The timber framed construction business is a tough one; you need to stay up-to-date on any changes within the industry. Luckily there's a way to do that from the comfort of your office. Many sites either have news available for immediate viewing or a page to sign up for updates sent to your e-mail or regular mail box.

Don't think that heavy timber construction news can come to you without doing a little legwork. Simply log on to the Internet, and consider the following when investigating timber construction companies news and trends:

1. Receive e-mail alerts from timber frame construction companies.

2. Subscribe to magazines geared toward those in the timber construction company business.

3. Become a member of associations for log cabin builders.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate online forums featuring topics on log home construction

Forums are the latest way to keep current with any sort of industry news. With technology ever-changing, it's best to become a member of one of these forums to find out what people either in your industry or an interested spectator might be discussing.

I recommend: The Log Home Forums site provides a network for those who love log homes. Find an answer to any question you may have, or locate news about the timber industry that you might not find in a written publication. The Log Home Builders Association features a forum with topics ranging from alternative power sources to general log home and cabin information.

Read about the latest in timber frame homes by subscribing to trade magazines

Read in-depth timber construction company reports and magazines that dive into the industry deeper than news headlines. Search for recent changes in the industry or market trends and how to apply them to your own business. You can also learn from what others are doing while you keep an eye on the industry leaders.

I recommend: Log Homes Illustrated, from F+W Media, offers an annual buyer's directory as well as a way to get in touch with all the advertisers within the publication. Residential Design & Build is a magazine for architects and custom builders.

Join associations or organizations for those in the timber construction industry

Associations with timber or wood-related professionals can provide an inside track to news updates, oftentimes before news sources receive the information. Join the trade association and get involved with committees or planning events and meetings; these can be excellent ways to network with others in the timber construction business.

I recommend: The American Wood Council provides news updates on its homepage, or you can search through previous years to find articles and news briefs. The American Forest & Paper Association is a national trade association of the forest products industry. Look to its news updates, which include statistics and press releases, for the latest in wood-building materials.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find timber frame construction companies online, and sign up for their free e-mail updates. It's a good idea to use a separate e-mail account to receive RSS feeds; certain companies send out information more often than others.

When you chose to build with timber frame construction, you are building a home that is traditional, beautiful and made to last. Timber framed construction will cost you more than traditional construction, but the natural beauty and craftsmanship will create an unparalleled living environment.

Timber construction companies can help you achieve your goal of building a stunning home. But before you begin your search, figure out exactly what type of company you will need:

1. A company to design and build log homes;

2. A company to design and build timber frame homes;

3. Or a company to supply raw materials for timber and log home construction.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate companies that build log homes

Living in log homes is an American tradition, made all the more desirable by the addition of modern conveniences. Additionally, because wood is a good insulator and the logs are precision cut to ensure a snug fit, log home construction is energy efficient.

I recommend: The Original Log Cabin Home Company strives to combine modern technology with traditional design. The company has a design team to help tailor your home to your needs and offers a planning guide to help you get started. Centennial Log Homes offers full log homes as well as log post and beam construction. The log post and beam option can give you greater design flexibility and save you money.

Locate companies that build timber frame homes

Timber frame construction companies can do it all for you. You provide the land, and they will do all the design and building work. In some cases, if you desire, you only need to be minimally involved with the project.

I recommend: Davis Frame has been building custom timber frame homes for more than 20 years. The company will help you from the design process right through construction. Davis Frame homes include modern features that can make the home comfortable, energy efficient and secure. Timberpeg is a national company that has completed more than 3,000 timber frame projects. The company focuses on making the building process as easy for the customer as possible.

Locate suppliers of products for timber construction

If you want to take a more active role in your timber frame construction project, you can do much of the design and building work yourself. However, you'll need a good supply of raw materials, and you'll probably want to run the design by a professional.

I recommend: American Pole & Timber has a complete line of timber construction products available to ship nationwide. The company's product line includes treated timber, poles, pilings, post, columns, trusses and beams. The company even offers free design help for your project when you buy its products. The American Institute of Timber Construction is a trade organization for the timber industry. The group represents most laminated timber manufacturers in the United States and lists these manufacturers on its website.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are looking for design ideas, consult some of the magazines that showcase timber frame homes and log homes, such as Timber Home Living.
• •  If you are concerned about the environmental impact of building a home out of wood, ask your timber construction company about the variety of green materials that are now available.

Owning a timber construction company can be a difficult venture, especially since it involves a limited resource: wood. You need to stay current with any changes to the industry, and by receiving the best training, you can get started on the right foot.

No matter if you're beginning in the log home construction business or want to increase your profitability, it's vital to know the rules and regulations of the industry. You need to ensure you have the best training. Consider the following when investigating timber construction companies education and training:

1. Get accredited by an educational institution offering courses in timber framed construction.

2. Use online tutorials when designing timber frame homes.

3. Attend conferences to learn about log home construction regulations and certifications.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Seek out educational facilities to learn about timber frame homes

One of the best ways to learn is to become accredited through a schooling program. By following an entire course load, you can become knowledgeable in all aspects of timber frame construction.

I recommend: As the only dedicated training site in the Structured Insulated Panel Industry, SIPschool offers numerous classes at its West Virginia home office as well as localized facilities. Check with its program schedule to see if there is a class offered near you. Yale University offers a program on forest certification.

Look online for timber frame construction tutorials

Use the Internet to your advantage when seeking to further your timber construction career. There are numerous online tutorials you can utilize that offer tools and tips when working on your designs.

I recommend: Check out the Log Home and Log Cabin Plans site where you can search through more than 100 log home plans. Log Home Plans Online is another site where you can peruse its database of log homes. The site is constantly updated, and it recommends you bookmark it and check back often.

Sign up for timber frame builders conferences

Attending a conference or expo is a great way to learn about tips in the log timber construction business. Not only can you network with others, but many times these conferences have seminars where you can brush up on how to successfully run a timber construction company.

I recommend: The Log Home & Timber Frame Expo is a three-day event where those in the log cabin business can network with others. This conference covers many aspects of the industry, including financing, designing, furnishing and building. There are usually more than five of these expos occurring annually all over the country. Attend a conference hosted by the Timber Framers Guild. Check out its list of upcoming conferences to learn more about the art of timber framing.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider signing up with an online school system that offers distance learning for constructing log homes. This can allow you to learn at your own pace from the comforts of your own home.

Once a home has been constructed out of logs or timbers, the finished product can produce an aesthetically pleasing sight. If you're in the timber construction business, then you're likely to have steep competition. In order to separate yourself from the many other companies, you need to familiarize yourself with some common terms. Doing so enables you to better serve potential clients and work more efficiently with vendors or contractors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Joints

Thousands of joints can be found in timber construction, especially if the project is built with post and beam construction. The sole purpose of joints is to secure the frame and all its units into a cohesive system.

I recommend: Visit Converse Timber Frames to see an example of a timber joint.

Topographic maps

Topographic maps are routinely used by timber construction companies when designing a structure. These maps show the specific contours of the Earth, such as how the ground slopes. Seeing the layout in 3-D can help eliminate potential building problems.

I recommend: Learn more about topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Bent system

There are two main types of timber-frame construction styles, and one of them is the bent system. This is the most common style that most people associate with timber-frame construction. Two posts are connected to two rafters, and then they are secured with a collar tie and other connecting timbers.

I recommend: See a picture of a bent system structure being assembled at Goshen Timber Frames.

Common rafter

Another popular timber construction style is the common rafter system. Instead of creating large 'bent' pieces of wood, the supporting structure for the roof is first created with horizontal beams fashioned atop vertical ones. Once complete, the common rafters are built and connected with a collar tie.

I recommend: Learn more about how to construct common rafters at DoItYourself.com.

Post and beam construction

Post and beam construction refers to timber framing. Solid timbers are secured together with joints, which are then fastened by wooden pegs. The eye-catching appearance is a popular highlight of post and beam construction.

I recommend: Visit Mill Creek Post & Beam Company to see examples of post and beam construction.

Braces

Braces can add security to a timber frame construction, ensuring that the structure remains stable. One key benefit is that when winds pick up, the braces can keep the building from leaning.

I recommend: Learn more about braces for timber frame homes at Woodhouse.