I am currently designing a timberframe/stick frame hybrid house for a client. The center portion of the building will be timberframed with the wings being conventional stick frame. Does anyone have any general words of advice for these designs? Specifically, I am wondering about timber to stick attachement methods, and differneces in building settling rates over time. The house includes an upstairs which is supported by posts and timber floor beams. In the design as it stands right now, I have beams supported by a timber post at one end and a built-up post (within the exterior stud wall)at the other. Floor joists supported by this are supported at their other end by the exterior stud wall. Do I have to worry about the exterior wall settling and the beam not? Will I have to design some method of allowing the posts to be lowered such as is done with posts supporting floor beams in a basement? Thanks in advance for any tips.

Dan
NEST Timberhome and Design
Clearwater, BC