Frequently Asked Questions

There are many variables that will impact the overall cost of your home. For example, the overall style, porches, garage, one or two stories, roof system and roof pitch and more will impact the final cost. In addition to geographic location, log size/profile/corner assembly or the desired timber heaviness can impact the cost as well. For our most complete materials package, we typically see a starting range of $100 – $130 per square foot.  Connect with your local representative who can help you better understand package and turnkey costs.

Your custom home will be manufactured at our facility in Middleburg, PA and your complete materials package shipped to your job site. We deliver homes anywhere — across the nation and abroad.  You will need a contractor to assemble your Timberhaven Home once it is delivered. In many cases, we may be able to assist you with locating a builder. If you have a builder who is interested in building your home, that’s fine too as you are free to select any builder you like. New builders are welcome to attend a one-on-one training session in Middleburg, PA to help them better understand our prescribed construction techniques.

Absolutely, any of our homes can be built on any foundation.  In fact, most of our homes are built on a full basement.  However, you can build on a crawlspace, concrete slab, or on piers depending on your land and budget. Sometimes soil conditions and local water tables will dictate the type of foundation you use.

The standard product we supply in our materials package is a called Outlast Q8 Log Oil. Outlast recommends applying this preservative as soon as your house is erected.  The second coat should be applied within12 -24 months after the initial application. The third coat should be applied in approximately 36 months. After that, typical repeat applications occur every five years. The schedule will vary depending on the exposure and design of your home. For instance, if you are exposed to full sun and wind, you may need to apply Q8 Log Oil more frequently.  If your home is protected from the wind and sun by seclusion or porches, this may aid in extending the life of the Log Oil by eliminating some of the direct exposure from these elements.

Once you have determined where you want your light switches, lights, ceiling fans, etc. to be located, the subfloor is marked indicating where you want these items to be located. As the logs are being stacked, your builder must either drill a hole in the top of the log through the subfloor and through the perimeter box after each course, or you can wait till the third course and drill down. This will provide the chases or access points in order to run the wiring underneath the subfloor and into a panel box. For our timber frame or hybrid homes or for the interior walls of a log home, this wiring is run the same way as a conventionally built home. In some cases, local codes will dictate or impact placement of these components.

This is more of a personal preference and will depend on your geographic location and your budget as there are a lot of great options available today. A few popular options include: Geothermal systems which utilize the earth’s natural energy, in-floor radiant heating systems, forced air systems, fueled by natural gas or propane, dual fuel burners which burn multiple types of fuel like coal and wood, electric heat pumps, outside wood burning units, mini splits, or baseboard heating systems that utilize either water or oil.

There are many factors that will determine the length of time it will take to complete the construction of your home. The size of the home, the complexity of the design, the building site, the time of year, and the weather can all impact the timeframe. Also, the number of crew members utilized by your builder.  On average, we see most homes completed within 9-12 months.  As with any solid plan, there can be exceptions to these parameters.

Our home packages are among the most complete in the industry — so much so that it’s actually easier to share what’s not included. Nearly everything you need to bring your dream log, timber frame, or hybrid home to life is part of the package.

Items not included are:

  • Masonry (foundation & fireplace)
  • Cabinetry & countertops
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • Heating & cooling (HVAC)
  • Finished floor coverings
  • Well & septic/excavation
  • Labor
  • Gutters & downspouts
  • Appliances
  • Drywall (if applicable)

By providing one of the most comprehensive material packages available, we give you the flexibility to choose finishes, systems, and local contractors that best fit your style, budget, and location.

For a complete materials list, click here.

We offer custom log, timber frame, hybrid homes, barndominiums, and outdoor timber structures built with premium-grade, kiln-dried engineered or traditional solid logs and timbers. Our home packages include the industry’s most complete options, custom design services, a lifetime warranty on all Timberhaven-manufactured products, local representation, and unparalleled customer support to guide you through every step of building your dream home.

Yes, our plans can be modified to suit your specific needs. Some of the more common modifications include enlarging or shrinking floor plans, rearranging wall locations, adding porches, decks, or garages, modifying window configurations, moving fireplace locations, or adding a pantry or mudroom to name a few. We also do custom designs, so if you have your own unique design, we can make your dream a reality.

Although Timberhaven maintains a standard set of material specifications, there are numerous options and upgrades to choose from. Some of these alternative materials include various log sizes and profiles, log corner assemblies, exterior finishes, composite decking, wall or ceiling finishes, interior and exterior doors and hardware styles, roofing materials and window product lines and manufacturers.

We understand the importance of seeing our work firsthand and encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities. We offer behind-the-scenes tours of our manufacturing facilities in Middleburg, PA, and everyone is welcome to visit. Our doors are open Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM, the first and third Saturdays of the month, and during our annual Spring Planning Seminar. You can also contact your representative to schedule a personal visit.

We also have a modified Shade Haven Timber Frame model home available for tours. This model is available by appointment only—please contact your representative for complete details.

In addition, Timberhaven has local sales representatives across the country who offer personal tours of their log or timber frame model homes. Please refer to our event schedule or contact your local representative to explore this opportunity.

https://www.timberhavenloghomes.com/upcoming-events/

Timberhaven works with a network of independent dealerships across the country, along with our corporate representatives. Each is assigned an exclusive territory, allowing them to provide the best possible service and local expertise for your area.

To find the representative who covers your location, we recommend visiting our “Find a Rep Near You” map. It’s organized by state and county, making it easy to connect with the person who is best to help you quickly and most efficiently.

If you have any trouble locating your rep, feel free to reach out—we’re always happy to help! 855-306-5678

Timberhaven uses Eastern White Pine. Eastern White Pine is a highly stable, durable, and sustainable wood. This makes it ideal for high-quality logs and timbers. Eastern White Pine also offers better insulating properties than many other woods.

We offer Traditional and Premium-Grade Engineered logs and timbers. The Traditional logs and timbers are kiln dried to an average of 19%. This is measured with a moisture meter 2” deep into the piece. The Engineered logs and timbers are made up of 2” plys. Each ply is kiln dried to an average of 9%.

For additional information on our Kiln-Dried Traditional Logs and Timbers, click here.

For additional information on our Premium-Grade Kiln Dried Engineered Logs and Timbers, click here.

Timberhaven offers one of the most diverse selections of log profiles in the industry, giving homeowners the ability to achieve a look that ranges from traditional and rustic to clean and contemporary. Crafted from Eastern White Pine, our profiles are available in more than a dozen distinctive styles and six different sizes—from classic 6”x8” logs to our most massive 8”x12” engineered logs. Popular options include the signature “D” profile with its flat interior and rounded exterior, along with styles like Double Round, Dutch Lap, V-Groove, and various notch and bevel profiles—each offering its own unique character and architectural appeal. Many profiles can also be enhanced with an optional hand-hewn finish for added texture and authenticity, while insulated log siding systems allow you to replicate these looks in a more conventional wall assembly. When combined with our wide range of corner systems—including Dovetail, Mortise & Tenon, and more—homeowners have exceptional design flexibility, resulting in over 100 possible profile and corner combinations to truly customize the look of their home.

Click here for complete details and visual references.

Timberhaven offers a wide range of corner systems designed to further define the home’s overall style. Options include the classic Mortise & Tenon corner; the Dovetail corner known for its handcrafted, interlocking appearance; the Saddle Notch corner; and for a more refined finish, our Trim corner available in traditional and modern styles. When combined with our variety of log profiles, these corner options provide exceptional design flexibility—resulting in more than 100 possible profile and corner combinations to truly customize the look of your home.

Click here for complete details and visual references.

The R-value of an Eastern White Pine log is approximately 1.25 per inch of thickness. For example, a 6” log is roughly R-7.5, and an 8” log is roughly R-10. On a pure steady-state basis, this is lower than a typical insulated stick-framed wall.

However, R-value alone does not fully describe how solid log homes perform in real-world conditions.

Solid logs are a mass wall system, meaning they behave differently than lightweight framed walls filled with insulation. Logs have the ability to absorb heat during warmer periods and gradually release it as temperatures drop, helping moderate indoor temperature swings and improve comfort over time. This thermal mass effect is not captured in standard R-value calculations, which measure only steady, linear heat flow.

In addition, unlike framed wall systems that are interrupted by studs, cavities, and multiple material layers, solid log walls provide a continuous structural envelope, reducing thermal breaks that can interrupt heat flow pathways in conventional construction.

Recent research using advanced computer simulation modeling and comparative wall testing—consistent with long-standing thermal mass studies incorporated into building energy codes since the 1980s—shows that mass timber walls respond dynamically to changing environmental conditions. These studies, including work aligned with International Mass Timber Alliance (IMTA)-supported research, demonstrate that:

  • Building performance is influenced by more than R-value, including air movement (infiltration and exfiltration) and whole-wall system behavior
  • Mass timber walls moderate temperature fluctuations and help reduce peak heating and cooling loads
  • Standard code-based R-value methods do not fully reflect the time-dependent performance of mass walls compared to lightweight construction

For these reasons, while R-value provides a basic reference point for conduction resistance, it does not fully represent the effective in-use thermal performance of solid log homes, which is significantly influenced by thermal mass and whole-building system behavior.

Timberhaven delivers home packages directly to your job site via tractor-trailer on a pre-selected date. Materials are securely wrapped, labeled, and unloaded using a forklift*. A Timberhaven representative often assists with the delivery to review documentation, inventory the materials and oversee the process. The delivery is scheduled in advance to coincide with the readiness of your foundation.

For international projects, materials are packed into specialized containers for transport by sea vessel. The materials are generally delivered in a single or phased shipment to ensure high-quality, weather-tight materials arrive in excellent condition.

*If using a forklift to unload building materials, the forklift should be a rough terrain type with a minimum lifting capacity of 6,000 lbs. (8,000 lbs. or greater may be required dependent on the site conditions). Machine must be capable of a 13’ vertical reach. Forklifts with four- wheel drive capabilities are recommended.

We provide Andersen windows as our standard offering. Andersen manufactures numerous product lines from which you can choose. Additionally, you can select Pella or Weathershield windows if you prefer. As for our roofing options, we provide a Tamko Lifetime Architectural shingle as our standard offering as well as two different metal roofing options, the Panel- Loc Plus and the Horizon-Loc with concealed fasteners manufactured by Central States Mfg.

At Timberhaven, we do precut our logs. We cut to exact length including for window and door openings, corner assemblies, spline grooves, roof pitch for solid log gable ends and we drill for the lags. There is very minimal cutting needed for the stacking of the logs. When cutting, we start at the very top of the house and work our way down to the first course of logs. When packaged, the last logs we cut will be the first ones needed on site. This is called Inverted Stacking. Inverted Stacking saves the contractor time from searching for the logs and helps keep the logs protected with minimal amounts of packs needing to be opened.

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It is just perfect

Owning a timber porch has always been a lifelong dream of ours. John and I reached out to Brad Mercer and the team from Timberhaven Log & Timber Homes to help make that dream come true. Brad made the entire process so easy from planning to delivery. We were truly amazed. We gave him our measurements of what we were looking for. He sat with us and showed us everything he had to offer from designs to colors to even taking us for a tour in the workshop and showing us models of timber porches to look at. We never felt pressured, and he answered every question we asked. The entire experience was so smooth from beginning to delivery, and we were beyond satisfied. John was able to do the porch himself (with help from a few friends) and it went up without a problem. It is just perfect!!!! It really makes the front of our house absolutely beautiful!!!

John and Angie Arnold

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