Woodhouse SmartWood Line Described

This article appears on the Log & Timber Homes website. The August 2008 issue of Timber Homes Illustrated features my home in Cayuga Lake, New York.

Company says timber frames now affordable for the 'average buyer'

SmartWood is a line of pre-designed timber framed homes by Woodhouse. Ranging in size from small cabins to larger homes, they are offered in a variety of architectural styles." "However," says Steve Keller the founder of Woodhouse and a timber framer for almost 30 years, "SmartWood was conceived to make timber frames affordable for the average buyer."

Keller continued by saying, "It is a well established fact that a timber frame home is going to cost more than a conventionally built home and, depending upon the region, as much as 20 to 30% more. At Woodhouse, we knew that a lot of our prospective clients were unable or unwilling to afford a custom timber frame with the quality of a Woodhouse home or other custom designed timber frame. SmartWood addresses that problem."

"SmartWood is exactly what it says – a 'smart' and affordable way to build a timber framed home." Steve elaborated on the precepts of SmartWood. "To reduce the price we did three things:

1. First was to reduce the cost of designing a home. We have more than 50 pre-designed SmartWood homes (adding more every day) that spread the cost of design over 10 or more homes – a very real savings.


2. Next, we optimized the efficiency of the timber frame design, by first engineering the timber frame and only then, integrating the floor plan (opposite to many custom designs where inefficient timber frames are often designed to meet the owner's floor planrequirements) and using simplified, but industry standard or better, joinery (how the timbers inter-connect) to further reduce cost.


3. Finally, we selected the most cost effective but still quality materials: "The 'smart wood' that we use," Keller smiles, "is the common-sense choice of kiln-dried Southern Yellow Pine timbers – strong, beautiful and less expensive than virtually any other species of timber. Plus being plantation grown, they are a very 'green' wood. We then decided on EPS foam-core structural insulating SIPS by Murus – the industry standard and less expensive than the polyurethane foam-core SIPs used by Woodhouse. Lastly, we opted for Anderson brand windows and doors – an efficient and reliable window but less costly window. This combination is impossible to beat – especially in concert with the service and quality of Woodhouse."

Keller continued the story by talking about his business partner's choice of a timber framed home and design. "Pat Seaman, president of Woodhouse came to us with a strong corporate background and quickly learned and applied his skills to the timber framing business. However, he had never actually built a home, his or anyone else's.

"So when it came time for Pat and his wife Tracey to build their timber frame home, SmartWood was a logical choice for a number reasons common to many clientele. Quite simply, the square footage they wanted, the amenities therein and doing it within their budget, was an absolute must. From the SmartWood plan-book Pat and Tracey selected the Mountain View design envisioning it accommodating their beautiful lake side sloping property and lifestyle – a growing family, room for entertaining their friends and families in a casual setting and room for a regulation pool table and media area."

Keller interceded by adding, "Any SmartWood design can be customized, with limitations for cost engineering, and; Pat and Tracey needed some customization of their selection, the Mountain View, which included a walk-out/day-light basement to accommodate the slope of their property and the media and pool table area (a guest bedroom was also added in this lower level), a larger kitchen / dining area and an office over the garage accessible from inside and outside of the house.

"As is often the case, customizations like Pat and Tracey's will lead to a new SmartWood design. In this instance we've added their home, the Lake View, to our SmartWood line of homes and have subsequently built three more across the country."

Keller further observed that, "In the construction of his home, Pat applied his management skills to the building process. He was diligent in obtaining multiple bids for all phases of construction, reviewing the bids in detail with each sub-contractor and consulting with more experienced third parties when warranted and; every day, spending time on the job site reviewing all the work to ensure quality and planning the next work, and very importantly, to enculture good sub-contractor relationships."

"Pat's detailed record keeping attests to the cost effectiveness of building a SmartWood. His completed cost was more than competitive, square foot for square foot, with a custom home in the Finger Lakes region of New York." Keller concluded.

"All too often I have seen owner's dreams for a timber framed home dashed when they over design for their budget." Steve Keller added pensively. "And it can be a real tragedy. To avoid this owners must either, one, hire a designer or architect who has the ability or personality to assiduously adhere to a real budget and is capable of efficiently engineering the timber frame structure to stand as the heart of the home, or two, engage a timber frame company who has the experience and ability to do the same," and Keller added "Shame on us timber framers if we allow or enable a client to over-shoot their budget."

"In the situation where the budget is unrealistic for a custom timber frame, SmartWood is often the answer. Our experience is that we can build a SmartWood at the same price or less than a custom built conventional home. And that is a wonderful thing," said a smiling Steve Keller.