Are you planning to build?
If you’re looking for a timber frame, heavy timber, post and beam, or similar structure,
you’ve come to the right place! We have designed many homes, wedding barns, livestock
and utility barns, barn-style residences, and pavilions all over the eastern U.S. in the
states where we are licensed.
When you hire us before you retain a timber frame contractor, you will enjoy the
economic benefit of putting your project out for bid to multiple firms. You could get
preliminary prices from a timber frame company/s, but their prices will always be
“subject to revision based on final engineering design.” If you do the project through a
timber frame company that you know and trust, that’s fine; they still have to take your
project through the engineering design process and add that cost to the contract. We
provide engineering services directly to timber frame companies for that purpose.
Either way, you will pay for the engineering—directly to us or indirectly through a
timber frame contractor.
If you work directly with us, the design process will flow in “Phases.”
PHASE 1
After your initial inquiry, you will work with a very talented designer, Dan Kiser, with
Sojourn Designs, out of the Boone, NC area. Based on your preliminary design, photos,
sketches, preferred timber grade and species, etc., Dan will create a 3-D model of your
project. You and Dan will work together until you are satisfied with the design. During
that phase, I will be available to answer any engineering related questions either of you
may have.
PHASE 2
I will review the design and verify all timber sizes. During that process, I will let you and
Dan know if there are any timbers that need to be increased in size. If you want to
optimize the sizes, I can do that too. However, my experience with timber engineering is
that aesthetic considerations usually dictate the sizes; when timbers ‘look’ about the right
size, they are close to the required size. I will review the design for any special, highstrength connection requirements. Often, plates and bolts, or other ‘mechanical’
connections will be required. We will ask if you want exposed plates or concealed
connections—whichever you prefer.
PHASE 3
Phase 2 revisions will be incorporated into the design. Connection details and
specification will be added during this phase. After a final engineering review, you will
receive signed and sealed plans suitable for obtaining a building permit for the heavy
timber structure.
OPTIONAL SERVICES
- Unless you are a skilled timber framer, or know an experienced timber framer
you’d like to work with, we can assist with sending the plans out for bids from at
least three specialty timber frame fabricators and installers. These will all be firms
we have worked with and have a proven track record of producing excellent
timber framed structures.
- If you or the timber frame contractor need shop drawings of each unique piece
of timber, Dan will provide those drawings directly to you or your timber framer.
- We are always available during construction to answer questions. Design
modifications will be provided on an hourly rate basis.
- Dan can also provide additional drawings including interior plans, exterior
elevations, etc.
We prefer you work with a local engineer for the foundation design since those
requirements are different for each site. Engineers in your area will be more
familiar with the type of foundation that works best and can help evaluate the site
for soil capacity, drainage, grading and driveway design.
COST OF SERVICES
The cost of preparing drawings depends on the size of the project. Once we receive your
preliminary plans, we can give you a “Guaranteed Maximum Cost.” You will be asked
for a retainer that will be held in escrow and applied to the final invoice. You will be
invoiced at the end of each month and payments are due upon receipt.
Please contact us for a specialty heavy timber frame and truss engineering proposal for
your next project. If it is out of our area of registration, or if we feel the project is not a
‘right fit’ for us, we’ll help you find another qualified engineer. You can also find timber
frame engineers through the Timber Frame Guild. Go to their website: tfguild.org. Select
“Find an Engineer.” Select the state where your project is located, and you will find a list
of qualified engineers. NOTE: Most structural engineers are well qualified to design in
concrete, steel and conventional ‘”stick” framing, but the design of heavy timber systems
requires special training and education.
For a proposal, please send: pdf files of any plans, sketches, or photos; the 911 address;
and, the preferred grade and species of timber.
Thanks for considering our services. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
David R. Hourdequin, Owner, D. Remy & Co., 828-421-6216 or drh@dremy.com
