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Assessing Trends in the Building Industry

18 June 2013, 8:18 pm

There is no doubt about it, 2013 is a year for new beginnings in the building industry. Across the board, from the creation of new construction jobs, to the increased amount of land parcels being sold, the home building market is on its way back. Here are some of the latest indicators of growth and action in the new construction market to be aware of.

Availability of MaterialsMaterials for Construction

In a recent Housing Market Index put together by the NAHB and Wells Fargo, a survey was conducted that outlined the biggest concerns builders had for 2013. Now more than ever, builders are concerned about the cost and availability of materials. While this may initially seem like a bad indication of the state of the building market for homeowners, this is actually a result of recovery—the demand for materials continues to rise as residential construction picks up.

Land Development and Sales

As a part of the same Housing Market Index, nearly half of builders are also expecting less availability for developed lots, up from the 24% of builders in 2012. In many markets, there have been an abundance of building lots which have sat dormant since the downturn in the building industry.  If these lots are now being used up, it is a clear indication of progress.

Number of New Homes Started

In CNN’s recent study, statistics show that in March, the annual pace of housing starts in 2013 had topped 1 million for the first time in nearly five years. After years of diminished activity for residential home building, the combination of decreased unemployment rates and economic growth has resulted in a comeback for new home starts. There is still some speculation that this number could also be greater if not for the shortage of construction workers available to families looking to build.

Builder WorkloadsBuilder Workloads

According to the NAHB, open construction jobs are at the highest they have been since their pre-Great Recession highs in 2007. In fact, over 94,000 jobs have been added to the home building sector in the last 12 months alone. However, this is still a small uptick compared to the current growth in building activity. This is speculated to be due to existing workers increasing their hours of work to meet the current demand in the industry. If this is true, it cannot go on indefinitely. The NAHB is confident that within the upcoming months, job creation will increase further to become more in stride with the demand for new construction.

 

For more information on the current state of the building industry, visit www.nahb.org.

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Making an Entrance

11 June 2013, 9:05 pm

A home’s entryway is a portal to the architectural beauty that lies within, and being the first thing that your guests will see, you want it to make a statement. Today we will discuss the variety of layouts and styles a timber frame home’s entryway can display to really make a good first impression.

Including Outdoor Living 

Many future homeowners who desire to build a timber frame home tend to focus the most on the great room space, after all it is the location where most of the home’s timber framing is displayed and it is also the central and primary area where the most time will be spent. Couples often don’t think about the opportunity available for other areas of the home as well, like the entry. Many of our past clients have demonstrated that by incorporating front patios and above the entrance balconies to their home, they not only increase their outdoor space for things like a quiet cup of coffee in the morning, but they also create a more inviting feel for visitors or neighbors stopping by for a quick chat. Another popular option many people choose is to have their entry blend with a front or wraparound porch system, creating a relaxed, country appeal that flows to all of the home’s outdoor spaces.

Timber Frame Incorporation

A home’s timber frame structure does not have to be limited to its interiors. Consider whether or not you would like to have some of your timber framing’s artisan design repeated in your entryway. Having a truss over an entry door or even a bent system that creates an extended cover for the front step is common in many traditional timber frame homes. Your design could include a small, simple truss above the entry that matches the trusses found in all of your roof pitches, or perhaps you’d like to have a larger truss that spans the length of the front porch. Speak with your project’s designer to brainstorm how your home’s timber framing can be highlighted in this area of the home.

Door Design

Whether you choose aluminum, wood, or fiberglass, your front door’s design does not end with its material. There are many factors of a door’s selection that can set the tone for your home’s overall look and feel for a guest. For instance, have you considered having double doors for a grander, wider entrance? Or maybe you want a more detailed entry to match your home’s overall architectural style. Many clients will even select brightly colored doors to create a contemporary, bold contrast that really stands out.

 

No matter how you and your designer choose to design your home’s entryway, make it a reflection of your personal style and lifestyle, after all, it is the first thing that your guests will see!

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Starting from Outside Architecture

4 June 2013, 10:30 pm

For many couples, their dream home can begin before they even come to Riverbend. Sometimes, a family may have already begun working with an outside architect and are interested in including timber framing or it is suggested to them by their designer. Today we spoke with Project Manager, Tom Schrock, about how Riverbend works with outside architects in a collaborative effort to fulfill a client’s ideal timber frame home design.

timber frameTom Schrock, Project Manager

When we begin a project with an outside architect, most of the creative process is often done beforehand. However, in terms of timber frame design, it is a rare skill for a conventional architect to be able to draw the skeletons accurately. So when clients come to us with their architects, they are looking to us to not only complete these drawings but to help them determine what connections, wood species, and size would work best with their existing design.

Once we’ve determined the size, species, and style of the future home’s timber frame, we will use the architect’s existing drawings and include the timber framing so our shop can produce a properly fitted frame.

Like timber framing, structural insulated panels (SIPs) are another aspect of a Riverbend building system that the traditional architect may not have knowledge of. Being able to draw these panels is very technical, and knowing their wall and roof systems composition and capabilities is something that we have had years of experience doing. That being said, when clients come to us, creating skeletal drawings and SIP panel drawings for the home will usually go hand-in-hand.

SIPs and TF

Mark and Kerri's home Building System - SIPs and Timber Skeleton

 

A recent project we’ve done for Michigan couple, Mark and Kerri, is a great example of our ability to collaborate with outside architects. Working with Jim Walters Creative Designs to create their second home, Mark and Kerri realized they wanted to include timber framing in the home as well. The couple, their architect, and their builder all came to Riverbend’s offices in Michigan to brainstorm with a Riverbend designer. While this was the architect’s first time designing a timber frame and SIPs home, after working with our experienced design team, the final design was fleshed out accurately and according to the clients wants. Now this project is nearing completion on the couple’s Rapid City property and the collaborative efforts of all parties can be seen in the home’s breathtaking look and layout.

 

Visit our website for more information on Riverbend’s Design Pathways and Design Process.

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So You Want to Be Certified

28 May 2013, 9:37 pm

There is no denying the ever-increasing emphasis on energy efficiency in today’s home building. From the environmentally conscious to those just looking to save money on utilities, this trend is also connected with timber frame home building. In fact, many future homeowners have even chosen to go beyond energy efficiency and aim for certification. Today we will tell you a little about a Riverbend timber frame home’s energy efficiency and how that plays into certification.

Energy Efficiency and Timber Framing

EnerGuide Home

Quebec City EnerGuide Home

Riverbend’s traditional timber framing is known for its form-fitting connections, but the individual timbers are not the only elements of our designs that fit together well. Insulspan brand Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and Advantage Insulated Concrete Forms(ICFs) are also key features that when incorporated with the timber skeleton, create a complete shell which is strong, enduring, and energy efficient. Having a complete, insulated shell like this becomes one of the more crucial conditions for most energy efficiency certifications.

Certifying Riverbend Homes

One of the best ways to determine the level of energy efficiency your home achieves is to use a program by a certified third party. There are several well-known programs that can be used, all with their own ways of identifying a home’s energy efficiency, including Energy Star, LEED, and EnerGuide in Canada.

As a Riverbend example, this Quebec City couple wanted to build their custom timber frame farmhouse so that it was not only unique, but also energy efficient for the cold climate of their region. By following the Canadian EnerGuide guidelines, they were able to achieve an 86 on EnerGuide’s rating system—where anything above 80 is excellent and 90 and above is considered a zero-energy home.

LEED Home

Michigan LEED Platinum certified home

Bob Burnside of Michigan is another client example who sought to attain certification. In addition to the tight envelope, his home design including features like two geothermal systems to manage the internal climate and solar panels. With these inclusions Bob’s home achieved a platinum level certification from USGBC’s LEED certification program—the highest level that can be achieved.

Resale Values and Energy Efficiency

You can still reap the benefits of a certified home, even if you choose to sell it down the road. According to a survey reported by the Washington Post, existing homes with certification can sell for 30% more than a non-certified home. Due to the natural benefits of a certified home like; minimized impact on the environment, tax incentives, money savings, and a healthier living space, a home’s potential resale value becomes a great reason to look into certification.

 

For more information, view our energy efficiency page.

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What Will the Frame Look Like?

21 May 2013, 10:48 pm

Timber Frame

You’ve made the decision to build a timber frame home and are on the brink of entering the design process, but have you thought about what your actual timber frame will look like? During this process, there are three aspects of design that can ultimately be changed to create a home that is unique to you; the architectural feel, the layout, and its timber frame skeleton. While all three elements work together to create a home, they do not have to be inherently tied together. Today we will talk about the relationship between timber framing and the rest of a home’s design and how you can modify it to match your specific project goals.

Examining Conceptual Drawings

Looking at Riverbend’s floor plan gallery, each floor plan showcased offers a look at corresponding elevations, a rendering, and a timber frame skeleton. While these conceptual drawings have been created for that specific floor plan, they are merely a suggestion. For example, if a client loved the architectural look and feel of a certain design’s elevations, but the timber skeleton showcased alongside the plan is not what they want, they can have the timber frame re-imagined to better suit their desired look.

Timber Framing

Examples of Identical Layouts with Differing Timber Skeletons

Customizing the Timber Skeleton 

A timber skeleton can be crafted in a variety of ways, all of which will help to create the ideal atmosphere within the completed home. When deciding on your home’s timber structure, you will want to think about how much timber you want to see in your main living areas. Will you want that timber framing to flow throughout the home or be confined to certain spaces?

In this image, the two floor plans seen have identical layouts, but their timber skeleton is completely different. In the left layout, the timber structure is seen expanding over all of the main living spaces, offering a more open feel for this central area. In the layout on the right, the timber frame extends from the entrance through the great room, placing a greater focus on this particular space.

For many clients, it can be hard to envision the combination of their desired exterior elevations, the layout, and the timber framing in a completed state. With Riverbend’s design process, we provide you with conceptual examples as a source of inspiration, as well as designers who understand your project goals so that you can gain a better idea of how your finished home will look, inside and out.

 

For more examples of timber frame design, take a look at ‘Understanding Design Complexity.’

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