TIMBERFRAME, POST and BEAM HOMES
by North Woods Joinery
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North
Woods Joinery
"A Legacy of Fine Post & Beam Homes" By Stephanie Nelson |
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| "There's
been a real renaissance in timber frame construction in the last five
or 10 years," says Larry Kruse, co-owner of North Woods Joinery*
in Jeffersonville. "Fifteen or 20 years ago, they were viewed
as rustic country homes. Not anymore. We've put our timber frame homes
in neighborhoods in Essex, Colchester, and also places like suburban
New York City or on Long Island."
The reason? "People like them," says Kruse. "They're attracted to the aesthetics, the beauty. They want a custom home that's warm, appealing. With timber frame, you have that. "Another
attraction is longevity. You're building a home that could last
hundreds of years. Timber frame |
originated
in Europe and Japan hundreds of years ago. Some of the oldest structures
are 1,200 years old. It's an ancient form of construction. A timber
frame building is stronger, and more elastic, than other styles. They
actually withstand hurricanes or earthquakes very well. In Vermont,
on some of the old barns that are falling down, the timber frame is
always the last part to go."
By a fortunate set of circumstances, North Woods Joinery, along with its sister company, R-Tight Panels, * was perfectly positioned to take advantage of this burgeoning interest in timber frame construction. Kruse's partner,
Pete Kochalka, had been involved in timber frames since the early
1980s, when he worked at Kondor Post & Beam and Vermont Stress-skin
Panels |
Pete
Kochalka, left and Larry Kruse, right, flank the North Woods Joinery
and R-Tight Panels crew outside their offices and manufacturing facility
at the junction of routes 15 and 108 in Jeffersonville. Photo by Carolyn
Bates. |