What does a timber frame home cost to build? Without prior knowledge, it is easy to assume that building a timber frame home is the same as any custom home. While there are some similarities, it’s really like comparing apples to oranges. Considering the extra production, craftsmanship and materials that go into a timber frame home, the process becomes much more complex, but it can be done!

The costs of building a timber frame home versus a conventional stick frame home can vary depending on how you want to finish out your home. The area of the country you’re building in may play a role in building cost as well. To know exactly how much extra cost you’ll be incurring with a timber frame home, you’ll first need to know whether you desire a full timber frame or a hybrid. Many people who are interested in timber framing may not even realize the difference between the two, but it can make a noteworthy difference on the price of the home.

Full Timber Frame?

A full timber frame will require a foundation that can support the load where the posts are located in the house. A hybrid may only have a few posts with ceiling joists or decorative heavy timber trusses in various rooms and other timber accents to tie it all together. Oftentimes we’ve even seen a full timber framed great room combined with an otherwise conventionally built home. Just remember there’s so much more today you can do with timber framing when building a custom home. The styles reflect Modern, Craftsman style, Traditional and European or Mediterranean in nature. What’s so unique is that you may not need as much timber as you think for the look you’re after.

Hybrid timber FRame?

Typically, a hybrid with conventional framing costs roughly 15% more and a traditional frame. It may be 20% higher than a custom conventional stick frame house, depending on design factors. Square footage, fixtures, window packages and other finishes can all greatly impact the final costs. with that in mind, these are things to reflect on before you even start the design process. Our Team will ask you to do some homework on finding costs of fixtures, flooring, windows, etc. in order to have a good knowledge base to draw from. The goal here is to have a well designed and quality built home in the end.

According to Timber Home Living, alternatives enclosure and insulation options can come with a 4-6 percent higher up-front cost. However it could end up saving you money in the long run with lower energy costs. A great example of that is Installation is quicker, too. An experienced timber framer can help you understand all of your finishing options and what is best for your specific desires.

Additional Timber Elements

Other considerations are that most timber frame homeowners are very fond of adding exterior heavy timber accents or timber frame porches that add interest to the home. These are important factors to think about, as they add costs but also a lot of visual interest to the overall project. Our goal at Homestead Timber Frames is always to design within your building budget. We do believe that a bit of heavy timber on the exterior of your home will help balance what’s on the inside and give your home that ‘curb appeal’.