Tutorial: Cascade Construction Services

Design As the most important phase of any project, the design or floor plan of the home is critical. Depending on many factors including site considerations, architectural style, size of home, and budget, the design of your frame is shaped here. Whether you plan on building a full timber frame home or hybrid (both timber frame and conventional framing), the frame design should flow seamlessly from one room to another. With our experience building timber frame homes for our previous customers, we can help in bringing your ideas together. Whether you bring your plans and ideas to us or you want our help in the design, we can create a home that incorporates our knowledge and your dreams of building a timber frame home.

What is Timber Framing? Timber frame construction is a time proven method using heavy timber to build many types of structures. The heavy timbers, with various names to describe their function, are connected to one another typically through mortise and tenon joinery. Once the pieces are fitted together, the mortise and tenon joints are then pegged to lock the joinery together to achieve a solid connection. Our homes are built in sections, or bents, and then raised into place. From there, girts, purlins, and rafters may be installed to connect and complete the final frame structure. Once your timber frame and floor plan has been developed, we will begin the process of selecting from our short list of frame producers to cut your frame. Depending on what species of wood your frame will be and the complexity of the frame, we will then facilitate the production of your frame with a frame cutter best suited for your home. Of the three companies we have used in previous projects, we have the utmost confidence that the selected frame cutter will produce a finish product that will bring your dream of building a timber frame home alive.

Structural Insulated Panels (SIPS) Once your timber frame home has been erected, the exterior envelope becomes the next critical component. Our preferred method to enclose your home is with the use of structural insulated panels (SIPs). The use of structural insulated panels provides an envelope that is very strong, highly energy efficient and cost effective by reducing labor time on the job site. Structural insulated panels also create a greater air tight envelope, thus reducing the load needed to heat and cool the home. As a member of the Structural Insulated Panel Association (SIPA), we encourage you to visit www.sips.org to learn more.

Finishing Now that the frame and panels have been installed, the process of completing the home begins. With our help selecting finishing materials that best compliment the timber frame home or by bringing us your selections, we will complete your home using the best materials possible in the highest standard. Where necessary, we employ a close knit group of subcontractors, highly skilled in their area of expertise, to assist us in completing your timber frame home.