toluca

Your question seems to directed mainly at the timber frame design itself. While there may or may not be impacts of floor to floor height on the timber frame, here a couple other things to consider for the project as a whole (which maybe you already have, in which case feel free to just ignore this).

How are you going to enclose the frame? If you are thinking of a conventional stud wall construction, then you will still have to deal with the standard lengths of 2x material as well as the standard sheet size for whatever sheathing you intend to use. If not a stud wall, then what are standard dimension for the material you do intend to use? Not everything has a standard size and maybe you can avoid them, it seems the majority of them do in the construction industry.

Will the interior walls go to the underside of the floor above? Will those consist of stud framing and drywall? Again, those have standard sizes to deal with and may mean more cutting and more waste.

How will the additional 2 feet of height impact the budget? The longer posts may not be much expense, but you will have 2 more feet of exterior wall construction, siding, interior wall construction, wall finishes… That can all add up in a hurry.

Do you have room for the additional stairs it will take to get up the extra 2 feet to the second floor?

I think the whole 2 story tall great room space is a personal preference. Some people like it, some don’t. It will make the home more expensive for the square footage you get. With that 2 story space, you are paying to build most of the house without getting that second floor space to use. If you like the big vaulted space and can afford it, I say go for it.

Finally, do the proportions of the spaces still work? Depending on the overall size of the house and the design, a 9’-6” to 10’-0” ceiling may be preferable. Does this impact the size of the doors and windows in the space? Does a standard 6’8” high door look odd on a 10’ high wall to you? Does an 8’ high door look better? Do the windows need to be taller to be in proportion with the taller walls? These things will increase the cost. Again, these are things that will all depend on what feels right to you and what works with your budget.


Just a few thoughts. Good luck.