Frequently Asked Questions

Here you will find answers to many commonly asked questions and a full explanation of our products and services. Please contact us if you'd like to discuss your future building project or if you desire to arrange a visit. We enjoy showing off our craft, we love to talk; and we certainly welcome the opportunity to be included in your home planning considerations.

What Do You Supply?

Note: Blue Ridge Timber Frame, Inc. is a member of the local Home Builders' Association (HBA) and holds an unlimited contractor's license in the state of North Carolina. This enables us to bid and perform on projects of any size. We offer "turn key" construction for those clients building within 50 miles (approx.) of our location.

For clients who will be utilizing the services of another general contractor our role is that of a designer/manufacturer.

This outline highlights those items typically included in a timber frame and panel package:

A typical builder’s set of construction drawings with timber frame & structural insulated panel drawings for fabrication & assembly. See Example
Pre-cut, labeled and oiled timber frame material with fasteners delivered to the construction site ready for field assembly.
Tongue and groove material for loft/second level floors and vaulted ceilings (if desired additional T&G material may be included for wall finishes).
R-26 Structural Insulated Panels for exterior wall enclosure.
R-40 Structural Insulated Panels for roof enclosure.
Optional on-site field advisor or package assembly by Blue Ridge crew.

What is a timber frame?

A timber frame is a post and beam structure that incorporates a centuries old building technique – locking together solid timbers with traditional mortise and tenon joints secured with hardwood pegs. The artistically crafted timber frame creates the "bones" of the building (which includes posts, beams, simple or elaborate trusses, timber rafters, ceiling joists, diagonal braces etc.) and is fully exposed to the interior of the home. Since there are typically no “load bearing walls” – such desirable features as open floor plans, dramatic vaulted ceilings and window walls are commonly incorporated into the designs.

At Blue Ridge Timber Frame, we employ a combination of computerized precision cutting and hand craftsmanship. Sharp timber edges may be "softened" with a traditional drawknife or router and the beams may be given an oil finish prior to being bundled for shipment.

Does a Blue Ridge timber frame offer advantages over log construction?

Yes. A Blue Ridge Timber Frame provides the rich beauty of wood within a bright, comfortable well-insulated envelope. The timbers are not exposed to the weather and the outside of the home is flexible in appearance –traditional, rustic, contemporary, shingle style, Adirondack camp etc. On the exterior, a Blue Ridge home can be virtually maintenance free – finished with brick, stone, stucco or any siding you prefer. On the interior, walls between the timber frame members (typically sheet rock) provide the opportunity and flexibility to add or change color and contrast, creating a suitable backdrop for artwork, furniture, pictures and the like.

Do you have a model home we can see?

Yes. We currently have a model home located just below our 8000 square foot workshop at 2585 US 70 HWY in Swannanoa, NC just off I-40. The Douglas fir and Cypress frame includes intricately designed hammer beam trusses, timber frame porches and an energy efficient shell made up of Structural Insulated Panels. There are also private homes in our area that we have built and can be shown sometimes by appointment and with adequate notice.

What is your warranty?

A warranty is a promise that a company will stand behind its product or service. Many warranties today are not real promises at all, but rather marketing tools that if understood are often useless to the purchaser.

At Blue Ridge, our integrity is our warranty. We stand behind our work, understand that our future success relies on fair business practice, and satisfied clients. Our staff is solutions oriented and is always available for consultation on any problem a client may have now or in the future - whether or not it relates to the actual timber frame. In addition, we do provide a three-year structural warranty on the timber frame itself. If structural insulated panels are used the manufacturer's warranty is passed directly to the client.

How are the packages delivered?

Blue Ridge will provide delivery to the site. For deliveries within our vicinity, the frame and panel packages leave our yard on a 25’ trailer. If the site is not readily accessible, delivery will be to a shuttle point. From this point, the frame assembly contractor will take care of the arrangements to have it safely delivered to the site. Package components are carefully wrapped to protect them during transit. Most of our frame and panel packages require three or four trucks. For long distance deliveries a 40-48’ flat bed may be used.

Anticipate a minimum charge of $400/truck for freight and material handling within our vicinity. Long distance deliveries are charged by weight and mileage (variations in fuel costs will affect the rate).

How is the package material unloaded at my site?

For the safety of the crew and to prevent damage to the timber we recommend an all terrain heavy-duty forklift with a 14' lift height and a 6,000 pound lift capacity. Some sites require a crane or boom truck.

Who can build my Blue Ridge home?

Blue Ridge offers "turn key" construction for those clients building within 50 miles (approx.) of our location.

The Blue Ridge timber frame and SIP package comes pre-cut and labeled for easy assembly. Always included in our package is a typical builder’s set of construction drawings with timber frame & structural insulated panel drawings for fabrication & assembly.

Building a Blue Ridge timber frame home, like any other home, will require finding a reputable and capable local builder with the right attitude to take on your project. Because building a timber frame requires "thinking outside the box" you will probably have more success approaching a custom homebuilder, such as Blue Ridge Timber Frame, or a builder who does a lot of remodeling rather than a builder who focuses primarily on standard or "cookie cutter" construction. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a good builder. You may also consider asking the local building supply companies for reputable contractors in the area. They will tend to refer you to the builders with integrity…those who pay their bills on time, the ones they like to work with, the ones with a good history of success.

Can I act as my own general contractor?

Some areas prohibit owner-built homes, but if allowable, it can provide a wonderful opportunity for some talented individuals to build their own home. Whether or not this is, a viable option will depend on the terms of your construction loan, the amount of time you have available, your abilities and your local building restrictions.

Acting as your own general contractor may save some money and it can be a very rewarding experience. However, do not underestimate the amount of work that is involved. This is a full time job, it requires an extensive knowledge of; basic construction, home building, local building codes and with the ability to evaluate, supervise and schedule the work of many sub trades in order to keep the project on schedule and on budget.

How long does it take to build a Blue Ridge home?

The building process is comprised of two basic stages. The design stage is an iterative process that usually takes four to six weeks to get decision ready drawings to you. The response time on revisions is typically two weeks depending on the complexity or simplicity of the actual revision. Once this design process has been completed and you are comfortable with both the design and your interaction with BRTF, you are now ready to place an order and enter into the production agreement stage. It is then typically ten to twelve weeks from the time we receive the initial deposit until the frame and panel package is ready for delivery.

Actual construction time will vary with; the size, complexity, site conditions, weather, etc. Typically, a frame is raised in 2-5 business days, and dried in to the weather in another 2-3 weeks. Completion time will depend on the nature of the project and the schedule of your contractor. For a residence, a comfortable building envelop would be seven to nine months to complete a 3,000 square foot custom home.

Do I get assistance with the package assembly?

Blue Ridge Timber Frame typically supplies the frame raising crew for local projects. If you or your contractors are assembling the package, Blue Ridge offers an optional on site field advisor in addition to assembly drawings.

Which will cost less; a Blue Ridge Timber Frame crew assembly or assembly by my local builder?

The answer depends on a number of factors, the most significant being the location of the home site. We assemble and build within a 50-60 mile radius of our shop and this allows our experienced crews to be as cost effective to both the customer and ourselves. The experience factor is one of the leading issues in erecting the timber frame. A typical delivery, assembly and frame erection will take our crews about five business days.

If the home site is beyond the 50-60 mile radius, we can still deliver, assemble and erect but the cost efficiencies are diminished by the travel time and per diem living expenses. In this situation, it is usually more cost effective to have a local contractor do the assembly and erecting with the assistance of a Blue Ridge Timber Frame site advisor.

Do I get assistance later on?

Being licensed general contractors and taking a hands on approach to projects nearby, keeps us current on products and techniques. Our ongoing and practical experience in construction enables us to provide effective guidance to other builders completing our home packages.

What species of wood do you work in?

We work in a variety of species. Douglas Fir, Cypress, Red and White Oak, Eastern White Pine, Red Cedar and reclaimed materials are all available options.

How are your frames enclosed?

The wall shells are structural insulated panels (SIPs) that are pre-cut R-26, 4-5/8” thick. These SIP wall panels consist of an inside and outside 7/16” exterior grade oriented strand board (OSB) layer that is factory injected with a closed-cell foam core containing no formaldehyde or CFC’s. The foam core is 3-3/4” thick made of 2.2 lb density polyurethane with a class 1/A fire rating. The particular SIP panels we use, feature cam lock connectors, cutting for window and door openings, overall dimensions and routing for 2x plates and nailers, electrical chases, foam sealant and panel fasteners.

The roof shell is made of pre-cut R-40, 6-5/8” thick, structural insulated panels (SIPs). Roof panels consist of an inside and outside 7/16” exterior grade oriented strand board (OSB) layer injected with a closed-cell foam core containing no formaldehyde or CFC’s. The foam core is 5-5/8” thick made of 2.2 lb density polyurethane with a class 1/A fire rating. SIPs feature cutting for overall dimensions and routing for 2x nailers, foam sealant and panel fasteners.

Are there any special foundation requirements?

Typically, the Blue Ridge system does not require any special foundation details. If a design poses, special requirements Blue Ridge will provide a sound solution. Interior posts have an associated point load and are most often located over wooden or steel support columns in full basements and concrete piers in crawl spaces. The foundation wall supports exterior point loads.

How are plumbing and wiring handled?

On exterior walls, our Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) include wiring chases. Allowances can be made in the SIPs for plumbing; however, it is a better construction practice to keep plumbing out of exterior walls. Much of the plumbing and wiring in a house occur within interior partition walls that are conventionally framed. Plumbing drops from second levels are generally designed to occur inconspicuously (i.e. within a drop ceiling over a closet space).

Can I create one of my own designs or change one of your library plans?

Blue Ridge welcomes the opportunity to customize your dream home. We offer a complete design service utilizing state of the art software. As long as the design or changes are structurally feasible, we will be glad to work with you to adjust any of our designs…or to develop a design of your own.

Can I make an addition to my home later on?

This is often quite simple. Since the timber frame is the structural component any exterior walls between posts can easily be removed to make way for outside doors or a connection to a complete addition.

What is a hybrid?

The term hybrid refers to combining building systems as in a partially timber framed, partially conventionally framed structure. This is a common practice due to design considerations or in order to expedite construction and/or reduce cost. Many of our home designs can be built this way, for example the public areas such as foyer, great room, dining and kitchen areas may be timber framed while the bedroom areas may be built with SIPs or conventional framing.

Do you do more than residential frames?

Yes. A Blue Ridge Timber Frame with its beautifully exposed timbers is an outstanding choice for any project that has the intention of attracting and maintaining public interest. Signature structures can be created for stores and restaurants, churches, office buildings, lodges, pavilions, bridges, equestrian structures and more.

What will a bank think of my project?

Our experience shows; that provided a person qualify for a loan, their timber frame project is usually well received by the bank. While several banks refuse to lend money on log homes (probably due to a bad experience in the past or concern about resale value), we have found that our clients do not experience any difficulty acquiring financing.

What about resale value?

Information here is limited simply because most people building a timber frame home have no intention of selling it. While location, design and other factors do enter in, it has been our experience that folks building a timber frame typically acquire instant equity and the few homeowners who have sold, have actually done quite well for themselves.

What is the next step?

Pick up the phone, write, fax, use the Reply Form or schedule a visit to discuss your building project with us in detail. You may simply need more information on one of the houses in our plan library. Perhaps you have a question or questions we have failed to answer here. We look forward to hearing from you and exploring our possible participation in your project.