Tiny timber frame houses are gaining in popularity as an alternative to more conventional housing options. They can be built for those with a small budget, and can provide a unique design with charm and character.
One of the biggest advantages of tiny timber homes is that they can be fully customized to fit a variety of lifestyles and design tastes. We’ve rounded up our favorite tiny timber frame houses to inspire you!
What Is a Timber Frame?
A timber frame house is a modern method of building that relies on a timber frame to support the structure of a building. This form of construction is popular in the UK because it allows builders to avoid using load-bearing walls and thus save money on building materials.
Timber frame houses are typically designed with no interior load-bearing walls, meaning that they can have a large number of rooms that are not restricted by the need for them to hold up against heavy loads. This flexibility can be used to create expansive floor plans and open living spaces that make it easy for family and friends to come together.
Its durability and aesthetically pleasing aesthetic is also a key draw for homeowners who choose a timber frame home. Since a timber frame structure features exposed wood that is much larger than the thinner lumber of a conventionally built home, it is more resistant to burning completely through in the event of fire damage.
In addition, it is a good choice for homeowners who want to be able to customize their home’s interior to suit their design vision. The exposed timbers of a timber frame structure give it a more natural and authentic appearance, and it offers the opportunity to incorporate different types of trusses and embellishments into the home.
A timber frame structure is constructed with large pieces of wood that are spaced apart and joined by mortise-and-tenon joinery, which is a type of fastener that fits precisely into the hole on one end of a piece of wood and onto the corresponding tongue on the other. It is a simple yet effective way to connect the many timbers that make up a timber frame.
Traditional wood framing techniques, including mortise-and-tenon joinery, were originally developed thousands of years ago to build exceptionally strong and sustainable structures. They were used in Asian temples and ships, as well as on the continents of Europe and North America. Today, they are the preferred building technique for eco-friendly homes, because they offer a variety of benefits that conventional construction methods cannot match. They are especially efficient when it comes to energy efficiency, as they require fewer non-wood building materials and less insulation than conventional construction.
Floor Plan
A tiny timber frame house plan is a great option for those looking for a small home with minimal impact on the environment. Typically, they are less expensive to build than larger homes, and they can be easier to maintain. They are also perfect for families and retirees who want a simpler lifestyle and to focus on the things that really matter.
These small homes are built in a variety of settings, including urban locations, rural areas and as vacation homes. Whether they are a weekend escape, a retirement retreat or a place to live full-time, the ethical and environmental principals of living in a small home can help you get the most out of your life.
The floor plans for these tiny timber frame houses can be customized to suit your needs. Typically, these homes have an open concept design and large windows to help them feel spacious. They are also designed to maximize the amount of outdoor space that they have.
This tiny timber frame house features a large deck that wraps around the back of the house, giving it a generous outdoor space. The main floor features a living room, dining room, kitchen and master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom.
In addition to a big, beautiful kitchen, the main floor also features a spacious mud room and laundry area. The upper level has a loft with 2 additional bedrooms and a bathroom.
With an open concept design and a wall of windows, this timber frame house plan provides plenty of sunlight and views of the outdoors. It is under 2,000 square feet, but it still feels spacious and inviting.
This timber frame house has a large, comfortable living room that is perfect for entertaining friends and family. It also has a cozy master bedroom and a loft that is great for relaxing or sleeping. It also features a spacious bathroom with a tub and a shower. It is the perfect home for a small family or retiree who wants to have plenty of room to move around.
Roof
Small timber frame houses are a modern take on a traditional design. They are often the most affordable to build and a great choice for those looking for a space that can be customized. They also are an excellent option for those who are looking to live a more minimalist lifestyle.
The roof of a tiny timber frame house isn’t necessarily the biggest or most complicated part of the building, but it’s still an impressive feat. This is especially true for the timber framing method, which involves using mortise and tenon joinery to hold together the wooden pieces of the home. The resulting roof has a number of interesting features, including a truss system that looks very similar to the strut system found in more conventional homes.
There are many benefits to choosing a timber frame for your tiny home, but the most significant is that it is a durable and aesthetically pleasing construction method that will last for decades to come. As well as making a house look swanky, a wood roof also provides excellent insulation, which can help reduce energy costs.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen timber framing used in a tiny home, but it is definitely one of the best. This example is a 12×16-foot home built in the UK that uses a clever loft space over half of its footprint, allowing the homeowners to sleep comfortably.
In addition, the timber frame was an excellent choice because it not only looks good but it has a lot of structural integrity and it can be easily modified to suit the owner’s needs in the future. For this reason, we’re glad that the owners decided to go with it!
The tiny timber frame house is a fun and rewarding way to live. Whether you’re a young couple wanting a little bit of freedom from the city or a family looking for a more cost-effective way to raise children, there is a tiny home out there for you. It’s no wonder that timber frame homes are on the rise.
Walls
Timber framing is an ancient method of building that has been used for centuries to construct temples in Japan, cathedrals in Europe and manors in England-many of which still stand today. If you want to build a house that’s built to last, timber framing is the way to go.
Unlike post-and-beam construction, which uses metal fasteners to connect the beams, timber frame joints are secured with wooden pegs. This allows for more flexibility in the design of your home and gives you a wide range of design options.
The main component of a timber frame structure is a truss, which is made up of large (typically 6” or bigger) timbers joined together by wood-to-wood joinery. This framework can support heavier loads and span greater distances than traditional beams and joists.
Other structural members include bays, bents and a ridge beam or ridge plate. A ridge beam, for example, is a horizontal member that connects the bents at the apex of a gable wall. Other auxiliary members in a timber frame include collar ties, which are installed between roof rafters to prevent a roof from spreading apart due to structural load.
Another type of auxiliary timber in a timber frame is a chamfer, which is a decorative bevel cut continuously along the length of a timber, or stopped a prescribed distance before the end of the timber or any intersecting timbers. These chamfers help to reduce the likelihood of injury by occupants who may come into contact with sharply cut timber angles and edges.
A jetty bressummer is another type of auxiliary member in a timber frame, which is sometimes used to support a wall that rests on a structural horizontal beam. It usually projects outward from the next floor or storey.
In some cases, the walls of a timber frame are wrapped with structural insulated panels (SIPs) or are constructed using panelized construction, such as logs or siding. The combination of these two materials can make your home look even more unique than it would if it were just built with timbers.