Custom Timber Floor Plan

Design Your Dream, Build Your Legacy

Ever dreamt of a home that reflects your unique personality, seamlessly blends with its surroundings, and boasts the timeless beauty of exposed timbers? Clients have appreciated our passion to capture the "just right" mix of functionality, looks, and cost investment for their dream timber homes.

This guide outlines the exciting journey you'll embark on with Arrow Timber, from the initial spark of inspiration to the final construction phase. We believe in clear communication and a collaborative approach, ensuring your dream home becomes a reality.

This guide provides detailed explanations of each stage of the process, from gathering your ideas and exploring your budget to the meticulous fabrication and installation of your timber frame. We'll also highlight ideas, inspiration, and problems that you might not yet be aware of as you embark on this journey with us. Dive into the steps below!

Laying the Groundwork for Your Timber Frame Dream

Building a custom timber frame home is an exciting journey, and we're thrilled you're considering Arrow Timber! Before we dive into designing your perfect home, here are key first steps to take:

Inspiration Exploration

Visit Our Gallery: See the incredible possibilities of timber frame design by browsing our online portfolio.
Gather Your Ideas: Start a scrapbook, Pinterest board, or inspiration folder. What styles speak to you? What features do you love?

Think About Your Lifestyle

Daily Needs: How many bedrooms, bathrooms, and living spaces do you require?
How You Entertain: Do you love hosting, or is it more about cozy family time? Consider how your home will support how you live.
Dream Elements: Is a gourmet kitchen, a luxurious owner's suite, or a breathtaking view your top priority?

Site Analysis (Recommended)

If you have already secured land for your dream home, we highly recommend obtaining a professional topo survey of the lot. This detailed document maps the existing features and contours of your land, including elevation changes, property lines, and any natural elements like streams or wooded areas. Having a topo survey upfront helps us inform the design process from the very beginning. It allows us to:

Integrate your home seamlessly with the topography, maximizing natural light and views.
Avoid potential challenges during construction by proactively addressing any site constraints.
Streamline the design phase by providing crucial data for accurate planning and placement of your dream home.

Financing: Making It Happen

Financing your new home build requires careful planning. Explore different mortgage options, including traditional loans and construction loans. Pre-approval can streamline the process and give you a clear picture of your budget. Don't be afraid to shop around and compare lenders to find the best rates and terms for your situation.

Builders: Finding the Right Partner

Finding a good fit with your general contractor is crucial for a successful and stress-free building experience. Your GC is essentially the captain of your project, overseeing everything from scheduling subcontractors to managing the budget. A skilled and compatible contractor will have the experience to handle potential challenges, communicate clearly throughout the process, and advocate for your vision. A strong relationship with your GC builds trust, ensures your goals are aligned, and ultimately contributes to a finished home you'll love for years to come.

Thinking Beyond the Basics

Design Style: What speaks to your soul? Rustic mountain estate, contemporary masterpiece? Inspiration is key.
Size and Functionality: How much space do you need? Consider current and potential future needs.
Timeline: Are you in a rush? How long is the "building season" where you are building?

With these things sorted out, you'll be armed with the right questions for a productive conversation with the experts at Arrow Timber.

Your dream home starts here!

The Brainstorm: Collaborative Design Takes Flight

The Pre-Design stage laid the groundwork, and now it's time for the exciting Brainstorm – your chance to delve deeper with Arrow Timber and truly bring your custom timber frame home to life! This collaborative design session is where ideas take flight, and your dream home starts to take shape in detail. Here's what you can expect:

Deep Dive into Your Vision

We'll pick up right where we left off, delving deeper into your design dreams. Share inspirational photos, sketches, or anything that captures the essence of your desired style. We'll discuss:

Architectural Preferences: Are you drawn to craftsman bungalows, airy open floor plans, or traditional colonial homes?
Room Functionality: How will each space be used? Do you need a dedicated home office, a mudroom for managing outdoor gear, or a spacious entertaining area?
Lifestyle Integration: How do you envision spending time in your home? Do you love hosting large gatherings, or is creating a cozy reading retreat a priority?

Timber Expertise on Deck

Timber framing is our specialty, and we're here to share our knowledge and enthusiasm! We'll educate you on the various options for incorporating exposed timbers throughout your home. This could include massive beams anchoring your living space, dramatic trusses overhead, or warm accents throughout the interior. We'll discuss how timber can enhance your design goals and create a truly unique and beautiful home.

Budget Collaboration

We understand that staying within budget is important. We'll revisit your initial budget considerations and collaboratively explore creative design solutions to prioritize your must-have features while optimizing the overall plan.

By the end of the Brainstorm, you should have a comprehensive understanding of how timber framing can elevate your dream home. We'll be armed with a draft design concept that captures your vision and preferences. We'll refine and finalize the details based on your feedback, paving the way for the Schematic Design Phase!

Schematic Design: Where Your Dream Home Takes Shape

The Schematic Design Phase is where the magic happens! This is where your ideas from the Brainstorm meetings transform into detailed drawings and plans, providing a tangible blueprint for your custom timber frame home. Here's what you can expect:

Design Refinement & Development:

Our experienced designers will take your feedback from the Brainstorm and meticulously translate your vision into detailed floor plans and initial sketches. We'll work closely with you to consider:

Space Optimization: How rooms flow together for optimal functionality and comfort.
Natural Light & Views: Strategic window placement and design to maximize natural lighting and framing of your property's best features.
Timber Integration: Seamless blending of structural timber elements with your chosen architectural style to achieve a cohesive and stunning design.

Regular Design Reviews

Once the initial design concepts are ready, we'll schedule a presentation where you'll see your dream home coming to life! We'll present floor plans, sketches, and 3D renderings that showcase your home's unique character and features.

Collaborative Feedback

This is your chance to provide input and make adjustments! We encourage open communication and welcome your feedback as we work together to refine the design. Every detail, from room sizes to window styles, can be fine-tuned until you're absolutely thrilled with the plans.

Engineering Considerations

While designing with beauty and functionality in mind, we'll also begin preliminary discussions about the structural engineering aspects of your timber frame. This ensures that the final design meets both your aesthetic desires and the necessary engineering requirements while considering your budget and other primary desires for your home.

By the end of the Schematic Design Phase, you'll have a preliminary set of drawings and a clear understanding of how your custom timber frame home will look and function. This is a crucial step in the process as it allows for final tweaks and approvals before moving into the detailed construction drawings.

The Preconstruction Process: Setting the Stage for Your Build

After signing your agreement, we dive into the essential preconstruction details that ensure a smooth transition to the construction phase. Here's what happens behind the scenes:

Preliminary Architectural Plans: You'll initially receive a set of preliminary architectural plans. This helps you start communicating your project vision to potential general contractors and secure accurate estimates.
Technical Drawings: Our team meticulously creates detailed technical drawings tailored to your specific SimpleStart plan and its adaptations.
Engineering Stamp: To guarantee structural integrity, we obtain the necessary engineering stamp of approval for your drawings.
Timber Sourcing: We carefully source high-quality timbers for your project, ensuring the beauty and strength of your timber frame elements.
Permit Acquisition: Your general contractor will submit the engineered construction set to your local building department for review. We'll be in close communication to address any necessary alterations should they arise. Please note that permit approval timelines can range from weeks to months, depending on the county and complexity of changes.

Collaboration and Communication: Throughout this phase, we'll maintain open communication, providing updates and addressing any questions you may have. Our goal is to lay a solid foundation for a successful and stress-free building experience.

Example of Drawings Provided for Your Dream Timber Home

The Fabrication Process: Where Craftsmanship Meets Your Vision

This is where your timber frame home begins to come to life! At our on-site mill, skilled artisans transform premium logs into the beautiful timber elements that will define your home.

True Craftsmanship: Our team utilizes traditional joinery techniques, handcrafting each timber without reliance on CNC machinery. This ensures a unique and authentic touch.
Attention to Detail: Every cut and join is meticulously crafted with precision and care, ensuring a perfect fit for your timber frame structure.
Parallel Progress: While your timber frame is taking shape, your general contractor will be busy ramping up their portion of the work. You'll work with them on the fun details like lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures, and colors that will define your style. They'll handle site preparation and coordinate subcontractors for tasks like excavation, foundation work, and all conventionally framed elements of your home.

The fabrication process and site preparation happen in tandem, ensuring a seamless transition into the exciting assembly phase of your build.

a crane during a giant back porch construction with big posts

Home Construction: Your Dream Takes Shape

Now, the real excitement begins as your home rises from the ground! Here's how this phase unfolds:

Contractor in Charge: Your general contractor takes the lead, executing the plans we've provided and coordinating all non-timber framed aspects of the build.
Strategic Timber Delivery: At precisely the right moments, your beautiful timber frame elements will be delivered to the site.
Installation Options: Depending on your agreement, the timber frame installation will be expertly handled by either Arrow Timber's experienced crew or your chosen builder.
The Complete Package: As the timber frame takes its place, your contractor will continue with the conventional framing, roofing, siding, and all interior finishes that bring your vision to life.

Progress and Partnership: We'll stay connected with you and your contractor throughout the construction phase, ensuring a smooth process and a finished product that you'll love for generations.

Solidifying Your Dream Home Journey

The step is where we solidify the exciting journey towards building your custom timber frame home. Here, we'll finalize the design and ensure we're perfectly aligned on the scope of work and investment before moving forward.

Design Agreement & Proposal Presentation

Once you're completely in love with your home's design, we'll present a detailed proposal outlining the agreed-upon scope of work.

Contract Review & Signing

We'll walk you through the terms and conditions of the contract, ensuring you understand all aspects of our agreement. This is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have before finalizing the contract.

This marks a significant milestone in your custom home journey. With a signed contract and a clear understanding of the project scope and investment. Now, it's time to delve into the technical details – the Preconstruction phase!

Communicating the Dream

Think of this step as a casual brainstorming session where we sketch out the big-picture ideas for your custom timber frame home. At Arrow Timber, we love getting to know you and hearing about all the possibilities you envision. Here's what you can expect:

Getting Started

Assuming that you've already completed your initial planning, reach out to us—we're always happy to chat! Whether you call, email, or make a quick website inquiry. This step is a simple, fun onboarding that gets us up to speed with what you want.

Share Your Vision

This is your chance to tell us about the home living in your imagination!

Style Check: Do you lean towards rustic elegance, modern farmhouse, or something completely unique?
Must-Haves: What are the non-negotiable features – a sprawling chef's kitchen, a cozy reading nook, or maybe a wraparound porch with a view?
Feeling is Everything: Describe the vibe you want your home to have – welcoming and warm, sleek and minimalist, or a sanctuary nestled in nature.

Budget Basics

We understand that a custom home is an investment. Let's have a general chat about your budget range. This helps us guide the design to prioritize the things that matter most to you.

The Outcome

By the end of this conversation, you'll have a sense of how Arrow Timber works and a basic outline of what your dream home could look like. Most importantly, if it feels like a great fit, we'll schedule a more formal Brainstorm where we'll really dive deep into the details and bring your vision to life!

Are We a Good Fit for Your Custom Timber Frame Home Plan?

As you embark on the exciting journey of building your dream timber frame home, choosing the right partner is crucial. The only way to really know if you've hired right is when you are working with them. But, scheduling a brainstorm to get both knowledge and a short test drive is by far the easiest, safest, and most reliable next step.