Timber Frame Plan Tips To Make Choosing Easier

To create the home of your dreams, you may have difficulty finding an existing floor plan that suits your family’s needs. However, starting a plan from scratch can be daunting and overwhelming. Before you begin laying out a custom floor plan or working with an architect on a unique timber framing design, read through the tips below.

1. Know about your building site before you select a floor plan. You want to bring in natural lighting and maximize the views.
2. Understand your budget before you begin the project. Be sure to include your land, permits, and contractor fees in your costs.
3. Establish a relationship with a contractor you can trust. Make sure he or she is bonded and licensed.
4. Consider how many floors you want. If it is a forever home, remember to build on a single level since many retirees have difficulty with stairs.
5. Determine the style of timber framing home you want. Make sure your plan fits into the style of houses in your neighborhood for cohesion.
6. Diagram a bubble map to make sure you understand the layout of your home’s rooms.
7. Decide if you want a basement and if it will access an outdoor living space. Will it be a finished area, or will you leave it unfinished? Choose a completed basement with area for storage, a play area, a man cave, or a combination of several.
8. Separate your dreams from reality. If you want five bedrooms and five bathrooms, but you don’t have any children, know you will have to have someone help you clean.
9. Plan for a garage if you are going to have one attached to the house. If you wait until later to affix a building, it may alter your home’s appearance.

The tips listed above can help you make some serious decisions about the home you will be creating. Since it may be the only time you build a timber framing house, make sure you understand what you need, what you want, and what you can do without.