Welcome to Vermont...

If you're driving North on I-91, just inside of the Vermont Border, you will notice the Vermont Welcome Center.




This is one of my favorite projects from Vermont Timber Works.

The Main Building is a hand hewn Easten White Pine Timber Frame, and the Picnic Shelter and Information Crib are of hand hewn White Oak.

(Picnic Shelter)



(Information Crib)



Inside, you will find that the Center is set up like a mini-museum with displays and trivial tidbits about Vermont. There are also computer stations that link to various Chambers of Commerce.
You'll find informative brochures and helpful hints on making your Vermont Visit an unforgettable one. Of course, there is information about Vermont Timber Works readily available.



These next picture show the roof rafters being flown in by the crane, and the frame coming together in the final stages of the raising.





This frame has generated a variety of calls from Passers-by.
Travelers will stop to stretch at the Welcome Center, and will later call Vermont Timber Works to inquire about perhaps obtaining a Timber Frame for themselves.

The quality is undeniably top-shelf, and the Timber Frame is as welcoming as the Center it's housing.

If you're in the neighborhood, stop and see for yourself.
You may decide to call and get an estimate for YOUR next project.


(Vermont Timber Works Crew Members Sold Seperately!)

Season's Greetings...

...from the whole crew.

The staff at Vermont Timber Works would like to wish everyone a safe and Happy Holiday Season.

Although extremely busy with a myriad of projects, we want to stop and thank all of those who have made this year another successful one for us. From our valued Clients, to our faithful suppliers, we couldn't have done it without you.

If you've always dreamt about building with Heavy Timber, or even adding some decorative beams to your existing home, Vermont Timber Works can make those dreams come true.

Check out our website at www.vermonttimberworks.com

Contact us today for a free brochure or estimate.

We'd be more than happy to welcome you into the family of satisfied clientel.

Happy Holidays!

Decking the Halls.....

Or the walls, or the ceiling, or wherever else you so desire.......

With a product like this, it's going to be beautiful, no matter where you use it.

These photos are of a delivery of Solid White Pine Tongue and Groove Decking that was shipped to Vermont Timber Works.

Although Vermont Timber Works does not install the decking, we offer our sourcing and supplying services to our clients.

A good example of what using wood decking on a ceiling would be the Hawthorne Suites Hotel in Burlington, VT. It just wouldn't look the same if it were finished with sheetrock.

You be the judge.

Test your Timber Framing IQ

Who's up for a little Post and Beam Brainteaser?

Don't worry, it's a blog- you won't be graded, and nobody will have a clue what your answers were. This is just for fun.

Before I started at Vermont Timber Works, I probaly wouldn't have done very well.

Ready?

1) What is the most common type of joinery used in timber framing?

a. Nail and Peg

b. Mortise and Tenon

c. Tenon and Peg

If you answered b, Mortise and Tenon, give yourself a round of applause. This type of joint is used to fasten connectors, posts, collar ties, struts, etc.

2) What is a SLICK used for?

a. To coat the timbers with an oily substance before milling

b. To hoist the timbers from the ground during the erection process

c. To clean the surface of a Hand Hewn Beam

C is the correct answer. A SLICK is used to clean the surface of a beam after it's been hand hewn. Hand Hewing is making notches in the wood by individual hard blows of a heavy cutting tool, such as an adze or chisel. Hand hewn timbers offer a very traditional look.

3) What wood species is the STRONGEST of the following?

a. Hemlock

b. Western Red Cedar

c. Douglas Fir

Did you say Hemlock? If so, you were not correct.

The correct answer is Douglas Fir. We get our Douglas Fir from the West Coast. Our Timber is always #1 Grade or Better, unless otherwise specified.

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So how did you do?

Are you an expert in the field? Or do you need to brush up on your Timber Framing Knowledge?

Take a look at this website: http://www.vermonttimberworks.com/

I'm sure you'll find all the answers you need, and if not, please contact our office and we'll send you additional information or a brochure.

Study Hard. The next round will be more challenging!.

Star of Bethlehem?

No...Not quite.

Shining example of our craftsmanship?

We like to think so.

The Picture above is the view of the Timber Framed Cupola, looking straight up from the alter of the Bethlehem Monastery of the Poor Clares in Barhamsville, VA.

This cupola was flown in with a crane, and the top of the structure reaches about 45' high.

This cupola is just one small detail in this intricate frame. This 3D rendering of the Monastery shows the complexity of the project from the inside out.

After the rasing, it's amazing how the drawings seem to come alive.

This frame is made of Douglas Fir, and consists of over 31,000 board feet of Heavy Timber.

The Joinery is mostly of traditional style Mortise and Tenon, with some steel as required.

Both the interior of the Sanctuary

and the Alter area show Arched Beams that add so much character and unique detail to this beautiful building.

The finished product is nothing short of amazing.

Although not a celestial body, or a navigational beacon, a Timber Frame from Vermont Timber Works is the BRIGHTEST idea of all.

A Horse is a Horse, Of Course- Of Course.....

But it's a LUCKY Horse who gets to reside in a Barn like THIS!

This is the Osprey Horse Barn on Martha's Vineyard. It's a custom designed Barn of Rough Sawn Hemlock Timbers and Traditional Mortise and Tenon Joinery.

* Did you know that when building a Horse Barn, it's best to use Hemlock, as for some reason, it's the one type of wood the horses don't like to nibble on?

Even the hay loft is a post and beam masterpiece. But if the horses are spoiled enough to live in such a beautiful barn, I guess we would only expect the food storage to be top "notch"...(No wood related pun intended).

The weather outside is frightful....

But this Timber Frame is so delightful-

Forget vivsions of Sugar Plums- why not dream about something even sweeter? Like the thought of being surrounded daily by a beautiful post and beam home? A place where the Sugar Plums will dream of visiting, and perhaps staying a little longer this year.

The Schmidt Werks Residence in Darien, CT. is a fine example of the exquisite handiwork produced by Vermont Timber Works.

This Hand Hewn Eastern White Pine Timber Frame with Traditional Mortise and Tenon Joinery was featured on the cover of House Beautiful Magazine.

So in your letter to Santa this year, why not ask him to bring you what you REALLY want?

He'll know where to fill your request. After all, Vermont Timber Works is Santa's OTHER workshop.

Happy Holidays!

Just "Checking"....

If you've ever been into a Timber Framed Building, be it a home, a church, a school, etc., you may have noticed the different areas where the frame appears to have CRACKED. This is NOT because the wood species chosen was less than perfect, or because it was damaged during installation. Wood is a natural product, and this process called "checking" is normal, and to be expected.

A "Check" is a long crack that appears as the sap wood of a timber shrinks around the heart wood over time.
Checking is not a structural problem, and usually occurs only on one or two sides of a beam. Oak, however, can have surface checks everywhere, which many people feel add to the beautiful rustic appearance of a timber frame.

Other than the appearance of these "cracks", you may notice that certain areas of the wood seem to be seperating, or pulling away from each other.

Shake is the separation of the rings in a piece of wood that occurs as it dries. The wood can also 'peel' off around the rings, similar to the layers of an onion.

I hope this has helped give you a better understanding of why a Timber frame may appear to be less than perfect, but if it was built by Vermont Timber Works, please rest assured that it is as perfect as can be.

That's Entertainment....

Inside of almost everyone,there is a desire to surround yourself with good friends, good food, good music, and good clean fun. But if you are anything like me, you find yourself wishing you could empty the contents of your home to allow for a large enough area to entertain all of your friends and family at once.

Jack Sands of Dublin, NH, a previous client of Vermont Timber Works had just the right idea: "Why not build a Party Barn"?

This barn was built with Heavy Timbers that weathered outsied of our shop for 6 months to create an antique look. It appears as though the barn has been standing there for years.

While mingling with friends and family, Jack is also surrounded by the beautiful quality craftsmanship of a custom built Timber Frame, a timeless conversation piece of its own.

Now THAT'S Entertainment.

Decorating with a twist.....

It seems that this time of year brings about an innate desire to Decorate...
Cornucopias over-flowing with gourds and festive accents, Giant Globes containing Penguins and waving Santas, Icicle lights on every house for miles.

While in the spirit of decorating, why not adorn your room with something that will remain a conversation piece, year round, for the life of your home?

Decorative Timber Trusses can provide a classic showpiece for any building, while taking the look of the room to a different level- from simple to Chic in one fell swoop.

Recently, VTW installed some Decorative Trusses and some Red Pine Log Beams in a home on Lake Raponda in Southern Vermont. You will notice that the look of the ceiling would have been ordinary without the trusses and Pine Logs, but now- EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS!

Busy Busy!

After a relatively quiet summer here at Vermont Timber Works, the change of the seasons has brought about a change of pace.
Projects are coming out of the WOODWORK. (No pun intended.)

We are currently working on Spruce Camp, a resort lodge at Stowe, VT, Olana Wagon House in Hudson, NY, and a Private Residence in Lake Raponda, VT...to name a few.

Next up, we will erect an outdoor obsevatory building near Boston, MA called the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, and are preparing to ship a project as far as Bermuda.

As busy as we may be, we welcome new projects and the challenge of turning them around ahead of schedule.

Think BIG

Recently, Vermont Timber Works was contracted to build frame for a new ski lodge in Stowe , Vermont. This is going to be a beautiful building, with some massive beams that run continuously through the structure.

I knew that the timbers were going to be large, at a 52' span, of course they would be, but I had no idea that the would look as big as they did when they arrived at our shop.

After seeing what can be done using these timber members, I believe that no idea is too big or too difficult. The resources are there, and we can harness them....

So when you are dreaming up your timber frame, remember to dream big!

Sorry, no KITS.

I had a gentleman ask me yesterday if all of our KITS were exactly the same, or if he could buy a different version.
I was pleased to be able to tell him that Vermont Timber Works does NOT make Timber Kits, but designs, hand cuts and builds every frame from raw materials. We don't use machines to do the work for us.
Each Timber Frame is custom built by the small group of talented craftsmen here at our facility.

Small business, Big results...
Check out the different Frames here: http://www.vermonttimberworks.com

Thinking about a Timber Frame?
Look no further.

Consider This....

Every day, someone, somewhere is dreaming of building a new home, barn, cabin, etc...
But in this present day of having so many options, , the only way to "One-up" any other type of building is to incorporate a Timber Frame into the structure.

Not only does the unique craftmanship give you something to talk about, but adds a level of luxury to ANY project.

Look at the beautiful way to dress up a Great Room, or a Pool House by adding Post and Beam Framing to the mix.

I'm confident that the anyone else would be quite envious....

My favorite project so far....

I have to admit that before I started working for Vermont Timber Works, I admired the look of post and beam, but never realized how much detail and hard work went into every aspect of the frame.
After being hired, I was able to go and help erect a hand crafted barn, and I have a new found appreciation for the trade.

This is the barn I helped build. http://www.vermonttimberworks.com/home/projects/sands_barn/index.html

Makes you want one, doesn't it?