by Nikki Alvin-Smith
Showstopping, jaw dropping, head turning, are all adjectives that folks use when describing timber frame construction, but the timber frame build is more than just a pretty face.
While the timber frame horse barn is top of the leaderboard in horse barn design for all these good reasons, there is much carpentry art and lumber heart that make the timber frame tower over its compatriot barn structures.
The utilization of the strongest joinery technique, mortise and tenon, outshines any competitor when it comes to durability and innate strength that is yet known in woodworking. While post and beam designs are joined by metal plates, the timber frame offers the iconic peg and beam where one piece of wood is inserted into another. This is a highly skillful enterprise to accomplish that offers maximum stability to the structure, aside from the obvious beauty this affords the eye of the beholder.
In addition to offering the significant advantages in visual appeal and strength, mortise and tenon joinery is only as good as the material from which it is made and of course the level of talent with which it is crafted.
There are huge variances in the building industry in regard to the species of wood used and how that wood is harvested and the level of artisanal ability that puts everything together.
Thus a major factor ( and one that is often overlooked by buyers on the hunt for a timber frame barn), that adds more than ambience to the aesthetic appeal of timber frame builds, is the actual lumber that is used in its construction.
Dave Zook, founder of the leading modular horse barn building company in the U.S.A, Horizon Structures, explained at a recent interview:
“In our timber frame builds all our beams and stringers are Grade 1 or higher Douglas Fir with a smooth S4S appearance. The pegs are oak. All the timber we use is most importantly, milled free of the vulnerable center heart of the tree or FOCH as it is known in the trade. Why? Because wood that is cut away from the heart of the tree offers less splitting and cracking.”
It is essential that prospective purchasers of a timber frame structure realize the differences in the type of wood used to ensure they are getting the best ‘bang for the buck,’ and compare prices across timber frame builds with an eye to more than just the eye-catching cathedral arched designs and colorful natural hues of the wood on display.
Especially as for all the reasons above timber frame builds are some of the most expensive styles in the industry.
Innovative modular building architects and engineers have stepped up to mitigate the high costs of timber frame construction, by providing a hybrid modular/timber frame design that offers all the advantages of both worlds. Without compromising on a high standard of quality the less expensive options married with expedited build times make sense for the savvy property owner.
Timber frame construction extends past the eaves of the horse barn on many prestige horse farms. When folks want the ‘best of the best’ for their horse farms, the complex of buildings often incorporates a pavilion for use at public events and friends and family gatherings.
A complete ensemble of timber frame pavilions are available that include the Western style Grand Teton, the traditional Kingston with kingpost architecture and the inviting hammerbeam trusses of the Denali.
While during William Shakespeare’s time only nobility was allowed the luxury of living in timber frame constructed housing, today the noble horse can enjoy living beneath its grand arches. A timber frame horse barn may not offer the heralded impression that Westminster Abbey conveys, but it will evoke a nostalgic nod to the past that will last far into the future.
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About Horizon Structures: One horse or twenty, there’s one thing all horse owners have in common…the need to provide safe and secure shelter for their equine partners. At Horizon Structures, we combine expert craftsmanship, top-of-the-line materials and smart “horse-friendly” design to create a full line of sheds and barns that any horse owner can feel confident is the right choice for their horses’ stabling needs.
All wood. Amish Made. Most of our buildings are shipped 100% pre-built and ready for same-day use. Larger barns are a modular construction and can be ready for your horses in less than a week. All our barn packages include everything you need –
Horizon Structures also sells chicken coops, equine hay feeders, greenhouses, dog kennels, 1 and 2 car garages, storage sheds and outdoor living structures and playsets.
Headquartered in South-Central Pennsylvania, Horizon Structures, LLC is owned by Dave Zook. Dave was raised in the Amish tradition and grew up working in the family-owned shed business. He started Horizon Structures in 2001 in response to an ever-increasing customer demand for high quality, affordable horse barns.
For additional information about the company or their product line, please visit their website at https://www.horizonstructures.com
Horizon Structures LLC, Atglen, PA
Media Contact: NAS@NikkiAlvinSmithStudio.com
Tel: 607 434 4470
https://www.HorizonStructures.com
Photos are available on request.
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