in town in the 18th century. He was dubbed the “first celebrity of the city,” as he brought colorful stories and fiddle tunes that inspired others to celebrate Nashville in song.

In the 1920s, radio broadcasts like the Grand Ole Opry further established Nashville’s spot on the map. As Nashville continued to grow, musicians like Dolly Parton, the Allman Brothers, Bobby Hebb, Marion James, Del Wood, Hank Williams, and Kitty Wells began calling the city home. Because it’s about a day’s drive the rest of the country, recording studios and touring companies began leveraging Nashville as their home bases or considering the city an important stopover.

Today, Nashville is the country music capital of the world, and many local recording studios cater to the genre. Music Row offers tourists some of the best music attractions in North America, including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the Opry House, and the International Country Music Fan Fair.

Many modern musicians became famous due to incredible performances in Nashville, including Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Michael Bublé, and the Black Eyed Peas. From rock ‘n’ roll to Christian music and everything in between, Nashville brings out the best in musicians far and wide.

Modern Nashville

Nashville has seen explosive growth since the 1970s. The 90s saw an economic boom, updates to major landmarks, and brand new stadiums like Nissan Stadium (Tennessee Titans) and the Bridgestone Arena (Nashville Predators).

Credit: Photo by Tanner Boriack on Unsplash

Despite experiencing massive flooding and damage to historic sites in 2010, Nashville has been identified as one of the top five regions of growth by the Wall Street Journal. It continued to land on the country’s fastest-growing cities lists, creating an aspirational example for the 21st century. As of 2018, Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with over 1.9 million people calling it home.

Contact us today.

Carolina Timberworks is a timber frame company. If you’re building or remodeling in Nashville and are contemplating post and beam or timber frame construction, drop us a line and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

Carolina Timberworks
West Jefferson, NC 28694

Website: www.carolinatimberworks.com
Phone: 828-266-9663

Drop us an email!

Timber Frame Solar Panel Carport

February 17, 2021

Solar panels that don’t ruin the view

The idea for a timber frame solar panel carport arose from something on our wishlist: solar panels for our timber frame shop. Our roof has plenty of space for PV, but doesn’t face south, so that leaves us with only one option, a ground-mounted array. On the positive side, ground-mounted arrays, versus roof-mounted solar panels, are easier to clean (yes, solar panels need to be cleaned periodically), can be angled at the optimum angle for efficiency, and don’t have to accommodate plumbing vents. Downsides? Well, let’s just say they’re not particularly aesthetically pleasing. Oh, and that’s before the local building official requires a fence.

(There are two rules to remember about building officials: 1. The inspector is right. 2. The inspector is always right.)

That got us thinking. Could a ground-mounted solar panel array be made to look beautiful? To a man with a hammer everything looks like a nail, so it’s probably understandable that our minds would turn first to timber framing.

The problem? Any timber frame or post and beam solar panel mounting solution is going to be more expensive than an off-the-shelf ground rack or pole mount system.

But what if the supporting structure for the PV panels was a dual-use structure? Suddenly the economics change. A timber frame solar panel carport anyone?

Carolina Timberworks Timber Frame Process

January 28, 2021

or…What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Timber Frame

The process of creating a timber frame is important, regardless of how well the finished product turns out—just ask someone who endured a terrible process to obtain their timber frame.

There is neither a shortcut, nor any secret to designing a timber frame. But whether good or bad, every timber frame company has a process. This is ours.

It starts with a dream: a spark that inspires a homeowner or a business owner to build something.

We’ve been doing this long enough to know that we’re not the right fit for every project that comes along. We half-jokingly call this first meeting the “dating phase.” There’s an understood agreement that this meeting is about learning about one another—how we both like to work, what makes us tick, our expectations. We ask you questions, and we answer your questions. (Here are some good ones: How to Interview a Timber Frame Company). Afterward, if either of us doesn’t think the partnership is a good fit, we say so, parting ways amicably and with no hard feelings—and with no expectation of a second date.

But if, on the other hand, we both agree the match has potential, the discussion turns to taking the budding relationship to the next level. The rosy flush of romance may fade considerably at this point because we (Carolina Timberworks) will bring up the subject of money on only the second date. Tacky, right? To make matters worse, we’ll throw in questions about timing. Uncomfortable though it may be, this refreshingly open communication results in saving both of us a lot of time, money, and frustration. After all, you probably don’t want to spend months waiting (and paying) for a timber frame design, that when finally priced, turns out not to fit your budget.

At this point, it’s time to talk commitment. You’re about to “marry” a timber framer—something your mother probably warned you about. (Okay, maybe not. But bet you didn’t know that timber framers’ mothers warn them about marrying the wrong clients!) Doubt and fear make their appearances. But this is why prenuptial agreements (contracts) were invented. Really good timber frame contracts are all about reducing future disagreements and problems by carefully defining what success looks like. The best ones are easy to understand, fair to both parties, contain good drawings, and are typically fairly lengthy. You wouldn’t sign a one-page prenuptial agreement, would you?

Now something weird happens in the relationship: At this point your honeymoon begins, but your timber framer has to go to work. While you’re basking in the sense of accomplishment that comes from knowing that you’ve conceived the latest addition to your family, your timber framer will be spending a great many days/evenings/weekends in front of a monitor, painstakingly working out a whole lot of details.

It’s three weeks into your honeymoon. You feel a bit guilty about emailing your timber framer that breathtaking photograph of your view of the Matterhorn from the Mont Cervin hotel in Zermatt, Switzerland. Hard at work, your timber frame spouse replies rather distractedly and with some frustration: “The engineer just called. He woke up in the middle of the night worried about…” The words every timber framer dreads. The “separate honeymoon” phase continues.

If children were produced like timber frames, sometime prior to birth, you’d receive, with a certain amount of fanfare, an amazingly complex set of drawings from the doctor with every measurement of your baby you could want—and quite a few more—including views from every possible direction or angle. To your dismay, you realize the timber frame shop drawings are pretty complex, and out of your realm of knowledge of design. It’s at this point your architect, builder, or contractor steps in with their trusty red pen, marking up the drawings and suggesting changes. Back to the timber frame shop the drawings go to the love of your life (your timber framer), and in due course, a revised set of drawings arrives in your inbox. Upon consultation with your architect or builder, one of you will sign off on the shop drawings, thereby unleashing the timber frame dogs of war (okay, that doesn’t really work, but always wanted to work that phrase in somewhere).

The timber procurement process is a bit like gestating a baby: there are times where it seems like not much is happening. This can be a blessing, for your often hyper-focused timber frame mate appears to relax a bit, and even suggests a meeting. The subject? What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Timber Frame— The Next Steps.

The first thing most people do when walking into a timber frame shop is to pause, smile, and comment how good it smells. Just like babies, freshly cut timber smells good! And just as babies symbolize new life, the beginning of a new job in a timber frame shop always feels like a fresh new start. Some timber frame parents just can’t wait for a peek at their new child, and visit the shop for an early “reveal”. Others, preferring to be surprised, are willing to wait just a few more weeks…

Suddenly, after months and months of slowness, things start to happen—fast. You’ll know you’re entering the final phase when your timber frame spouse’s extended family starts arriving in their pickups to raise your timber frame. You knew the “relatives” (our crew) was part of the deal, but you never expected this many beards, that they’d be this hungry, or that they’d be this nice!

Here’s another family secret: Timber framers don’t really like clothes. Don’t believe me? Watch carefully. Once the timber frame is standing, the crew’s phones will come out. And if you’re lucky you’ll catch a glimpse of each member of the crew, your extended family now, casting one last glance at their baby just before they depart. And if you could read their thoughts, you’d know they think the baby will never look more beautiful than at this moment—completely naked, without a stitch of siding, roofing, or other finishing touch.

Check out some of our favorite children

Timber Porte Cochère

January 22, 2021

How to make a grand entrance and enjoy unloading groceries in the rain

“The front desk had already made a great fuss of Johnny and Mary, lining up to greet him at the famous porte-cochère as soon as his splendid old Rolls-Royce had arrived…”

Stephen Fry

More Fool Me, 2014

We always enjoy driving into a porte cochère: there’s a certain sense of making a grand entrance, of feeling important, tinged with our nostalgia for more elegant times.

Wood Porte Cochere — If you haven’t stayed at Primland, you’re in for a treat.

So what is a porte cochère? The literal translation from French is “Door Coachman”, and is sometimes (erroneously) defined as “carriage porch” or “Carport”. We define it as “a sheltering roof without walls over a driveway next to the entrance of a residence or business.” And in case you were wondering, here’s the correct pronunciation: /ˌpôrt kōˈSHer/.

Although we readily admit our bias for heavy timber porte cochères, examples of beautiful steel porte cochères do exist. To wit, Marylebone Station in London:

In addition to providing embarking and disembarking vehicle passengers with a glimpse into the ageless past, adding a heavy timber porte cochère to a home or business brings another benefit: it shields guests and customers from the weather.

Wood Porte Cochere for a business — A welcoming timber frame porte cochère at Boone Dermatology designed by David Patrick Moses Architect, PLLC

Build a timber frame porte cochère at your residence, and you’ll appreciate it every time you unload groceries in the rain or snow.

Timber Porte Cochere — This timber framed porte cochère is even bigger than it looks. For a sense of scale, the two horizontal timber plates are 12″ wide x 24″ deep beams 46′ long! Design by Bradley G. Dowdy, AIA Architect.

Stay tuned: my wife wants to add a timber frame (what else) porte cochère to our home and she’s designing a contemporary shed type roof version with large overhangs.)

Want to make your own grand entrance?

Call us at 828.266.9663 (we’re nice!) or email below:

Architect Contact

West Jefferson, North Carolina

January 20, 2021

West Jefferson: The Coolest Corner

Is West Jefferson, NC (Ashe County) one of the best places to live, raise a family, and work in Western North Carolina?

Carolina Timberworks thinks so.

West Jefferson, Ashe County by the Numbers

Elevation (5 peaks over 5,000′)	3,178′
Population (people, not cows)	27,203
Square miles	426.14
People per square mile (Manhattan is 69,467)	64
Acres (Bill & Melina Gates own only 242,000)	272,778
Acres per person	10
Number of farms (no farmers, no farmers’ market)	1,125
Christmas tree production (by county, in the U.S.)	No. 1
Median home value (San Francisco is $1.38 million)	$153,200
Sales tax rate	7%
Property tax rate (per $100 USD)	$0.443
Median rent (half pay more, half pay less)	$634
Median household income (half earn more, half earn less)	$40,962
Households with broadband internet	70.4%
Average travel time to work	25 min.
Closest public airport (GEV)	11 min.
Closest major airport (CLT)	2 hr. 7 min.
Distance to Blue Ridge Parkway	17 min.

Where is Ashe County?

West Jefferson NC Photo — (Double-click to zoom in and see astonishing detail)

Completed in early 2021 at an estimated cost of $154.7 million, the widening of U.S. 221 from U.S. 421 in Deep Gap to West Jefferson to a four-lane median-divided highway is game-changing. West Jefferson is now approximately 30 minutes from Boone, NC, 2 hours from Charlotte, NC, and 2-1/2 hrs. from Asheville, NC.

Some of our Favorite Things to do in and around West Jefferson and Ashe County

Take a good book to bed with you: Ashe County Public Library
People-watch downtown West Jefferson
Visit America’s longest park, the Blue Ridge Parkway
See for yourself why Outdoor Magazine named Boone, NC (30 min. away) in its Top Ten Places to Live in the U.S.
Bicycle 10.8 miles on a unusually flat (and scenic) road: Railroad Grade Road
How about a 3 hr. family bike ride…downhill? Virginia Creeper Trail
After you finish biking, here’s where to find HUGE donuts: Hole Lotta Doughnuts
Float/kayak/canoe/flyfish the North Fork or the South Fork of the New River: Ashe County New River Map
See Time transformed into Space: Museum of Ashe County History
Unlike sausage-making, you’ll enjoy seeing cheese made: Ashe County Cheese (hint: 5 year old super sharp Cheddar)
Hike to Canada in an afternoon: Grandfather Mountain, at 5,945′ is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and as you ascend, you’ll transition from Rich Cove Forests to Northern Hardwood Forests, and finally reach a section of Canadian hemlock forest.
Not to be outdone by neighboring Watauga County, Ashe County has its very own Grandfather Mountain. It’s called Mount Jefferson State Natural area. For a great 1 hour hike, take 2 vehicles, leave one at the parking area at the top of the mountain, and drive the other back down to the ranger station at the base. Park, and hike (up) the Mountain Ridge Trail to your other vehicle.

Ashe County Airport

You may be surprised to learn that private jets regularly land and take off only 3 miles from Jefferson, NC. Ashe County Airport (KGEV, GEV) is a county-owned public airport with a 5,002′ long runway.

Communities in Ashe County

West Jefferson is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the largest town in Ashe County, while Jefferson is the county seat. Lansing rounds out the list of towns (our favorite pizza comes from Pie on the Mountain in Lansing). Some of the other places you might like to explore are Todd, Fleetwood, Creston, Helton, and Glendale Springs.

Neighboring Communities

Trouble choosing where to explore next from your home base of West Jefferson? Here’s one great day trip: From West Jefferson, take 221 S to 421 N to Boone, a busy college town about 30 minutes from West Jefferson, home to Appalachian State University, a vibrant downtown and the best haircut (Haircut 101). From Boone, take 105 S for 5 miles, then turn right on Broadstone Road. In 3 miles you’ll travel back in time 100 years and arrive in Valle Crucis, home to the original Mast General Store. Now for an achingly beautiful (and twisty) road take 194 S to Banner Elk. Take 184 S to 105 S to Linville, then 221 N to Grandfather Mountain. From there, get on the Blue Ridge Parkway and head north for 12 miles to the village of Blowing Rock. Finally, after you’re tired of shopping, take 321 N to Boone, then 421 S to 221 N back to West Jefferson.

Best Local Weather Forecast

RaysWeather.com

Contact us to schedule a visit.

Carolina Timberworks is a timber frame company in West Jefferson, and we’re proud to call Ashe County home. If you’re building or remodeling in the area and are contemplating post and beam or timber frame construction, drop us a line and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

Carolina Timberworks
West Jefferson, NC 28694

Website: www.carolinatimberworks.com
Phone: 828-266-9663

Drop us an email!

Sheltering in This Place

June 3, 2020

I can’t go anywhere so I might as well enjoy what I’m looking at here

by Matthew Morley

Funny how, before a global pandemic made it mandatory, the idea of having more time to spend at home was probably high on many people’s wish lists. A few months of enforced downtime, social isolation, and 24/7 family bonding, however, likely opened more than a few eyes regarding how well these same shelters worked in the so-called “new normal.” If nothing else, COVID-19 certainly provided anyone living beneath a roof with plenty of time to carefully consider potential edits and improvements to their living spaces.

As this is being written, the country is beginning to emerge from the shelter in place experience. With the future uncertain regarding coronavirus, it’s entirely possible we may be expected to repeat that experience in the near or distant future, and if so, our dwelling spaces may demand greater flexibility and functionality in order to bridge our human needs for both privacy and connectivity.

What changes will best improve a home’s versatility? Here’s a look at several home design concepts that are likely to play a prominent role in the next generation of living spaces.

Separating work and home, at home

A logical outcome of the COVID-19 experience is likely to be a much wider acceptance of work-from-home policies, and along with that the need for home-based workspaces that can accommodate productive virtual officing. Non-dedicated home office space might have been fine for working from home one or two days a week, but working full-time at home necessitates minimizing distractions and maintaining a clear division of work and home life.

The ideal scenario is to simply repurpose an unused extra bedroom or niche into an office. If that’s not an option, instead think about creating dedicated spaces for work. You may have to get creative, setting up a desk in a guest bedroom, or creating a built-in wall unit or bookshelf to double as a workspace. Consider modifying kitchen or living room spaces, utilizing closet space, or retrofitting basement and garage space.

If you have the space, think about adding a little, extra, tiny house to your property, a 200–400-square-foot structure that could do double or triple duty as an office, a guest suite, and/or an art studio. If you’re handy with a hammer, you might even build your own structure from a kit, such as our timber frame kits. The Garage Plan with Apartment is the quintessential multi-purpose structure, with an endless number of possibilities for use.

Rethinking the open floor plan

When the pandemic forced entire families home for months on end, communal living spaces suddenly exploded in population. While Mom handled a deposition via Zoom at one end of the kitchen island and Dad scrutinized spreadsheets at the other, the kids were “at school” in the living room, Zooming with teachers and working on assignments. Many homeowners quickly realized the open floor plan concept they used to love was now a little too open. As shelter-in-place orders are lifted and life returns to normal, expect to see an architectural return to compartmentalized spaces, as well as smart repurposing of existing areas, such as office niches in kitchens, and built-ins that provide activity space and subtle room separation.

Spas, home gyms, and yoga studios

In a time when it was important to stay healthy, it was a shock to many to find they could not even work out at their local gym. In a post-virus world, we are contemplating how to keep up with healthy routines despite closures and social distancing issues. One solution is to create a home spa or fitness room—a dedicated space for exercise, meditation, and yoga practice. Your instructor may be on Zoom, but who cares? All you need is a mat, a space, and maybe an iPad or TV.

Bathroom upgrades

Has bathroom space ever not been a premium home amenity? No, we love our bathrooms. And for those living in one- or two-bathroom dwellings, the recent stay-at-home orders made it painfully clear that these intimate spaces need to be able to accommodate more than one person at a time. One solution is to take advantage of the Japanese and European concepts of separate bathroom fixtures, since this allows multiple people to use the same space without sacrificing on privacy and comfort. For example, separating the toilet area and the shower/tub space from the sink area is a simple and effective way to provide flexibility. Jack-and-Jill bathrooms also accommodate multiple users simultaneously, and with space-saving design.

Another solution is simply adding a half or three-quarter bathroom to your living space. It’s a relatively high-dollar investment that will pay off handsomely in convenience now, and resale later.

Maximizing outdoor living space

If we’ve learned one thing about this pandemic, it’s that being outdoors is a great way to combat stress and anxiety. Make the most of your own outdoor spaces by adding outdoor features. An outdoor kitchen, a pavilion, a pergola, or a patio shade structure can dramatically expand your living areas, offering clean, safe space to gather with the whole family for activities and meals.

Gardens great and small

Gardening is one hobby that exploded during COVID, drawing people out of their homes and into the fresh air. Especially in tighter urban spaces, creating some kind of garden area—even a tiny nook of potted vegetables or flowers on a small balcony—extends one’s living space and gives a feeling of space and connection to the outdoors. You might even consider putting together a greenhouse kit as we did. Plus, gardening is an act of sustainability—something reassuring in these uncertain times.

How to Interview a Timber Frame Company

March 11, 2020

Ask someone who builds timber frames for a living what makes their company different, and you’re likely to hear some variation on the theme of high quality, responsive service, and talented people.

Their answer may be truthful, but if you want to build a timber frame, you haven’t learned what you need to know to make an informed decision.

So, how exactly do you do that? Ask better questions, listen carefully, and interview like a pro.

Here are some tips from newspaper reporters and the FBI about how to interview people (after all, they do this for a living):

Just like building a timber frame, start with the foundation

There may be no such thing as a stupid question, but some are a lot better than others. It can be helpful to play “let’s pretend”. So, pretend for a moment you have a superpower—any question you ask will be answered. What questions would you like to know the answers to?

As you develop your questions, start by asking yourself what you want to achieve. For example, are you looking for a solution to a particular problem? Are you looking to uncover something? Are you looking for a better understanding? Decided to build a timber frame, but trying to choose between 2 or 3 apparently equally qualified timber frame subcontractors?

Typically, you’ll want to uncover:

Can they do the work?
Will they do it when you want it done?
Can they do it for the investment you’re willing to make?
What would it be like to work with this firm?
Is this timber frame company the best fit, or not?
What could possibly go wrong?

Get comfortable asking questions

You have a right to ask questions—you’re about to write a big check. Furthermore, you have a responsibility to ask questions—if you don’t ask the right questions and bad things happen, you have only yourself to blame.

(Not everyone has to like what you ask. You’re on safe ground as long as your intention and purpose for asking the question comes from a good place. )

Use your powers of observation

Use the part of your brain that has evolved over tens of thousands of years to sense and observe the environment. Do people seem to like working there? Is the phone ringing? Do the other employees avert their eyes when you pass? Notice cigarette butts or litter as you step out of your car? Is the place generally organized or not? Tension in the air? Do you see anyone you would be uncomfortable with in your home?

Ask non-leading questions

A leading question implies its own answer and subtly prompts the respondent how to answer. You’ll learn more if you try not to give clues about how you feel or think about something.

If you were to build a timber frame home, what wood would you choose?

Oak shrinks a lot, correct?

In general, ask open-ended questions

An open-ended question is one that can’t be answered yes or no or by a limited set of possible answers. They encourage the respondent to talk thereby providing you the opportunity to learn things you wouldn’t otherwise.

What are you most proud of about your company and why?

What are your company’s strengths?

Some thoughtful questions

What are the challenges you see in our project?

If we ask for references from recently completed jobs, how would that process work?

Are you a member of the Timber Framers Guild? (if so, why? If not, why not?)

I don’t suppose your firm is currently in litigation with anyone?

We have to stick to our budget. How do we know the timber frame won’t end up costing more?

Are the people who work here employees or subcontractors?

Are there any outstanding tax liens or judgments against the company, or the owner(s)?

Have you ever had an unhappy client? If so, would you share what happened?

What’s your process for handling changes?

What’s not included in your price?

How often will the business owner check in on my project?

How do we resolve any disagreements?

May I see your certificates of general liability and workers comp insurance?

Who would be overseeing my project? May I meet her?

What’s the best thing that’s happened to your company this year?

Is your firm licensed to do business in my state?

How long have you been in business? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20 percent of small businesses fail within their first year. By the end of their fifth year, roughly half of small businesses fail. After that, only about one in three small businesses get to the 10-year mark and live to tell the tale. After that, survival rates flatten out. Businesses fail in good times and bad, and to paraphrase Ernest Hemingway, it happens gradually, then suddenly. Consider for a moment what would happen to the money you’d paid to date, were you in the middle of building a timber frame home and the timber frame manufacturer abruptly ceased operations and stopped returning your calls.