Originally posted by Raphael D. Swift:
[b]I like the idea of hiring an itinerate timber framer, they are usually more than just a guy who knows how to cut timbers. For my house I was pretty determined to have a hand in cutting my own frame, if I'd known any of the itinerates I've met over the past few years I'd have gone that route.
Between an itinerates experience and your ideas about what you want in a house you should be able to come up with a nice custom frame design for less than hiring a whole company and far less than paying an architect. Then all you'll need is an engineer to stamp the drawings and a sawyer to provide the timbers.
One way to find a sawyer is place a guest request for one on the Forestry Forum.
http://www.forestryforum.com/ Also many of the small sawmill manufacturers website's maintain lists of customers who are available for custom sawing.
