Burke | Timber Frame Home Design

Timberbuilt Logo with tagline

BURKE

SERIES

Timberbuilt Logo with tagline

BURKE

SERIES

The Burke is energy efficient, economical, and it just may be our most asked-about design.

HOME BASICS

This mountain modern timber frame sits beneath a single shed roof that rises towards the front of the home and hangs over a tall, windowed wall system that provides big views and sunlight to the master suite and great room.

The simple roof and rectangular footprint help make the Burke one of our most economical and energy efficient timber homes.

It was originally designed (for a pair of Olympians) to live in the high peaks of the Adirondacks where passive solar heat gains (sunlight!) could help raise operational efficiency and make the home more comfortable through freezing cold winters.

THE TIMBER FRAME

Walk through the covered entryway on the side of this home to find yourself flanked by the mud room and a small half bath.

A few more steps and you’re in the open plan nerve center. The dining room, kitchen, and great room share this space. Slide the barn door at the back of the great room and step into the easily expandable master suite.

The interior takes full advantage of our hybrid timber frame system.

Timber rafters run from the low side to the high side of the shed roof along the length of the home. These rafters are supported on both ends by structural insulated wall panels (SIPs). In addition to all of their outstanding efficiencies, SIPs are engineered for strength. Without the need for supportive posts, the floor plan is more flexible and spacious.

The timber rafters are a focal point — the center rafters sit on a connecting girt over the bump out in the great room and timbers are visible from every room on the ground floor.

Your choice of timber stain (along with the materials and colors you choose for your ceiling boards) can greatly affect the overall look of this home, allowing you a wide range of decorative options.

EXTERIOR ELEMENTS

On a sloped lot, the low side of the Burke is private and its understated profile camouflages its size.

But on the front side, this timber frame is impressive.

Angle-cut rafter tails run along the eaves for the entire length of the roof. Detailed timber braces support two shed roofs over windows outside the master bedroom and the dining room. The wrap-around railings and the screen porch are timber framed as well.

The optional walkout basement adds a sense of height with large timber posts supporting the back deck.

The great room protrudes slightly outwards, adding interest. Often we see clients using this as an exterior accent wall that’s sided in either a contrasting color or material.

This timber home is long relative to its width, with almost all of the windows pointed in the same direction. The Burke can be oriented to maximize the view, the sun exposure, or both.

Take a look at these Burke Series homes in our archives.

Timberbuilt logo

This website presents the most accurate information on Timberbuilt’s home designs and services. 

We also publish a short quarterly newsletter to keep you updated on current projects and new designs.

If you’d like to speak with us, reach out to Samantha in our office at: 716-337-0012 or contact us here.  Sam is perpetually busy (so please give her a few days to respond) but she can answer any questions, walk you through the steps of our process, and help you figure out if Timberbuilt is the right fit for your project.