Timber Frames
We custom design, cut, install and finish traditional joinery timber frames!
The highest quality kiln dried timbers are used in our frames to ensure that our precision joinery remains beautiful.
We have several different textures we like, but our favorite is our brushed finish. With this finish the timbers are smooth yet the grain is raised giving it a timeless look that accentuates the wood's beauty.
Our natural oil finish is extremely durable and easy to use. scuffs, touchups, or even extra coats are easily applied simply by ensuring the timbers are clean before any finish is applied. You don't have to sand or remove any old coating. it just soaks in to the timber and dries. It is the most environmentally friendly wood stain available. There are no chemical driers in this product and actually uses some food grade oils in the mix as well as beeswax and orangepeel solvent. (don't eat it though).
Things to consider When using timbers on your project:
What is the environmental impact of using heavy timbers on my project?
Timber species
Grades and cuts
1). Level 1 dry kiln dried #2 and better appearance grade cedar, dressed (planed 1/2" under nominal). So 8x8 is 7.5"x 7.5". Or roughsawn 1/2" under nominal. Your choice of surface.
2). Level 1 dry kiln dried #1 and better appearance grade Douglas fir. Once again, your choice of surface. This is our standard product
What is moisture content, and why should i care?
Kiln dried is much more shrinkage/check (cracking) stable than "Green", in which I have found MC in some large pieces to exceed 28% Another designation of product is "Standing Dead". This implies that trees are "ecoharvested" because they are dead already. However the trees may have been "ringed" (chainsaw cut through the sapwood around the tree) the previous winter, after most of the sap flows down to the roots, to kill them and prevent sap from flowing up in the spring. Again, I have ordered these before and found high MC, as high as "Green" in some cases. Most softwood timber movement/shrinkage is experienced as the MC drops from 30% to 20%
Level one dry :
guaranteed max moisture content of 19% measured 1.25" deep. From surface. This is what is considered "kiln dried" from most suppliers. (and is what I have quoted). Shrinking is very minimal
Level 2 dry:
is an upgrade to 19% MC measured at 3" inside the timber. Average MC is 17%. This is ordered when it is specified by a customer/Architect/ or Engineer. These are generally extremely stable pieces, and generally do not shrink at all.
Level 3:
is a further upgrade to 15% MC 3" deep from surface with an overall MC of 13%. This is similarly ordered by specs from the Architect or Engineer. It is mostly used when the frame is shipped to very dry locations. Generally speaking, this extra cost is only necessary where the climate's Relative Humidity remains below 30% all year.
As humidity and temperature levels fluctuate, timbers, (and wood in general) continuously try to achieve equilibrium with their surroundings. With timbers this takes time, so with the delayed reaction, with dried/seasoned timbers with a moisture content near the average equilibrium, the adjustments in the wood are small, but when the wood contains significantly more moisture than what is needed for equilibrium, even when air relative humidity is high, there is a lot of movement
