FAQ's
METALWORK SHOP FAQ:
Can we buy the products displayed on the Big Timberworks website?
Do you ship products out of state?
Can we buy reclaimed metal directly from your yard?
Do you design individual pieces?
Do you apply finishes to completed products?
How does Big Timberworks handle payment?
SAWMILL/RECLAIMED MILLED LUMBER SHOP FAQ:
How much of your old wood comes from barns?
Where does your old wood come from?
What species of reclaimed wood are available?
Can we buy wood from BT’s sawmill?
Why do you use reclaimed wood?
How long will there be a supply of reclaimed wood?
Why is reclaimed wood so expensive?
Another reason salvaged wood is expensive is the amount of waste generated in the process. On average, 35% of every truckload is waste or very low value material. We do better on our waste factor than most companies because we carry a large inventory, which allows us to saw efficiently. We’ve also developed a number of products that utilize this less usable wood.
What other building materials does your Sawmill inventory?
- Standing dead fir and larch logs in both straight and character form (arched, forked, wiggly) in a wide variety of sizes
- Juniper fence posts, which make wonderful western furniture
- Wine, pickle, and water tank redwood staves
- Salvaged circular sawn dimensional lumber
- Twig stock
- Mantel stock of all kinds
What kind of equipment does BT’s sawmill have on site?
- 3 Woodmizer band saws with one capable of cutting timbers up to 55’
- Stationary planers that can plane up to 9”x24”
- Our 6 head molder produces paneling, decking, flooring, and siding up to a 12” face
- Stationary wire brusher
- Straight line rip
- Baker resaw
- 4000 BF kiln for drying all trim, flooring, and millwork products
TIMBERWORK SHOP FAQ:
How does your company differ from other timber frame companies?
Can we erect the timberwork that BT cuts for us so that we can save money?
Does our whole building have to be timber framed?
What kind of timbers do you use and why?
- Reclaimed timbers from the obsolete “industrial forest”—factories, warehouses, bridges, and sawmills: The wood tends to be high quality since it was taken from our old growth forests over 50 years ago. Reclaimed wood is the most expensive option but it is the most stable.
- Timbers sawn from large standing dead fir logs: Moisture content of these timbers average 20-28% so they are marginally dry. This is a good use for a material that might otherwise be underutilized, and is a less expensive option.
- Kiln dried Douglas fir: Kiln drying has come a long way in the past decade. Radio frequency (RF) kilns are the only kilns to effectively dry timber sections to the core. The guaranteed moisture content will still cause moderate shrinking in the West. Kiln dried wood is almost as expensive as recycled and requires longer lead times.
- Green Douglas fir: In addition to the shrinkage and movement problems, some might wrestle with the issue of cutting old growth forests. We use very little new green timber.
Do you use panels to enclose your frames?
We use other systems which solve many of the problems that insulated panels have. We generally use our walls structurally and eliminate posts, connectors, and braces on the exterior wall line. In contrast, most other timber framers use two structural systems; the timber frame and insulated panel system are both capable of carrying vertical loads. In that type of system the timbers carry the vertical loads and the panels mainly act as the insulation and base for finishes.
What do your frames cost per square foot?
- Total material including timbers, hold downs, hardware, pegs, etc.
- Shop drawing time
- Number of and type of joints
- Type of surface finish: planed, sanded, wheel sanded-oil, urethane, etc.
- Transportation distance to site
- Crew expense and labor for raising
We can supply pricing information based on previous projects as a general guideline.
Can you handle design and engineering for our project?
What kind of lead times do you have?
WOOD FURNITURE FAQ:
What is the process for creating one of a kind furniture?
There are many questions when it comes to creating a one-of-a-kind piece of furniture, reclaimed wood furnishings, door, mantel piece etc. The most common is “what does this process look like?”
Our process for commission pieces is pretty simple:
- We develop a concept drawing based on your needs and style preferences at no cost to you.
- Once conceptual drawings are completed, we will present a written proposal including shipping estimates (shipping cost may vary based on final weight).
- Once the price is agreed upon between the client and Big Timberworks, we require a deposit before we start fabrication and progress payments throughout the duration of your project, with a final payment prior to delivery. We accept cash, check or credit cards.
- It generally takes 6 to 8 weeks to complete each custom piece and be ready for shipping. At that point we will get the final weight and shipping price from FedEx freight.
- Once the final balance is paid, your product is shipped. This is generally 2 to 4 days from pickup to delivery.