From Start to Finish

At Blue Ridge Timberwrights, you are our main focus. We can help you create:

• Residential and Commercial Timber Frames
• Hybrid Timber Frames
• Timber Frame Pavilions, Gazebos, and Pergolas
• Timber Frame Porches, Barns, and Steeples

We provide your project with:

• Architectural design, custom timber frame design, wood selection and engineering services
• Timber frame construction
• Timber frame raising
• Roof and wall enclosure systems (SIPS - Structural Insulated Panels)
• Reclaimed timbers
• Reclaimed Wood Flooring & Decking
• Custom cut timbers (railings, staircases, wood carving, etc.)
• Architectural Timber Elements
• Timber Frame Trusses (Roof Systems)
• Tongue & Groove Wood Paneling
• Windows and Doors

Timber Frame Planning & Design

You know what you want; we explain how to get there. Bring your architectural drawings, blueprints, sketches or just ideas. Blue Ridge Timberwrights can lead you through this most critical of all stages. We help you develop the scope of your project, including schedule and budget.

Our designers, individuals with degrees in architecture and engineering, have considerable timber framing experience. At Blue Ridge, custom design is the standard. Our designers will ask the specific questions and offer options and suggestions to help refine your needs and ideas. Each of your choices will be taken into consideration to produce a design that will create a unique and innovative structure that expresses your preference and personality.

Some clients prefer to start with something already designed; we have hundreds of completed designs to choose from. We can recreate one of these projects or you can use a design as a starting point to your custom timber frame project.

Construction Cost Planning Worksheet

Eventually everyone wants to know the same thing: How much will it cost? The answer depends greatly on your personal preferences and choices. But timber framing is only one part of the overall cost of your entire structure, whether commercial or residential. To help you understand the many aspects you may encounter, click here to download a Construction Cost Planning Worksheet for estimating and tracking your costs.

Timber Frame Wood Selection

Blue Ridge Timberwrights employs a variety of wood choices for your design, each with its own advantages.

A traditional and cost-effective choice for your timber frame is unseasoned or fresh cut timbers including eastern white pine, southern yellow pine, douglas fir, oak, cypress, and cedar. Unseasoned timbers are used in timber frames for a rustic appearance.

We also offer radio frequency kiln dried douglas fir and red oak. This material is put oversized into a vacuum and the water is stimulated out of it by Radio Frequency Waves. The timbers are taken to around 12% moisture content, then removed from the kiln and resurfaced. Kiln dried timber retains its natural color and has the appearance of freshly sawn wood. Kiln drying reduces checking and the drying process nearly eliminates twist, bow, cup, crook, and warp.

"I can't say enough about you [Sandy] and your wonderful, fun people. You were very patient with us as we pondered about a design for our home and then put it all together in a very professional manner. The quality and beauty of our frame is truly a work of art."

– Ernie Minor, Homeowner

Our Reclaimed Timbers

We recommend using our reclaimed timbers to add a sense of history to your frame. Reclaimed timber is salvaged from older structures such as large warehouses and port buildings.

These timbers sometimes can be found in large sizes and longer lengths because of the spans that were built in the older structures. Reclaimed material tends to be old growth timber, thus denser and with more dramatic grain color.

Our St. Lawrence Seaway timbers (shown right) were salvaged from decades old floating "sidewalks" that once helped men steer timber down rivers and across lakes. See our article in the New River Current, "New Life for Old Timber" for more information on these unique timbers.

Blue Ridge's fire kill douglas fir timbers are an affordable reclaimed alternative. These timbers were killed in forest fires. They are often old growth timbers and can be found in larger sizes and longer lengths than unseasoned material. These distinctive timbers are an excellent environmentally friendly choice.

Timber Frame Creation

Creating and cutting your timber frame provides the tangible results of your planning and design decisions. Our Timberwrights, those who craft and raise a timber frame, are a special combination of artisan, carpenter and furniture maker.

Each is a craftsperson who has developed the special woodworking skills necessary to size timbers, lay out and cut a wide variety of complex joinery details, and erect the frame at the building site.

"Thank you and each of your totally dedicated craftsmen for caring so much about where you leave your trademark in this world."

-Cici Brown - Homeowner

They master a number of woodworking skills and tools unique to the timber framing business. The results are equal parts artistic execution and engineering achievement.

Timber Frame Raising

A timber frame raising represents more than a well-orchestrated construction project: It is the fulfillment of our promise to craft your dreams into existence.

Watch as the timbers come together into an impressive structure.

Though it is hard work, we see the process as a craft, an opportunity to create something of value and permanence, to walk the beam between modern technology and ancient art.

"....I heartily commend every worker, both Blue Ridge employees and outside help. All worked diligently. As the source of continuity through this process, Tim does stand out. He was the first to arrive and the last to leave every day. His positive attitude and helpful nature make him an ambassador for the company."
- Julian Wilson, Homeowner

Structural Insulated Panels (Stress Skin)
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Blue Ridge Timberwrights can provide your project with structural insulated panels (SIPs). These consist of a solid, one-piece, pre-cut unit that is ready to install as wall, floor, or roof components. Each SIP consists of a core of molded expanded polystyrene (EPS) or Urethane insulation with engineered oriented strand board (OSB) laminated to the top and bottom faces.

The SIP system is a key component in timber frame construction that will reduce energy costs and provide a strong, secure building envelope.

Windows and Doors

Blue Ridge Timberwrights can supply high-quality, high-performance windows and doors for your timber frame project. We have many providers to select any window configuration you can imagine. A distinctive window is the perfect complement to a well-designed, well-constructed timber frame.

Tongue & Groove Wood Paneling

Solid wood tongue and groove is the perfect compliment to your timber frame structure. Blue Ridge Timberwrights' 1"x8" tongue and groove paneling offers you an affordable solution to paneling the interior of your roof.

We can also supply you with pre-stained tongue and groove for your timber frame project. This tongue and groove has an incredibly tough finish and can stand up to the most demanding families. It’s up to three times harder than finishes applied by a painter.

Reclaimed Wood Flooring

Blue Ridge Timberwrights can provide your project with reclaimed wood flooring cut direct from our inventory of salvaged timbers. Our reclaimed flooring is longer and wider than new flooring, giving your project the distinctive character of an antique floor.

Reclaimed Wood Decking/Planking

We can also supply your project with reclaimed wood planking. Our reclaimed planks can be used for molding or custom millwork to make your project one-of-a-kind.

Get started on your timber frame today by emailing us at info@brtw.com or call to speak with our knowledgeable sales consultants.