All posts by admin

Post and Beam, Timber Frame

An Ode To The Timber Frame Gods

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Timber frame construction methods have been around since the neolithic period. Techniques were passed down orally through working relationships between apprentices and masters. Eventually the industrial revolution, coupled with a post-war economy, brought demand for these structures down significantly, thereby giving rise to the American suburb.

Modern contemporary design was king. People opted instead for homes that were easy and affordable to construct, resulting in a hyperbolic sense of uniformity. It wasn’t until the 1970s when people began looking into post-and-beam construction again. We owe a huge thanks to those who revived timber frame building methods during this time—those who catalyzed something once thought obsolete.

Steve Chappell, author of the 1983 book, A Timber Framer’s Workshop: Joinery, Design & Construction of Traditional Timber Frames, encapsulated the intimacy of timber frame design. Chappell emphasized the permanence, sustainability, and pride that handcrafted structures provide through his hands-on expert craftsmanship. His work in joinery specifically was unprecedented around this time. What followed was a timber frame renaissance, later a hybridizing with the modern home.

Hybridizing two structures with different functions naturally induces problems. Tedd Benson literally wrote the book on barn-home integration. Benson’s insights allowed other builders to better understand the inherent problems that come with hybridizing these two different worlds in design. Window placement, insulation, and plumbing were all unknowns. Thanks to Benson and his appreciation for quality post-and-beam architecture, we can plan and process ideas without any deep thinking required. 

The affinity we latch onto when it comes to technology is flippant. Substance comes from those things we otherwise excuse as trivial, without investigating what makes something truly invoke our humanity. A true builder here at DC understands this honesty—there’s no way of hiding a joint frame on a truss or fittings between gables. You really can’t get this kind of old-school honesty anywhere outside of timber frame architecture. And so, to those who have literally put their hands into this craft, we thank you.

Learn more about our craftsmanship with a free catalog download today!

Cabins, Tiny Homes

Why A-frames Are Bad For Small Cabins

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A-frames have always been a timeless example of mid-century architecture. The name, of course, comes from their utilitarian design. Typical examples incorporate a sharp roof pitch that flows all the way down to the foundation. Conceptually this idea is straightforward, but it’s also unaccommodating. This is especially true for tiny home designs.

Sloping walls are the A-frame’s signature feature, and they tend to leave an awkward amount of unused space near the cabin’s apex. This is the primary reason you don’t see two-story A-frame cabins; their natural symmetry simply doesn’t allow for it. Only serious custom modifications can allow for the facilitation of a second-story variation.

Additionally, those dramatic sloping walls make decorating an A-frame nearly impossible. What you end up with is a hostile environment that cannibalizes function while producing tons of underutilized space.

Many people assume a tiny structure comes with an inherent sacrifice. But we believe that coziness should never be a transaction with discomfort. In other words, don’t let your lofty escape be a place where troubles can still find you.

Take a look at this cabin we’re currently building in Astoria, and take note of its size. The soon-to-be occupant worked with us to ensure we avoided any of the aforementioned problems associated with tiny living. Packed in this little unit are two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a 144 sq. ft. covered porch with plenty of room to spare.

Nothing really defies imagination like saying no. If you’re determined, we’d love to help. We’ve completed many projects here at DC Builders, each one falling on different points along the spectrum. What drives us is our ability to say yes, no matter what project you throw our way.

To get started on your own tiny home or cabin design, request a free quote today.

Wedding Barns

Sycamore Farms Wedding Barn Testimonial Video

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DC Builders is a nationwide design and construction company that specializes in custom wedding barn facilities.

Not too long ago, we finished working on a stunning venue in Arrington, Tennessee. With its rustic elegance and Southern charm, The Barn At Sycamore Farms is a premier wedding and event destination. Boasting three ceremony locations and a large reception area fit for hosting 300 guests, this fully-equipped barn is ready for those special-day ‘I dos.

Hear what property owner Doyle Monday has to say about working with DC Builders to create this wedding barn.

Thinking about taking your business to the next level with a custom wedding barn? bout q  Request a quote from our design team today!

Wedding Barns

Project Feature: Sycamore Farms Wedding Barn

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Rustic barn weddings have been trending upwards for more than a decade, and offer a wonderful alternative to traditional church ceremonies. Because of this, wedding barns are becoming an increasingly popular business move for event planners and property owners across the country.

DC Builders has experience designing and building wedding and event barns for clients all over the U.S. One of our most recent barn reception venue projects is this stunning facility in Arrington, Tennessee. With its southern charm and classic elegance, The Barn At Sycamore Farms has become a premier destination for weddings and events.

The Barn at Sycamore Farms features three ceremony locations to choose from and a large reception space that can comfortably host up to 300 guests. Fully equipped for the party of a lifetime, this wedding barn boasts a commercial food prep area, as well as both bridal and groom suites.

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Thinking about adding a wedding and event barn to your own property? Request a quote from our design team today!

Custom Homes

Choosing A Custom Home Builder

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Home is where you lay your head at night, but it’s also the setting for your family’s precious memories—past, present and yet to come. While home can be anywhere so long as your loved ones are there, most of us long for the opportunity to design and build the custom home of our dreams. More than just an address, a well constructed custom house is a sentimental investment that can be passed down from one generation to the next. That’s why choosing a custom home builder you can trust is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make.

Nationwide design and construction firm DC Builders specializes in custom homes for clients in Oregon, Washington, California and Colorado. We love working with our diverse customer base across the U.S., but our Pacific Northwest headquarters and timber frame aesthetic make us particularly well suited for custom home clients in our own neck of the woods. With more than 15 years of experience designing and building custom homes, our reputation both locally and across the country speaks to our unparalleled customer service and technical expertise.

DC Builders’ quality promise forms the basis of our modus operandi. Our mission is to extract our clients’ visions and transform them into dream homes, providing top-tier turnkey construction services from start to finish. That said, we are always happy to work with customers that are in the market for a la carte services such as design, framing, plan modification or floor plans. Wherever you’re at in your custom home design process, DC Builders can offer you high-quality construction materials and an efficient, collaborative process.

As a trusted custom home builder, we understand our role goes way beyond that of drafting blueprints and handling construction. Above all else we are cultivators of our clients’ dreams, getting to the heart of your family’s needs and encouraging you to let your imagination run wild. Our portfolio is a testament to that kind of thinking, as we’ve never turned a client away for having too ambitious a vision for their custom house. When you choose us as your custom home builder, the possibilities for your house are as infinite as your creativity will allow for.

If you’re ready to take the first step toward building the house of your dreams, download our digital catalog for a better idea of what we have to offer as a trusted custom home builder. Or, if you have a pretty good idea of what you are looking for and would like to get started today, request a free quote!

Apartment Barns, Arenas, Barns, Barns with Living Quarters, Equestrian, Equestrian Facilities, Post and Beam

A Custom Barn Builder You Can Trust

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Equestrian living is etched into our cultural DNA, as the act of riding and caring for horses goes back centuries on the North American continent. With nearly 5 million U.S. citizens taking care of more than 9 million horses, it’s safe to assume the equestrian lifestyle is here to stay. That means the horse barn—an iconic relic of America’s past and present—is also in it for the long haul.

Nationwide design and construction firm DC Builders is a premier custom barn builder specializing in high-quality equestrian facilities. From small family-owned horse barns to large-scale equestrian estates, our portfolio of custom barns and horse arenas speaks volumes about our team’s capabilities.

All of our custom horse barns are built using the reliable method of post-and-beam construction. This building style is renowned for its durability and guaranteed longevity, and allows for a great deal of flexibility when it comes to designing the layout. Further, the use of fine heavy timbers for structural support makes for beautiful open-concept interiors with handcrafted rustic details.

As a custom barn builder, the DC team is committed to meeting clients’ visions for their equestrian facilities while keeping the American tradition alive. All wood horse barns are an emblem of our farming roots, and they’re also the place your favorite four-legged friends live. You wouldn’t skip on quality when it comes to your own home, so why would you settle for less when it comes to your horses?

If you’re ready to pursue your equestrian lifestyle more fully, then you need a custom barn builder you can trust. Our repertoire of barn designs includes apartment barns, barns with storage lofts, covered riding arenas, arena facilities with stables and more. Whatever it is you’re hoping to accomplish with your property, DC Builders has the expertise to bring it into being. 

Download our digital catalog and imagine the possibilities for your own equestrian estate. Or, if you’re already convinced that DC Builders is the custom barn builder for the job, request a free quote to get started today!

Arenas, Equestrian, Equestrian Facilities

Covered Horse Arena Showcase

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Equestrian pursuits are more than just a hobby—for many, it’s an entire way of life. For the dedicated equestrian enthusiast, DC Builders designs and constructs stunning and functional horse arena facilities. This means our clients can enjoy year-round riding while being shielded from the elements, which is preferable for the health of both horses and their owners. Check out some of the indoor riding arena projects we’ve worked on and start imagining the possibilities for your own covered horse arena!

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Ready to take your amateur equestrian hobbies to the next level with a covered riding arena? Request a free quote today!

Barn Homes, Custom Homes, Post and Beam, Timber Frame

Let There Be Light: Planning for a Window Wall

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Everyone appreciates a room with a view, but what about a room where an entire wall is the view? Window walls provide an opportunity to make the most of your natural surroundings, whether that’s a scenic outdoor landscape or a bustling urban view. Further, the addition of a window wall will elevate the elegance of any building, be it residential or commercial.

For those who don’t know, a window wall is when one exterior barrier of a building is replaced with a large expanse of glass. This feature allows for the room with the window wall to benefit from beautiful views, an abundance of natural light and a relatively simple yet stunning touch of luxury. These highly customizable walls can span anywhere from one panel to the entire exterior wall, depending on the client’s vision. Additionally, they can be further personalized through the customer’s chosen shapes and finishes.

DC Builders designs and constructs all of our clients’ projects using the reliable method of post-and-beam construction. This building style, otherwise referred to as timber framing, lends itself to beautiful open-concept interiors and structural longevity. Further, it allows for highly customizable floor plans as a result of the fact that less load-bearing walls are required for structural support. This makes planning for a window wall an easily navigable process. That said, there are a few important things to take into consideration.

First and foremost, the barrier you select to replace with a window wall should be well thought out. Things like security, privacy, practicality and thermal performance should all factor into your planning process. For example, a window wall could easily go from elegant aesthetic to sheer annoyance if placed in an area that is subject to intense sunlight from sunrise to sunset. Will the position of your window wall interfere with your ability to work or unwind with a blinding glare? Will it make for a compromising view into your house, where you’d be forfeiting the privilege of privacy that many have come to expect as an inherent aspect of home comfort? These are the questions you have to ask yourself during the design phase of your building project.

Determining the appropriate placement for your window wall will set the scene for all of your concerns. A window wall that is poorly placed, such as in the very front of the building, could lead to not only a decrease in privacy, but also an increased security risk. To have your valuables on display could incentivize thieves to case your home for burglary. Or worse, if you live alone, it could provide an unwanted look into your habits and vulnerability. Avoid turning your living space into a zoo by thinking about smart placement for your window wall.

A final important consideration is the materials used to construct your window wall. Window walls are more difficult to insulate than a standard curtain wall, so energy-efficient windows with elevated thermal performance to protect you against the elements is a must. DC Builders works with top-of-the-line window suppliers to ensure your window wall will allow light to come through while also deflecting heat. Download our digital catalog and start making plans for your own elegant structure replete with a dramatically beautiful window wall.

Barns, Equestrian Facilities

Barns for Non-Equine Livestock: Cattle Barn Designs

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When clients approach us to collaborate on a barn design, there’s a pretty high chance it will be a barn for horses. Every now and then, however, we get a request for non-equine barn designs—including goats, dogs and cows. While our team has the art of the horse barn down to a science, we’re also proud to say we know a thing or two about cattle barn designs.

Our experience designing cattle barn plans is derived from our understanding of animal safety, functional design and the importance of building a barn that is complementary of the client’s lifestyle. From small cow barn plans to large, multi-animal livestock barns, there’s no cow barn request we aren’t willing to entertain.

While barn necessities are similar across the board in that all animals appreciate space to roam, a roomy stall and amenities that make their caretakers’ lives easier, there are certain differences that should be taken into consideration. Dairy cows, for instance, will require a milking parlor and maybe even a bottling room depending on the purpose of the dairy operation.

For clients in search of cattle barn designs for their dairy business, we are well equipped to help them navigate stringent requirements set by the USDA. Further, our experience building barns and structures of all sizes and functions across the U.S. gives us unique insight into regional building codes and local regulations.

This custom cow barn in Baker City, Oregon features 14 cow stalls with double-wall construction designed to keep the cows safe from the barn and the barn safe from the cows. A second-story loft makes way for hay storage while four custom cupolas flood the 4,300 sq. ft. structure with natural lighting.

On the other side of the state in Sherwood, Oregon, this custom horse and cow barn boasts 10 cattle feeding stalls. Like many projects we collaborate with our clients on, this facility began as a barn conversion but eventually evolved into a full demolition and custom design and build. Now these clients can rest assured their mixed-use barn will stay standing for years to come.

Whatever your goals for a horse barn or cattle barn design, DC Builders has the experience, know-how and expert-level customer service to get the job done well. Request a free quote to get started on your cow barn project today. Or, if you need a little inspiration, download our digital catalog and imagine the possibilities.

Office Barns, Post and Beam

Coming Right Up: Half Baked Harvest Kitchen-Studio Barn

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DC Builders designs and builds barn-style structures that can be utilized for a number of practical purposes. That said, sometimes people have a hard time picturing how their lifestyle fits into a post-and-beam barn design. While barn living generally calls to mind images of husbandry, equestrian sports and maybe even the old wild west, the truth is that barn-style designs are a lot more flexible than people tend to give them credit for.

One such example of barn living reimagined is through young food blogger Tieghan Gerard of Half Baked Harvest. Tieghan started her blog in 2012 as a place to share her love for whole-food, in-season cooking. In the years since, Tieghan’s blog has cultivated a striking amount of followers—and as such, it has become an all-consuming, full-time job.

With her delicious recipes in increasingly high demand, Tieghan realized she would need more space to conduct her work. That’s why she and her family set out to convert an existing barn into a hybrid kitchen-studio and living space in the spring of 2014. Completed just before fall of 2015, Tieghan has been working and living in her converted barn over the past few years.

Fast forward to now, and Tieghan and her business have already outgrown the converted barn space. To keep the lines between her work and her personal life a lot less blurred, Tieghan has decided to add a new barn on her property to which she can relocate all of her work-related activities. Tieghan has chosen DC Builders as her contractor.

DC Builders is excited to be handling the design and construction of this monitor-style kitchen-studio with loft office space. Aside from the opportunity to work with such a talented lifestyle blogger and cookbook author, our team relishes any project that demonstrates the capacity for rustic elegance that accompanies a post-and-beam barn-style building. 

To learn more about Tieghan’s vision for Half Baked Harvest’s monitor kitchen barn, check out her blog post for design details. Wondering how your own business could benefit from a custom barn-style design? Request a free quote from DC Builders to get started on the next phase of your dreams today.