The art of timber framing dates back to some of early man's first primitive structures. Europe is full of timber-framed structures dating back hundreds of years, including manors and castles, homes and inns, whose architecture and techniques of construction have evolved over the centuries. In Asia you will find timber-framed structures, many of them temples, that have stood for centuries.

Wood from local forests provided a convenient supply of building materials. Craftsman shaped these logs into rectangular hand-hewn posts and beams through the skilled use of axes. Instead of using metal hardware to connect the timbers, the craftsmen carved precise mortise and tenon and dovetail joints, which they secured with wooden pegs. The skill in creating this precise joinery and intricately engineered timber frames was the source of great pride and competition among the timber frame artisans. So much so, that it became a tradition for craftsmen to inscribe their initials next to the joinery they created.

European settlers brought the art of timber framing with them to America and the practice was the predominant means of construction until the middle of the 19th century. The invention of mass-produced nails and the ability to manufacture smaller timbers quickly and cheaply gave rise to more economical forms of light frame construction using structural studs and braces connected with nails.

Light frame construction enabled builders to enclose large areas with minimal cost, while achieving a wide variety of architectural styles. On the rapidly expanding American frontier, the demand for quick and cheap housing meant that light frame construction soon replaced timber framing as the dominant building method. This is still true today, as these techniques evolved to become what is commonly known as stud construction.

Although the majority of homes are still built using stud construction, America is in the midst of a revival of the art of timber framing. New manufacturing techniques have increased the precision while reducing the labor involved in creating timber frames, and the introduction of structural insulated panels (SIPs) has helped speed up construction of timber frame homes. Woodhouse® The Timber Frame Company is at the fore of this movement. As the premier provider of modern timber frame homes, Woodhouse® enables discerning buyers to enjoy the warmth and elegance of this time-honored old-world architectural style in a state-of-the-art, energy efficient custom timber frame home.