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LBI
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Timber Frame Homes
heavy timber, raised to last.

Mortise-and-tenon joinery, exposed beams, and a structure that becomes the architecture itself. Timber frame is one of the oldest ways to build well, and one of the most rewarding.

Aerial of an LBI residence sited among trees in Shakopee.
01Overview

A building method that becomes the architecture itself.

Timber framing is one of the oldest ways to build a serious house, and one of the most rewarding. The frame is sized to carry the building for centuries. The joinery, mortise and tenon, pinned with hardwood pegs, does the work that fasteners do in a stick-built home. Once the frame is up, it is the architecture.

We build full timber frames and hybrid timber-and-conventional builds. Frames are cut from Douglas fir, white oak, or reclaimed species depending on the project, and raised on a high-performance enclosure, typically SIPs, for thermal performance the original method never had.

Through LBI's relationship with Natural Element Homes, we can support timber-frame projects with the planning, site execution, and finish work they require, bringing a builder's discipline to a craft-led building method.

Timber frame is slower to plan and faster to raise. It rewards clients who care about how a building ages, and who want to live inside a structure where the engineering is part of the architecture.

02The work

The frame doesn’t hide behind the architecture. It is the architecture.

Scope of work
  1. Hand-cut and CNC joinery
  2. Hybrid timber + conventional builds
  3. SIPs and high-performance enclosures
  4. Reclaimed and locally sourced species
  5. Frame raising and finish carpentry
Best fit

Clients who want exposed timber structure, long-term durability, and natural materials that age well.

How we work →
Start

Start with a plan.
Build with confidence.

Tell us about the project. We'll walk through scope, timeline, and budget, and tell you straight if we're the right fit.