It depends, of course, on the building's intended use. Currently, the majority of timber frames whose spaces are to be climate-controlled are enclosed with stresskin panels, or SIP's. These panel-type systems are easily and quickly applied, can provide significant structural uses, and yield an enclosure unequaled in its efficiency.

None. The limits to timber work are the spans required, the timber available, the practicality of the design, the client's budget, and time.

There is no typical cost. The cost of a frame is determined by: its size; wood species, sizes, and amount; time required for cutting, joining and raising. Most frames, though, fit into the range of ten dollars to twenty-five dollars per square foot.

Once again, there are many factors involved, but generally, the larger frames tend to have a relative lower cost per square foot. A ten foot joist requires the same number of cuts as a 14 foot joist, and accounting for the slight increase in finishing time and a little more handling time for length and weight, the square footage covered still costs less.

Our experience has been that once the frame is up, enclosure, mechanical systems and finishing proceed quite quickly, and can often be completed in less time than in conventional construction. This relies, of course, on a well-developed plan, an organized job site and good coordination of subcontractors.