Timber Framers Guild Forums General General Forum Questions cost of TF home

Oh and you'll see from your class that it's possible for you to direct the raising with those 5 people. If you don't immediately know 5 people to scratch together, call on this board or the guild to look for volunteers. The volunteers don't need to know everything, but can be taught basic safety and directed to to their job in the raising. Of course it will help and go faster to have some other timberframers.
You can do and learn more than you think, if you are determined. The skills and trades are not so mysterious that you cannot learn, though many people often think so. DIYers with determination can learn and do near anything and often do it well too.

Cool!! Thanks, Brad, for that post. I am hoping next year to visit a workshop.

I will try to browse the site here to see what different levels and types of training are available. I was also thinking that to get involved in a few other people's projects would be a big step in the right direction.

Here's an interesting method: this group will come and help a group of people to erect a home.

http://www.gibsontimberframes.com/timber-frame-course-host.htm

Fascinating. I'm beginning to believe that I can do this someday.

You can do it with patience, training, tools and time. However, do not assume that being able to craft and raise a timber frame with a few friends means the timber frame home will be inexpensive. You still have almost all the costs associated wih building a stick frame home (e.g. footings, foundation, electrical, flooring, joysts, walls, plumbing, hvac, roof, insulation, and it goes on and on). Unless you build a very small and simple structure out in the woods, you're probably going to spend a minimum of $100 a square foot, in addition to the timber frame.

I have tried stopping and chatting as some larger shops. It didn't go over well. I was more interested in how the shop ran and not in buying a frame. So along with Brad's encouraging words look for the smaller shops you may have a better time. Maybe volunteer some time helping. I am not sure how even that would go over, it would be appealing to me. One of the things beyond skill is the desire to learn and a proper philosophy, with those skill will come. This type of workshop may not be available so you may have to put out some cash for the experience.

I liked the gardening/cooking analogy.
Burger King=mobil home.

Corn roasted on some coals with venison in a frying pan, blueberry cobler in a dutch oven=timber frame

Speaking of Dutch, that was a great article in Timber Framing on the Wemple Barn.

Tim

I never recommended stopping at timberframe business, I said "take a workshop"- a class like the introductory timberframe workshop at Foxmaple.com (Brownsfield, ME). I went to that one so I can definitely recommend it. Who else has one they'd recommend? I know there's at least one in MA and one in TN. The TN one seemed to be the earliest one of the year and I just missed getting in on the last open spot the year I was looking. Sign up now for whatever one you'll take to make sure you get a spot. Most of those only have one Introductory workshop a year, because they are running their Timberframe business the rest of the year, building frames. My course was 6 days long.

I will take a workshop hopefully next year. I can't see that far ahead in terms of time slots however. But I want to go that route. It's probably the best way into the skill set and circle of activity. Thanks again!!