Over the last decade, interest in timber frame building has grown to the point that architects and builders expect it as a construction option for everything from luxury homes and equestrian facilities to commercial properties and event spaces. Drawing on the heritage of wooden-beamed farm buildings from the 1800s and 1900s, and with a sizable influence from Western lodge architecture, using timber for upscale builds is both a tribute to the craftsmanship of earlier times as well as a testament to its enduring strength and durability, even in light of modern building materials and techniques. The timelessness of timber is truly supporting the future of bespoke luxury construction.

However, with that popularity, an unfortunate trend has emerged: the attempt to replicate the look of timber beams by wrapping steel structural members in wood as a veneer. This cladding lacks the authenticity of a genuine heavy timber beam and eliminates the benefits that true timber framing brings.

What Is Timber Frame Building?

By “true timber framing,” we mean building a structure’s frame completely out of timber — rather than covering steel with wood to make it look like timber. There are two avenues to consider for timber building, though they mesh together seamlessly when used together. Heavy timber construction uses large, rustic timbers — often over two feet thick — held fast together with traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery.

Heavy timber framing has been used since the Bronze Age. It also supported the great halls of medieval Europe and sheltered shrines and temples that still stand in the Far East. As illustrated by surviving timber-framed buildings more than 1,000 years old, the robust nature of timber lasts over many generations, leaving an enduring legacy.

Mass timber is a much more recent technology comprising either panels of cross-laminated timber (CLT), or beams made of glued laminated timber (glulam). CLT panels consist of several layers of wood stacked and glued perpendicular to each other. These exceptionally strong panels can be formed as just part of a wall, floor, or roof, or the entire section. Glulam beams are made of parallel pieces of wood glued together with strong adhesive to form load-bearing beams and columns that can stretch across long spans.

What Are the Benefits of True Timber Framing?

Beauty is one of the top reasons people build with timber. But beyond good looks, a complete build using heavy and mass timber offers impressive benefits for structural integrity, eco-friendliness, construction timelines, and more. Let’s take a closer look.

1. Project Efficiency: An all-timber frame can help builders stay on schedule and on budget. Wrapping steel in wood means coordinating with two suppliers and their own busy schedules. Using a single supplier of timber framing, however, can ease planning and reduce the risk of delays. Not only is there one less player involved, but the off-site manufacture of timber components brings its own efficiencies.Heavy timber prepared off-site is pre-cut to facilitate easy joinery, carefully labeled, then trucked to the work site for assembly. Mass timber pieces are also prefabricated in a workshop. This reduces the need for manpower on the job site, which may lower project costs — including travel and lodging — while also producing less activity and construction mess on the property. Also, Mother Nature is taken out of the equation, as work in the fabrication shop can continue unimpeded regardless of the weather at the project’s location. Under the supervision of experienced timber framers, the components can then be installed quickly on-site, reducing timelines for even more budget savings.
2. Natural Beauty & Character: The richness of genuine heavy timber is unmistakable in its aesthetic and presence, with natural warmth and unique grain patterns and textures that add depth and character. Glulam exhibits a different look and is often used in stark modern styles that favor clean edges and uniform wood grains.Timber also ages gracefully, developing a patina over time that enhances its character and adds to the appeal of a structure. Cold and grim steel beams won’t develop any additional character than what they were extruded with, and even when hidden and wrapped in wood panels, there’s an unmistakable feeling of tacked-on window dressing. The thin wood used to mask the steel beams will likely deteriorate over time, shifting and cracking, leading to a less attractive appearance.
3. Strength & Load Distribution: Heavy timber beams are inherently strong and capable of bearing substantial loads without additional support, relying on the natural strength of the wood. Glulam beams are adept at spanning large expanses, which opens the floor plan below to a wide range of options. Windows can be larger. Entryways grander. Lines of sight made more impressive. Walking through a space becomes easier, with a freedom of flow.As compared to steel, heavy timber provides a 20% higher strength-to-weight ratio. Steel beams also rely on their metal core for structural support; a wood wrap has no load-bearing quality and is purely decorative. As such, steel can create a disparity in load distribution and may require additional engineering considerations to avoid structural imbalances.
4. Fire Resistance: What may surprise those who are unfamiliar with timber frame builds is the fire-resistant nature of these structures. Because timber tends to char rather than burn when exposed to flame, its core is protected. A heavy timber building has a greater chance of maintaining its structural integrity in a fire, even over steel, which weakens at high temperatures with unpredictable results. Because of this natural resistance to burning, international fire ratings for timber frame buildings have recently been adjusted, enabling architects to design larger high-rise residences and office buildings.
5. Sustainability: When sourced from sustainable and well-managed forests, timber is a renewable and environmentally friendly resource. It acts as a carbon sink while growing, trapping carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and holding it in its fibers. After harvest, the wood continues to store that CO_2, even during the years when it is part of a structure. Additionally, compared to steel, timber requires 24 times less energy to produce, and as a finished product has 28–47% lower embodied energy than steel buildings.
   Working with timber keeps waste to a minimum as well. A CNC machine helps the craftsmen at Mid-Atlantic Timberframes to precisely cut our timber so that the few castoff pieces we create are small and easily turned to sawdust, which we then send to local farms around our shop for animal bedding.
6. Lower Environmental Impact:Timber is lighter in weight than steel and concrete, allowing for more material to be carried per truckload, resulting in fewer trucks on roads. And, because of its lower weight, timber doesn’t always require heavy machinery or extensive excavation, which can mean less soil disturbance and better preservation of natural habitats.
7. Energy Efficiency: Timber provides natural insulation, contributing to the overall energy efficiency of a building. Structural insulated panels (SIPs), a type of CLT, are often used in conjunction with heavy timber construction, creating a tight building envelope. This reduces the energy required to heat and cool buildings.Steel beams, even when wrapped in wood, have poor insulation qualities and tend to conduct heat and cold throughout a finished structure. This can lead to higher energy consumption, and therefore cost, to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.
8. Perceived Value: Structures built with real heavy timber beams are typically considered to be more valuable and desirable, thanks to their authentic craftsmanship and the enduring appeal of natural wood. Steel beams wrapped in wood may not carry the same cachet, as lack of authenticity can be easily recognized by discerning buyers, potentially reducing a building’s market value.
9. Cost Savings: While wrapping steel beams in wood might offer lower initial costs, the long-term expenses related to maintenance, energy inefficiency, and potential structural adjustments can outweigh any short-term savings. Real heavy and mass timber beams, with their longevity and minimal maintenance needs, generally provide better value over time.
10. Craftsmanship & Tradition: Real heavy timber beams are deeply connected to traditional building practices and craftsmanship, carrying with them a sense of history and heritage. Steel beams, even when wrapped in wood, lack this cultural significance, as they do not reflect the same level of artisanal skill or connection to natural materials.Our craftsmen descend from long lines of carpenters and builders. Their knowledge, their skill, and their eye for perfection, coupled with our CNC machinery, create impeccable timber components for every project.

The Art of Timber Construction

Luxury custom building offers myriad opportunities for design and materials. The customer who hopes to leave a lasting legacy expects and demands that best practices be followed. Underutilizing timber, or using a patchwork approach in its application, deprives a structure of sincerity in its materials, its craftsmanship, and its quality.

To learn more about complete timber building and to speak to an expert on all aspects of timber frame construction, contact Mid-Atlantic Timberframes.