Timber Frame Homes in the City

The Bad:

Tight Spaces and Traffic Logistics

Room can be a problem (have you heard this before?). Building in the city can be problematic because of the numerous people already there. Meaning...traffic, one-way streets, parked cars, school buses, etc-etc. Remember, we need to transport BIG stuff to your jobsite. Building at the end of a cul-de-sac means that we have blocked about 6 driveways with semi-trucks, telehandlers, trailers, you name it. Morning rush hour? Afternoon school pickup? These become major scheduling considerations when you're trying to deliver 34 foot timbers through suburban streets. Unless arrangements have been made prior to our arrival, well...you probably won't be very popular within the ole' neighborhood, at least initially.

The Ugly:

Permits, Permits, and more Permits

Permits. Not all cities are guilty here, but the trend is for more permitting requirements, not less. We don't just mean a 'building permit', that is pretty standard, we mean 'use' permits. I can remember (I won't tell you where, unless you call me!) when we had 2 semi-trucks parked nose to tail, waiting to turn down this long driveway into the jobsite. The homeowner had multiple lots, which meant we had plenty of room to get the trucks in and get them unloaded. BUT...this jurisdiction required a 'use' permit for the homeowners driveway. Meaning...we couldn't use the driveway until the use permit was paid, AND, the code enforcement officer was standing in the driveway blocking access! Urban building means paperwork. Lots of it.

City Lights Timber Frame Home Gallery

These photos show what timber frame construction really looks like. Not downtown skyscrapers, but bringing traditional craftmanship right into established neighborhoods. See those houses just feet away? That's your typical city lot. Notice the careful timber stacking against concrete foundations, the precision required when your staging area is basically someone's front yard.

This is city timber framing: working within established neighborhoods, navigating utility lines, keeping the peace with neighbors, and somehow turning tight urban lots into home with the warmth and character of traditional timber frame construction. Every one of these projects proves that timber frames don't need acres to be amazing, they just need careful planning.

Build Your Dream Timber Frame Home with Clydesdale Frames

In Summary...'City Lights' building has a different energy. We are conscious of the fact that there are lots of eyes watching. Some of those eyes are curious about watching the big timbers fly, some are keyboard warriors and looking to stir up controversy, and some are calculating the dollars available to them if they could steal our stuff overnight and pawn it downtown. We get this. These scenarios are easily managed and we enjoy the proximity of hotels, food, and emergency runs to the hardware store if a drill bit breaks. No worries... The urban environment keeps us sharp, and there's satisfaction in proving that timber frames belong in cities, too, bringing craftmanship and character to urban landscapes with those city lights.