General Timberframe questions

Hello all, I'm new to the guild and have a few questions about a potential new residence.
1.) Is there a rule of thumb ($/sq ft) of timberframe new home construction?
2.) Is there a rule of thumb of cost estimation with respect to cost of framing materials/timbers? (ie, is there a "standard" percentage of total cost?)
3.) Are there any resources for grading timbers for use in a timber frame home.
4.) Is there any type of exchange program for timbers (fresh cut traded for seasoned timbers?)

Any guidance would be appreciated, and if there is a better place for these questions, feel free to guide me in the right direction.

The county is going to be taking 15-20 trees (doug fir between 12"-18" dia +/-) down on my property to expand a road. They are leaving the trees for us to deal with and I'm wondering if they could be used in a new residence as opposed to bucking it all into firewood to sell.


thanks
billyO

1) everything is usually custom designed so it's hard to set a price (in my opinion)
2) search archives some info there...
3) Hire a traveling grader from your lumberman's association for your area to grade the timbers once milled....
4) probably not....

Jim Rogers

billyO:

There is a huge range in costs for custom homes that are not timber framed. I find that if you get beyond tract housing, customs homes start at around $200/sf, and can easily go up to $500/sf or even higher. Yes, you pay a premium above that for timber framing, but only if you are comparing to a vanilla studs-and-drywall shell of the same size and shape. If you ask your conventional builder for vauleted ceilings, open floor plans, and lots of woodwork (which are all automatic with a timber frame), then you'll find that the premium has all but disappeared. CB.

Hello, I think this probably could fall into this thread's topic.
Does anyone know of resources to look at budgeting behind a timberframe company, be it for a single contract or the long term goals? I understand that business is sometimes secretive but I though there might be some case studies or something along those lines that would allow people to see where things went wrong or even better where they went right. Strict confidentiality is also important. And if no information like this is available, maybe you all could kindly suggest what is important in these situations.

Mo these are some small secrets I have found to be invaluable in assessing how our business is doing. They are just small indicators of potential problems.

If you have a partner that starts drinking before 10:00....

If the local casino's limo drops your partner off every morning for work.

If theres a huge cloud of peculiar smelling smoke in the break room, but none of your employees smoke.

If you think those were yard sale fliers the County Sheriff was nailing on your front door.

If your accountant stops returning your phone calls

If the IRS shows up in person at your place of business more than once a month.

If you notice that none of the lights have worked for several days in a row.

If you see your company truck headed down the highway really close behind another truck and nobody is driving it.

If a realator keeps coming by your place with people you don't know

If you come to work one day and all of your tools are lined up on hay racks and theres a lunch wagon selling BBQs in your yard.

If Daiku starts sending you sympathy cards

Hope this helps MO

Seriously, you should check out the timber framers business council; there is some info there about what you're asking.
I'm not sure exactly where, you may have to ask them for it...

Jim Rogers

Thank you Pegs, for the insight I'll make sure to write those down.
Poor Management and its Inherent Unexpected Expense. It does sound fun.

Thanks Jim, I'll take a look there.