Timber Frame Porch

Think back to when you were a child. Remember how much fun it was to crawl into a cardboard box and look out on the world, sheltered and safe, yet able to watch everything in the big world?

Remember the last time it snowed—how the world got quieter and closed in.

Timber frame porches are the best kind of porches. The vertical posts, horizontal beams, and diagonal knee braces picture frame the views.

There’s another reason: You feel safe and sheltered. You can see and touch the big wood posts and beams that hold up the roof since the structure is visible—unlike with conventional construction where the 2×4’s are hidden behind the plywood. Seeing what’s holding up the roof is certainly gratifying and perhaps even reassuring on an unconscious level.

Design Tip: Make the steps very wide—like 6’ or 8’ wide. After a hard day’s work outside, you’ll love sitting there a few minutes after removing your muddy boots and admiring the work you just did. Furthermore, when it’s cold outside but the sun is shining, sitting on your steps feeling the winter sun on your face is guaranteed to lift your mood.

Open vs. Enclosed Timber Frame Porches

When designing a new timber framed porch for your home, you’ll have to decide between an enclosed or open layout. In our experience, both offer advantages and disadvantages—so it’s important to find the style that best suits you.

post and beam porch with poplar bark siding — A sheltered back porch on a home designed by Bob Mann, of A.T.T.I.C. Design in Banner Elk. Note the Poplar bark siding, beautiful lighting, and brick patio floor.

Enclosed porches can connect to the front, back, or even side of your home. With the porch enclosed, the space can shelter you from cooler or warmer weather. An enclosed structure can also provide more privacy, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice the view!

timber frame lake house porch — Bill & Gena’s timber frame lake house overlooks the South Holston Lake from the Bristol, TN side and across to the Cherokee National Forest–where the Appalachian Trail crosses the ridge visible in the distance.

Open porches typically connect to the front or back of your home, adding more functionality to your outdoor space and transforming the view. They’re ideal for relaxing or gathering, and they welcome fresh air in every season.

How to Use a Timber Frame Porch

How do you envision experiencing your timber frame porch? From adding a rustic touch to creating an outdoor room, this space holds so much possibility. Here are a few timber frame porch ideas for enjoying your porch:

Hosting space: Do you want a comfortable outdoor space to host family and friends? Invite the whole crew over to enjoy the view or plan a girls’ or guys’ night in.
Reading nook: We think curling up with a good book gets even better when you can see timber framing the view of your property. What better way to relax and let your imagination transport you away?
Mudroom: Do you want to keep shoes, boots, jackets, and other outdoor items where they belong? With some thought and planning, an enclosed timber frame porch could make an ideal mudroom and prevent clutter that might otherwise end up in the entryway.
Morning spot: Why not add fresh air and breathtaking views to your morning cup of coffee? When you have a timber frame porch as your perch, you might even look forward to early mornings.
Family room: Are you feeling a little cramped indoors? A timber frame porch can be a lovely secondary family room. With cozy furniture and space for everyone, an outdoor family room can be the perfect spot to close out the day.

How to Add to a Timber Frame Porch

Now that you’ve planned how to use your porch, how can you turn your idea into reality? In many cases, the right furnishings can completely transform the space.

If you’re planning to use your timber frame porch for a mudroom, for instance, we might recommend a reclaimed wood bench. It’s the perfect spot for resting while you swap those muddy boots for cozier footwear.

For hosting friends and family, love seats and dining tables can complete an enclosed porch. After all, comfortable seating is the key to creating a space that’s perfect for conversation, laughter, and great food and drink.

If you prefer to use your timber frame porch as an area for relaxation or meditation, consider a hammock or a rocking chair or even a hanging day bed. Imagine taking in the fresh air and the beautiful scenery from your perch. Could it get any more relaxing?

post and beam porch with outdoor fireplace and poplar bark siding — A bright red window provide provides a splash of color to the rock, Ceda

Reclaimed wood timber frame Front Porch on a Party Barn in Ennice; timber and Poplar bark siding on this mountain home in Linville, North Carolina.

reclaimed wood timber frame party barn porch — A bright red window provide provides a splash of color to the rock, Ceda

Reclaimed wood timber frame Front Porch on a Party Barn in Ennice; timber and Poplar bark siding on this mountain home in Linville, North Carolina.

Small timber frame back porch — This back porch, off the Master Bedroom of a mountain home in Linville, North Carolina, is framed by four Cedar columns with curved brackets. We love the red doors and windows, as well as the curving roof lines and attention to detail by Don Duffy Architecture in Charlotte.

Timber frame porch in Western North Carolina mountains — Although Carolina Timberworks is a licensed General Contractor, we rarely build homes. Every once in a while we take on a building project, as was the case with this renovation in Hound Ears Club for Margaret & Jimbo Rouse. Most of the timber framing was outside (Douglas Fir timber frame covered porch and entry). Ironwood (Ipe) decking with a stunning view of the profile of Grandfather Mountain. Design & photography by Drew Sumrell of Woodborne Design.

A new timber framed dining hall and lakeside porch awaits the arrival of summer campers at Gwynn Valley, a children’s camp in Brevard, North Carolina. Design by PLATT

Timber frame wrap around porch on Lake James — For years our client had admired a particular lake as he flew over, on frequent trips from Southern California. 13 years later, he and his wife purchased their lot on Lake James (a large reservoir in the mountains of Western North Carolina). Later that afternoon, the salesman left them the keys to the pontoon boat. Once out on the water, Matt realized it was the very same lake, and turned to Sherry to say “you’re not going to believe the story I’m about to tell you”. This wrap-around porch beautifully frames the view of the lake he had observed for years from the air.

finishing a timber frame using contrast between beams and ceiling boards — Notice the ceiling of this covered porch in Grandfather Golf & Country Club in Linville, North Carolina. Sometimes “wood on wood” can be a bit much–even for us! A great way to solve this issue is to provide strong contrast between the timbers (Douglas Fir) and the 2×6 tongue and groove ceiling decking, which in this case was stained a much lighter color. The result puts the emphasis on the timbers.

cedar timber frame deck remodel in linville nc — The owners of this home wanted to cover their existing deck in Grandfather Golf & Country Club with a timber frame roof in order create an outdoor living room. Deck remodeling in Linville…

contemporary timber frame home plans — Clean lines, natural sustainable materials, and a feeling that the house just carries on from the inside to the outside seamlessly. Design by Carlton Architecture Asheville, North Carolina

Glass and timber four-season pavilion with reclaimed wood ceiling — A striking 36-ft by 18-ft. four-season pavilion in Asheville, North Carolina with a reclaimed wood ceiling. Profiled in the September 2015 issue of Fine Homebuilding magazine in a article called Glass in the Garden.

timber frame porch roof — An outdoor living room we’d never want to leave

Timber Frame Covered Porch with Fireplace — When we saw this photo, we thought to ourselves: “It’s the porch everyone wants.” Note how not having angled knee braces subtly changes the look of this South Carolina Lowcountry cabin.

Tudor Style Oak Timber Frame Porch — A leading contender for one of our very favorite timber frame porches: a Tudor style white oak crown post timber frame porch in Ohio (scroll down to see the interior).

Tudor Oak Timber Frame Porch — The crown post timber frame truss is a traditional form of timber framing that originated in medieval Europe and is found in many historic buildings. It’s characterized by a central vertical post (crown post) which supports a horizontal beam, known as a collar beam or collar purlin. The crown post is further supported by braces that extend downward to the tie beam, creating a triangular configuration. Deriving its beauty from complexity and structural efficiency, the design allows for a more open space beneath the roof, as it eliminates the need for a horizontal beam spanning the full width of the room or building.

Timber frame sun porch from RFKD Douglas Fir Timbers — The table (and sun) set for dinner with friends and family at Ashton & Fran Poole’s timber frame Sun Porch in Roaring Gap Club. Design by Madison Spencer Architects. Photo by Ashton Poole

Cantilevered Timber Frame Covered Deck — The “impossible” deck (click the photo above to watch the video and discover why)

rustic covered porch — Not exactly roughing it in one of our favorite Covered Porches

timber frame deck porch addition — We love how this Linville, North Carolina home opens onto the timber frame porch–creating 3 spaces from 2.

Timber frame scissor trusses on a covered deck — No room on the site for a crane? We raised these timber frame scissor trusses the old fashioned way (by hand) for this renovation and addition in Linville, North Carolina. Design by Bradley G. Dowdy, AIA Architect Inc.

Mountain home timber frame porch with rock fireplace — Timber frame porches can help achieve the sense of bringing the outdoors inside, or in this case, the inside out! Douglas Fir timbers create a warm, inviting outdoor living space at Bob & Sandra Moss’ home in Elk River Club in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

how to light a timber frame covered porch with skylights — Although they’re wonderful living spaces, covered porches can darken the adjacent interior spaces. These Velux skylights not only enliven the Porch space, but also permit light to reach the interior of this timber framed “fishing cabin” in Linville, North Carolina.

outdoor living on a timber frame covered deck — Greg, Mary Ann & Baxter Poole relaxing on a late summer’s evening on their Cedar timber frame covered deck in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

One of our early projects–a timber frame porch addition for a home in Minneapolis…North Carolina. Griff and Joanna found out about us when Joanna was getting a massage and Griff looked up and saw our sign at our first office in Banner Elk.

timber frame front porch on the New River with reclaimed wood wall and beams

A reclaimed wood wall is one of the best timber front porch ideas we’ve seen. Leaving the old weathered paint on the reclaimed siding is what makes it work. Reclaimed wood post and beams, locust decking, and two rocking chairs complete this inviting porch on the New River in Virginia.

Reclaimed wood timber frame covered porch deck — Reclaimed wood Covered Porch in Highlands North Carolina

Can You Retrofit an Existing Porch?

Perhaps you already have a perfectly good front or back porch but you’d love to add some timber frame elements. If you’re curious about retrofitting your current space or creating a hybrid timber framed porch, we’d be happy to discuss how this process might work.

Here at Carolina Timberworks, we love building timber frame porches. We have a deep appreciation for their beauty, versatility, and durability. To discuss your porch ideas, give us a call at 828-266-9663 or send us a message. We’re nice!

https://vimeo.com/311140375

Learn more about our timber frame projects for places we live.

Curious about the timber framing techniques used in this project? Check out our Timber Frame Glossary to understand the terms behind the craft.