Hickory Circle Construction

Welcome to the world of Hickory Circle Construction , where we are masters in transforming quality timber into architectural marvels featuring sturdy and stylish trusses. Today, we delve deeper into the timber truss construction details, debunking common myths and reinforcing the facts about this incredible structural element. Myth 1: Timber Trusses are Prone to Fire Fact: While it's no secret that wood can burn, the notion that timber trusses are essentially a fire hazard is misleading. Large timber trusses char at a predictable rate while maintaining their structural integrity for a longer time compared to steel under high heat. Fire-retardant treatments can also further increase a timber truss's fire resistance. Myth 2: Timber Trusses Aren't Durable Fact: The durability of a timber truss surpasses that of many other materials. When crafted with precision—like we at Hickory Circle Construction ensure—they can withstand the test of time, weather, and load. Regular mainte...

Welcome to the Hickory Circle Construction blog! If you own a timber home or are considering building one, you understand the timeless beauty and natural appeal of this type of construction. To ensure that your timber home retains its beauty and durability for years to come, proper maintenance is crucial. In this article, we'll share essential tips for timber maintenance, helping you preserve the stunning aesthetics and structural integrity of your timber-built haven. At Hickory Circle, we're here to help answer any questions you may have, so feel free to reach out to our expert team for guidance. Regular Cleaning: Regular cleaning is the first step towards maintaining your timber home's beauty. Dust, dirt, and other debris can accumulate on the surface, potentially causing discoloration or even minor damage over time. Use a soft-bristle brush or a pressure washer on a low setting to gently remove dirt and grime. Avoid using harsh chemicals that can damage the timber's ...

When it comes to constructing sturdy and visually appealing structures, the choice between timber trusses and steel trusses is often a topic of debate. As a leading construction company specializing in timber trusses, Hickory Circle understands the importance of selecting the right material for each project. In this article, we'll delve into the advantages of timber trusses over steel trusses, highlighting why Hickory Circle chooses the natural option for its construction endeavors. Strength and Structural Integrity: Timber trusses have been used for centuries due to their exceptional strength and structural integrity. Despite the rise of steel trusses in recent years, timber trusses remain a reliable and robust option for various construction projects. The natural fibers and inherent strength of timber allow it to withstand heavy loads, making it an ideal choice for large-scale structures such as commercial buildings, bridges, and barns. Hickory Circle values timber trusses for t...

Hickory Circle Construction is a timber construction company based in Ohio that specializes in creating beautiful and sustainable homes and commercial buildings using timber trusses. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of using timber trusses in building construction and how they can enhance the aesthetics, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of your building project. Benefits of Using Timber Trusses Aesthetic Appeal Timber trusses add a unique and rustic charm to a building's interior and exterior. Hickory Circle Construction's expert craftsmen can create custom trusses that fit any design style, from traditional to modern. With their natural grain and texture, timber trusses bring warmth and character to any space. Sustainability Timber trusses are a sustainable choice for building construction because they are made from renewable materials. Hickory Circle Construction sources its timber from sustainably managed forests, ensuring that your building project has...

Timber is a valuable, versatile material that can be used in various creative ways. The possibilities are nearly endless! How could we use timber for your next project? Keep reading to learn more about our variety of past building projects. Use any of the below categories as inspiration for your building plans! Pavilions Have you ever considered adding a pavilion to your yard or commercial building? These structures are excellent at keeping the sun out of our eyes and providing a place to host events, have meals together, and enjoy the outdoors. Displays You may have never thought about hiring a timber contractor for a display in your shop. However, we can utilize timber for all your heavy-weight projects. Consider a timber display when you want to keep your collections safely away from customers. Barns Timber barns are some of the most beautiful and delicate structures we create and are multi-functional. Use your new barn for weddings, graduation parties,...

Timber trusses are durable structures used for residential and commercial businesses alike. Both trusses and rafters are structural elements used for the foundation of the home, and they both offer protection and durability. However, structurally and materially, they are a bit different. Here's how: Rafters are usually wider Because trusses are manufactured off-site, they are made of a different material and are smaller, so typically there will be more trusses in comparison to rafters. Rafters are made on-site, so they are able to be made larger to fit whatever structure is needed. Rafters are used for larger projects to provide more open space. However, manufactured pieces are not necessarily bad. Some trusses, like those at Hickory Circle Construction, can be custom-made as well, and are usually less expensive than rafters. Also, because they are not constructed on-site, and instead at the manufacture site with all of the required machinery and material available, t...

Will the advantages of timber homes and timber framing last forever? Wood structures have been around for ages. Timber framing, specifically, is the oldest form of wood construction: The oldest timber frame building was built around 690 AD, and is still standing in Japan today! However, in the age of modern technology, you might be wondering: will wood go out of style?  Our guess is no. Since the creation of wooden homes, new housing materials have taken the market by storms, such as brick, cement, and vinyl options. However, so far, timber products have stood the test of time. Why is this?  Speed A wooden house is much easier to build in a time crunch in comparison to heavier materials like cement and brick. These materials are harder to transport, which takes away from building time. In contrast, timber frames can be made off-site, and wood is easily mobilized. This shortens the time span of development by weeks.  Renewability  Wood is a very abundant and available...

Timber framing provides not only a warm visual but a warmth you can feel, too. Have you ever wondered why log cabins are the home of choice in cold, mountainous areas? Timber products surely take precedence in these locations over concrete materials, but why? What's the appeal? The answer is simple: wood is excellent at keeping you warm and comfortable, even as a frame. Here's why:  Wood products, such as logs, absorb heat during the day and release it at night during temperature changes. Timber is great at adapting to humidity and weather fluctuations. It is true that when it is dry it can lose its insulation properties. However, its versatility allows it to adapt to and absorb moist conditions. So if you live somewhere that emits plenty of moisture in the air, like Ohio, this likely won't be a problem (this is why log cabins are perfect for mountain areas, where the weather is changing all the time). And, if you're considering only timber frames, you will still benefi...

 Why Should You Choose Timber? At Hickory Circle Construction, we specialize in timber construction. Not only do we make homes beautiful with our timber services, but we also offer services for residential homes or commercial buildings. Now, you are probably wondering why we push using timber as our primary material. We do this because it is natural, sustainable, and environmentally friendly during a time of environmental hardships. As you may have seen, timber is absolutely stunning and proves to be an excellent choice for constructing a physical work of art. It is also more structurally efficient when looking for the safest option for building. This type of building material is beneficial to the consumer because it has fire-resistant properties and has natural ventilation elements. This proves it to be better for you in the long run because it will save you money on heating and cooling costs. Timber is also beneficial because it is naturally long and slender; this makes it perfec...

Timber framing is a very common and traditional style of construction. This is where a structure is framed with crafted heavy timber as opposed to mass-produced thinner, dimensional lumber. The look of a timber frame is easy to identify — it offers an exposed wood appearance, often with minimal finishing. Hickory Circle offers both hands sawed or planned finishes to the client’s preference. The most popular and common types of wood for timber wood framing are:  Oake Pine Cedar  Douglas Fir  So, What are the differences between timber framing and conventionally built homes, log homes, and post and beam houses? Timber homes are complete structures made of heavy timber vertical posts supporting horizontal beams. These form cross-sections called bents, and multiple bents create bays. Conventionally built homes are framed with smaller dimensional lumber that is readily available at the lumberyards. Because the materials are smaller, load-bearing walls must be incorporated into...

      Homes that implement timber wood as part of their design and frame are stunning. Have you ever stayed in a log cabin in Tennessee and found yourself wishing the vacation would never end? Those types of vacation homes bring warmth, peace, and charm that steel buildings and traditional homes don’t have. Those are typically timber frame homes. If you’re thinking about a log cabin or lodge project, Hickory Circle can help you make your dream come true! We provide custom timber framing and trusses; your next property will have the strength and support it needs in a style that best suits your design ideas! And if you’re not considering a wooden project, here’s why you should: Wooden structures provide a unique place to lodge for your next vacation. Divergence from traditional buildings gives you a change of scenery that’s often relaxing and therapeutic. Wood is known to have psychological effects. It helps promote calmness and stress recovery and reminds us of nature. For...

  Have you considered enlisting a contractor to build a new barn for you recently? Maybe you need somewhere for storage or livestock, or you are planning on opening a new business venture that needs a large open area. While it may be tempting to build the conventional way, make sure you look into a custom timber frame barn . You might just find that it’s perfect for you! The first advantage of using a timber frame barn is that you have a bevy of options when choosing your wood type. This is because timber frame barns do not require as heavy and dense woods as traditional structures. You may even be surprised to learn that these barns don’t have load-bearing walls. This being said, you are open to a more custom timber frame barn with your choice of wood from our select species. Another great reason to choose a timber frame barn is due to the more extravagant, open-floor plans they give you. With one of these structures, it is possible to have more flexibility in design, thanks large...

      There are many ways that you can insulate your home. You could use structural insulated panels, fiberglass insulation systems, reflective systems, and even loose-fill and blown-in insulation. At Hickory Circle we use styrofoam and spray foam insulation systems to keep your home protected and as cool or as hot as you like it, all year round.           Spray foam is a superior solution to a lot of old systems used when insulating a home and these are some of the reasons why: It deters moisture. Water can easily get into the openings around your pipes and vents putting your home at risk for growth of mold and mildew. Most insulation used needs to be replaced when it gets wet, but not spray foam. It keeps its properties and can push itself into even the smallest cracks, leaving no room for water damage to your home.  It improves comfort. Because spray foam can get into the smallest nooks and crannies, it helps to prevent temperatu...

  Timber vs. Steel          While the material to build your house is chosen mostly out of personal preference, there is no clear answer as to which material is best, timber or steel. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when picking between the two materials, it is not just about how it looks. Speed of construction, environmental impact, sustainability, cost, and your location are all good points to take into consideration. Here we will go through each point to help make your decision easier on you. Speed of Construction:     While both materials are assembled in a similar manner, timber can actually take a shorter time to put up due to steel needing more tools and labor to attach each element together. On top of this, timber frames can be put up by carpenters or even used in DIY situations, and it helps that most professionals have experience with wood more than metal. Steel will always need a steel fabricator to put yo...

If you're considering designing a new home soon, a timber frame structure could be the way to go! There are many advantages to using timber for your building that can help you make the choice of creating your home with a custom timber design from Hickory Circle Construction.  One obvious advantage to using timber for your home is the fact that it is a natural resource, one of the few that is used for building in our modern society. This means that it is non-toxic, safe to handle and also naturally ages with your design. Along with being natural, timber is more sustainable and environmentally friendly than many other building materials. Timber can be grown faster than it is used and in many places in which timber is harvested, the harvesters are then required to plant more trees in the same place to ensure the renewability of the building material.    Timber frame structures have other benefits as well, such as a decreased energy need for the home. Timber is a natural i...

            Congratulations on taking the first step into building your own timber home frame. You have a couple of critical decisions to make in the coming weeks. One of the most important is which species of wood your timber framer will use in the construction of your home. There are an abundance of options available, all with their owns strengths and weaknesses. This important decision may include you looking at the availability, sustainability, cost and suitability of the wood.  The most common types of wood species for timber framing are: white pine, red and white oak, Douglas Fir, hickory and cedar.  Availability       Depending on what part of the country you're in, will largely impact what materials are available to you. It is cost efficient to use local materials as the cost of transporting posts and beams across the country can rack up costs in a hurry. It's unlikely that the area you reside i...

 There are many ways to make your house our own and unique. A great way to help your house stand out is merging styles with timber frames. It can make your perfect project look distinctive and truly capture what you imagined. With Hickory Circle Construction , it becomes a possibility for that dream idea to come to life.     Adding classic style timber frames can be something as simple as having arched frames or as complex as having a distinct design while providing functionality. The styles could be similar to French Colonial, Southern, and Country styles. These styles with timber frames can make a simple project become timeless. On the other end of the spectrum, timber frames can be mixed with modern styles like Industrial and Vintage, by adding the timber frames that are smaller in size and less detailed, it can be used to enhance the rest of the project. It makes the house or building look more formal and professional by adding the details of linear lines and gives ...

  Timber framing and Post and Beam framing are often thought to be the same by the average person, but they are really quite different when it comes down to the details. Both techniques leave the trademark look of fully exposed beams on the inside of the structure.   The main difference between timber framing vs post and beam framing is the way timbers are connected to each other.  Timber framing  uses mortise and tenon joinery along with wooden pegs whereas Post and Beam framing uses half-lap joinery with hidden fasteners, and oftentimes metal bracing. So what does mortise and tenon joinery mean? Let’s break it down. The mortise is the side of the wood with the hole in, the tenon is the side with what is called the tongue tenon on it. The tongue tenon is a section of wood that is cut to lock into the mortise side of the joint. After the joint has been put together, it will be glued, pinned, or wedged to lock it in place. It is one of the oldest, longest used joint m...

Adding custom-built timber frame furniture,  home additions , outdoor living amenities, and even barns and sheds are a great way to add wood style to your home! Sometimes it’s hard to identify a timber frame home from the outside looking in unless there are outside clues like a timber deck or entrance. Updating your home’s curb appeal with a front entryway or wrap-around porch adds the rustic touch that timber framing offers. Entryways create a welcoming focal point for guests, and even those just driving by, so it is important for your timber frame to fit your home style. Building a deck or porch gives you a new outdoor space for many years to come. Both of these options can help you add a beautiful timber touch to your home that is sure to catch the eye of guests and strangers alike!  Building sheds and barns featuring timber frames can add an attractive, but reliable, addition to your property! Sheds have become a hot build with many customers customizing them to be she-she...

Heavy Timber Trusses can add a beautiful structural design to any commercial business or home, no matter if the building is fully timber frame or not. They offer unparalleled support of the structure and bring a bit of classical, country feel to wherever they are placed!  Design and actual style will defer depending on who the contractor is for a project, but there are multiple different styles that can be picked from, oftentimes strictly by what you had in mind as many of them offer similar support levels as all of the other options. Below you can find the common types of heavy timber trusses that are used in the various buildings.   Although these are all of the most common designs, many times trusses can be custom-made to fit your project. Just consult with your contractor to find out if this is something they are able to do to effectively fit your needs!  If you are in need of heavy timber trusses, either standard or custom, or even looking to build a full tim...