Peaceful Timber Frame Home With Great Views

A Stunning Kootenay Timber Frame Project

You'll want to take a closer look at this stunning Kootenay Timber Frame Project. This timber frame home design is located in Revelstoke, one of British Columbia's premier ski destinations. The homeowners spearheaded many of the timber frame design choices resulting in a wonderful collaboration between builder and owner. This home was the Keystone Award Winner in 2013 presented by the Canadian Home Builders Association.

Advantages of Timber Frame Homes

Timber-framed homes are a structural framing system that uses sawn, dimensional wood posts and beams that are connected with wooden joinery. The Timber Frame method results in a precisely engineered structure that is remarkably strong and durable. The outer facade of a timber frame home is typically finished with traditional wood frame construction. There are several advantages to timber frame homes to include flexible design options, ideal for entrances and other focal points, suitable for large windows and openings highlights the character of wood grain, and a wide variety of finishes and stains can be applied to wood.

Sustainable Building Practices at West Coast Log Homes

At West Coast Log Homes they build post and beam, timber frame, full scribe, and fusion style home designs. They source all of their logs from sustainably managed second-growth forests. They selectively harvest their trees by hand, choosing only those that meet the aesthetic character and structural needs of each home project. Working only in managed forests and areas pre-selected for harvesting, they survey the woodlot to assess the quality of each tree before sending in crews to begin the removal process. Once in, they cut low to the ground to preserve the beauty of the tree base. By using slings rather than metal grapples to bring the tree out they avoid scrapes and scratches, thus preserving the natural surface of each tree. All of their harvesting techniques are low-impact, sustainable practices that ensure the longevity and beauty of the surrounding forests.

Careful Harvesting Methods for Quality Logs

Undamaged logs. To pressure wash logs, they must be harvested in a manner that leaves the outer layer of wood undamaged. Generally, logs are handled by large machinery without any concern for damaging the outer surface. However, since they remove the bark using high-pressure water any damage present would cause the wood to blow out as the high-pressure water scours the surface of the wood. This is why West Coast Log Homes use unique logging methods to ensure logs are harvested in a much more careful manner than they would be for other purposes. At the heart of their craft is the Western Red Cedar tree, a character-rich, stable, and long-lasting wood well suited for the construction of log homes. West Coast Log Homes use only the finest Western Red Cedar available.

The Superior Qualities of Western Red Cedar

Natural oils in the wood not only produce a distinct aromatic fragrance but also protect as a preservative, preventing decay and warding off insects. The tight, straight grain delivers resistance to warping and twisting, handles moisture extremely well, and resists splitting. Cedar is free of pitch and resins, accepts a variety of finishes with ease, and has exceptional insulation properties that far exceed most wood varieties. A lightweight, easy to handle, and cost-effective material to transport, the wood has a richly textured grain that is accentuated by a range of warm, natural, and luxurious color tones. Because of these quality combinations, cedar has always had the distinction of being a superior building material.