Retire in Comfort -- and Style

May 3, 2012 - PRLog -- In Breckenridge, Colorado, a large rustic home sits beside a stream overlooking the mountainside. The Pressman’s home is just what they had dreamed they would own: a way of integrating their lives into the area where Wendy Pressman’s family has lived for six generations. Jon and Wendy enjoy the swing on their wrap-around deck while their three grandchildren play in the yard.

Anyone can explain the idea of their perfect retirement home, from the location and what’s around all the way down to details of the look and size. But it takes a lot more than just an idea to see that vision through to completion. How do people find that perfect location? Who will help them draw up plans for the house? What materials do they choose? The homes we build last for generations if designed properly, so we want to create something we can happily own for a lifetime, whether it is a simple lake house or a comfortable home in the mountains that may be passed on through generations to come.

For that classic, natural look that blends well with the landscape, one good option is building a timber-framed home. Timber framing, also called post-and-beam construction, involves joining together large, squared timbers with wooden pegs at the joints instead of nails or other fasteners. This method can give a home a natural look, with exposed timbers visible from the outside, inside, or both. An old practice, timber framing has been revived in recent decades, but now with more precision and ease of manufacturing, thanks to newer technology. To surround the timber framing of a house, structural insulated panels (SIPs) are often used, which provide a high degree of insulation, and consequently, a low energy bill.

If the timber-framing design appeals to you, and you want a way to mold it exactly to your vision, one option is Woodhouse® The Timber Frame Company. With over 45 homes in Colorado alone, Woodhouse specializes in timber-frame homes, personalized for each home owner. Depending on a customer’s need, Woodhouse can work with drafted designs, or start from scratch and offer their own designers’ expertise.

There is no feeling a family can have like that of seeing their home come together just as they imagined it: the rooms all where they belong - including a few for family and grandkids to visit, the porch looking out into a plunging valley, or across the lightly moving ripples on the surface nearby stream, the sunlight streaming in the bedroom windows as the sun rises for the first time after the house has been raised. Reaching this point is no small task, and making the right moves throughout the process is important to find that moment of soaking in the knowledge that your home is exactly where you want to be.

When thinking of your design, the options can seem never-ending. Consultants and architects who have seen different successes and failures may have some great advice, but more importantly, everyone should think about what it is they prefer and reflect on their own experiences. When you’re ready to build the retirement home of your dreams, and keep your energy costs low enough to enjoy your retirement, timber frame homes offer both.

Woodhouse® The Timber Frame Company is located in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. Since 1979 the company has built homes around the world offering energy-efficient elegance. For more information, visit TimberFrameLife.com

SIDEBAR:

Benefits of a Timber Frame home:

Aesthetics. In the beauty of an exposed, natural wood frame, one feels warmth, strength and security. The quality of the woodworking is apparent everywhere you look, reminding you always of the care and craftsmanship that went into the construction of your home. Something about a timber frame home just looks right nestled into the Colorado landscape.

Open Floor Plan. Openness is practically inherent in the timber frame design, since there are rarely any interior load-bearing walls. This leaves space for easy alterations as the needs of the occupants change.

Longevity. Timber frames are structurally-sound buildings lasting hundreds of years. Unlike log homes, timber-framed homes require little to no maintenance and have no settling problems.

Energy Efficiency. Timber frames are typically completely enclosed in an envelope of insulated panels. These panels are more energy efficient than conventional framing and insulation methods, preventing air leaks so that heating and cooling costs are lower.