The History of Hybrids
When European settlers reached North America, trees were a plentiful resource and builders were able to timber frame entire structures for houses, churches, and more. Conversely, the settlers’ European ancestors had to use timber more conservatively in order to frame a structure, often mixing timber framing with other materials, like masonry, to complete their buildings.
When building a timber frame today, these same options are available. It is possible to control the amount of timber that goes into a project in order to use more or less wood. This is good news for those who are interested in mixing the appearance of timber with another design style and those who want to control costs of their frame by using a specific amount of timber.
To learn more about Hybrids from industry experts, click here to receive more information.
Links:
- Old North Church
- National Park Service: National Historic Landmarks:
- Timber Frame Guild
- Timber Frame Guild: Traditional Timber Frame Research and Advisory Group
Find Flexibility With Hybrid Buildings
One way that you can achieve the signature timber frame appearance while controlling costs is to build a hybrid structure. A hybrid structure makes use of both timber framing and other conventional framing methods, such as a stick building, to maximize your resources.
A hybrid residential structure, for example, can use a timber frame in the important areas of a home for maximum effect, such as great rooms or living spaces, while the wings of the house can be framed less expensively with slender dimensional lumber. This enables you to reduce your costs in bathrooms, utility rooms, and closets while emphasizing the woodworking where it can be most appreciated.
Similarly, in commercial structures, you can use timber framing in public spaces to achieve the “wow” factor and use a less expensive construction method to create administrative spaces. By blending the beauty of a timber framed space with conventional building materials, you can achieve your design goals while also staying within a budget.
To learn more about hybrid structures, connect with a timber framing professional. You can also learn more through the Timber Frame Hybrids: Enduring Traditions, Boundless Possibilities book, written by Anthony F. Zaya who is the owner of a timber framing company that implements hybrid timber frames for clients.
