Timbo,
Speaking from my experience I have been in the building industry for over 15 years.Ten owning my own company.
We started stick building garages .
Then we did homes and garages.
Next we concentrated on Shell Homes all dryed in with all interior partitions framed.
We began building Barns in 1999/ 2000 stick framing a few with Rough Hemlock and then doing the "POST and BEAM" thing using lag bolts and thoughtfully placed nails. This led us to Timber Framing. After years of reading about it and cutting practice joints we were as ready as we could be. I got my first job and never wanted to do "regular construction" again.
I didn't say that I never did.Only that I never wanted to. Some times you have to put macaroini on the table.It is hard to break out of the mold.
We changed the name of our buisiness we go to fairs and display frames near our shop. And still some people will say oh yeah I know what you do -- you build pre-fab homes. Many however are very familiar and they long for a quality of home or barn that only a timberframe can provide. It is easy to recognize these people. If you really want to timberframe start with a small out building and go from there. Take the time to volunteer in a local shop or go to a Guild sponsored raising.
Have fun building,
David
