Friday, July 10, 2009

Green building advantages of Timber Framing available to San Antonio through Bergheim Sand Creek Post and Beam dealer

Timber framed buildings have many green building advantages. They are proven, having been the primary form of wood construction for centuries and they stand up for centuries too. There's lots of open space and the space between the posts can be well insulated without concern for bearing loads since the posts and beams do that.

Since the frame is separate from the siding and insulation, both can be replaced as the building matures while the frame stays in place. To top it off, the interior space can be rearranged as well to meet changing needs.

Stan Hegener of Sand Creek Post and Beam of Texas up in Bergheim is a Texas dealer for Sand Creek Post and Beam of Wayne, Nebraska. In Bergheim Stan occupies a visually stunning timber frame barn/office. From there he sells timber frame barn and carriage house kits. Some 35 Sand Creek barn kits have been sold and built in Texas, including a barn workshop for the Kavanaugh ranch on Rebecca Creek near Spring Branch.

Nationwide, the parent company has sold over 250 kits in 43 states since their founding five years ago. The vast majority of their customers are looking for a traditional barn but they are also popular as commercial spaces for craft businesses who want something brand new but timeless.

The lumber is cut primarily from marked ponderosa pine in the Black Hills of South Dakota and never from clear cuts. For sill plates they use eastern red cedar. The lumber is full dimensional. The 6 by 6's are a full 6 inches by 6 inches. They never use treated wood, osb or plywood.

The interior of the barns are entirely timber framed without joist hangers but for simplicity's sake the metal plates are used instead of mortise and tenons for joining the beams.

Len Dickinson, co-owner of Sand Creek, has recognized the popularity of timber framing for straw bale enthusiasts and has sold several frames which were in-filled with bales.

Texas Timber Frames on Camp Bullis Road in far north San Antonio is a related company run by Len's son, Jack Dickinson.

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