How much do timber frame homes cost to build?
Can I compare the cost to build different timber frame homes?
How can I calculate the cost to build my dream home?
These questions have undoubtedly crossed your mind if you are considering building an authentic timber frame home. You need facts and figures to plan your budget and establish design expectations.
How much will your timber frame home cost to build?
Building a timber frame home typically involves a higher investment than conventional construction due to the craftsmanship, materials, and structural elements involved. Understanding the cost difference between timber frame vs traditional home construction can help homeowners establish realistic expectations and plan more confidently for the design process.
Many home renovation websites estimate that timber frame homes cost 10-20% more than a conventionally framed house. However, because many homeowners are designing highly customized dream homes, final pricing can vary well beyond that range. Factors such as home size, location, finishes, and overall design complexity all influence the total cost of building a timber frame house.
What factors affect the cost of building a timber frame home?
Size of Home and Type of Spaces
As the size of your home increases, so does the amount of material and labor needed to build it. But, the type of square footage will also affect the cost of your dream home. Square footage can be divided into liveable area, garages, and outdoor spaces. Liveable square footage costs more than garages, unfinished basements, or outdoor spaces.
One of the biggest home design cost factors is the amount of livable space versus garages, porches, or unfinished areas, since each impacts overall construction pricing differently.
Footprint Complexity
Design Complexity
While square footage is always important, the more elaborate your design becomes– the more your home will cost. For example, one element of design complexity is your home’s footprint. Footprint refers to its shape on the ground. A home with four corners has a less complex footprint. This means it is easier to build and therefore less costly than building a home designed with 30 corners. More complex layouts generally increase both labor cost and materials cost during timber frame construction.
Timber Framing and Wood Species
Though not as significant as your home’s size or complexity, the amount of timber framing you want is also a factor. The amount of timber framing in a timber frame house is referred to as “density.” The amount and intricacy of your home’s timber frame impacts your home’s cost.
The amount of visible timber framing also affects overall timber frame cost, particularly when incorporating decorative joinery or large-span structural elements. The wood species you select and the cost to ship your timber frame from the shop to your build site is negligible in comparison to the other cost factors.
Finishes
Finishes generally include flooring, fixtures, appliances, and exterior materials. Your decision to opt for modest finishes, like Hardie board siding and GE appliances, or luxury elements, such as real stone and Wolf appliances, will affect the cost to build your home.
Finish selections can significantly influence the custom timber frame home cost, especially when choosing premium flooring, appliances, windows, or exterior cladding materials.
However, do not fall into the trap of thinking you can lower your cost by choosing lower-end finishes. Acquiring the finishes you need to complete your home does have a significant cost.
Build Location
Where you plan to build effects construction costs. In remote locations, labor and materials are harder to get and cost more. The demand for builders in popular destinations, like ski resort towns and lakes, can increase labor costs as well. Regional labor availability, permitting requirements, and site accessibility all contribute to total construction cost and overall framing cost.
How can you compare the cost to build different timber frame homes?
The building industry commonly uses the cost-per-square-foot statistic. It’s easy to calculate; divide the cost of a home by its square footage. Many timber frame home builders follow the industry standard and offer cost-per-square-foot estimates to show what it costs to build a timber frame home. Reviewing pricing per square foot can help homeowners compare timber frame homes more effectively, though it’s important to understand exactly what is included in each estimate. These estimates can also help homeowners better understand the average cost of a timber frame home based on size, design complexity, and overall finish level.
However, when comparing cost-per-square-foot, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Is the timber frame company providing a cost-per-square-foot for the turnkey cost or the package price of your home?
”Turnkey” usually refers to the total cost of building a home, not including land purchase or site improvements. The term comes from the idea of a homeowner ‘turning the key’ of their finished home.
Package or kit prices usually only include the products that the timber frame company is offering to sell you. Some companies’ packages may only include the timber frame itself while others may provide additional materials and services. It is extremely hard to compare package prices as each one is different. In addition, companies that provide packages or kits may charge extra fees to customize your design.
A full timber frame home build cost breakdown should account for materials, labor, site work, finishes, and structural systems such as structural insulated panels.
It is important to get a total estimated cost to build, not just a material package price, because the turnkey cost is the number you need to match your budget. This will help you easily compare designs to each other. In addition, talking in turnkey terms helps set realistic expectations about the relationship between your dream home and your budget.
How can you calculate the cost to build your timber frame dream home?
Start by getting an idea of what you like, the level of customization you want, and the space you need. Then contact someone who builds those kinds of homes. Tell them where you plan to build. They should be able to give you an approximate cost per square foot for turnkey construction. This early cost estimate can help you compare options and establish a more realistic budget.
Whether you are exploring a fully custom timber frame house or researching ready-to-build timber frame homes, establishing an early budget helps align your vision with your goals.
Riverbend offers a free cost analysis to help you better understand what it might cost to build the timber frame home you are envisioning. Fill out our questionnaire about your dream home and one of our knowledgeable client representatives will email with information about what it will cost to build.
Learning more about our timber frame design-and-build process can also help homeowners understand how design decisions influence timber frame home cost throughout construction and house framing.
Not quite ready to discuss your future timber frame home? Watch our 45-minute webinar, What Will My Timber Frame Home Cost?, that dives into the details of each cost factor.