Overview:     <<<This section contains Hyper Text Links to PICTURES!>>>

   Our Mission:

   What is Post and Beam?

   How is Post and Beam Different?

   What does it Cost?      <<<This section contains Hyper Text Linksto PICTURES!>>>

   How we Work with Customers:

   Our Owner's Manual:

   How to get in touch with S. P.Brooks and Co. for MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT S. P. BROOKS AND CO. INC.      <<<Click on the Hyper Text Links in this section to see PICTURES!>>>

Phil and Ginny Brooks and their company have been building timber frames since 1969. We began by disassembling old barn and house frames and reconstructing them. When the demand for our buildings outgrew the supply of old frames, we began producing our own. Our experience and research on old frames instilled a deep respect for the skills and training of colonial craftsmen. It also challenged us to find more cost effective, structurally sound, and energy efficient ways to improve on this ancient craft.

The homes, barns, and commercial buildings that we build today are the result of a carefully thought out process of integrating New World "state of the art" technology with Old World craftsmanship.

We are determined to give you more than just a well crafted timber frame. All our buildings are custom designed to compliment your lot, your aesthetics and your lifestyle. Along with a complete set of working drawings, you will also have an Owner's Manual. Whether you plan to contract out the work, be your own general contractor, or do it all yourself, this book will help you to understand and to specify every detail of every task involved in your building project.

Our business relies on satisfied customers. We hope to add you to a list of over 300 throughout the US and abroad.

WHAT IS OUR MISSION?

• To have every family or business that lives in one of our buildings share our pride in the project, and know that they made the right decision in choosing to work with us.
• To have every home we build be in some way better than the one before.
• To continuously research both old and new materials and techniques in order to find cost effective solutions to building aesthetic, long lasting, and maintenance-free structures.
• To integrate appropriate technology into the building of our timber frames:
• to increase precision and efficiency
• to free our craftsmen from repetitive tasks and enable them to concentrate on the structural and aesthetic details that bring pride to the builder and the homeowner
• to offer more effective presentations and estimates to our customers

WHAT IS POST AND BEAM?

Also known as Timber Framing, it is a method of building that uses large wooden timbers joined together with wood pegs. Colonial homes, churches, barns, and covered bridges were built this way.

Our modern timber frames use the same structural techniques as the old world craftsmen and combine them with high tech tools and energy efficient insulation.

HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM CONVENTIONAL CONSTRUCTION?

In standard construction, framing and insulation are combined in the outer walls and roof. While this works structurally, it creates many problems with insulation. Making this system air tight, eliminating heat loss through the framing, and preventing moisture from condensing inside these spaces is difficult and expensive because about 30% of the wall and roof area is used for framing.

In our Post and Beam homes we separate the framing and insulation. The frame becomes the skeleton of the building and can be given a rustic, formal or furniture-like finish. Stresskin panels are then installed as the energy efficient skin that encloses this structure. These panels consist of an interior surface of fire rated sheetrock, a 3-1/2" core of rigid urethane foam and an exterior sheathing of 1/2" oriented strand board. They provide excellent thermal, infiltration and vapor protection. Exterior and interior finishes can be applied to these panels using conventional methods of carpentry. Electrical and plumbing runs are provided.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?     <<<Click on the Hyper Text Links in this section to see PICTURES!>>>

Timber framing has a reputation for being an expensive way to build. While this may be true in most cases, we have developed methods in our building system that allow us to be very competitive. Traditional timber framing requires 8" and larger members, not for strength, but to accommodate the joinery. Our joinery requires only 6" members. This can represent a 40% savings in material and allows the frame to be less of a massive, dominate feature in the building. The strength of a beam is achieved mostly from it's depth, not it's width.

The use of computers in design and in our automated cutting machines allows just a few highly skilled craftsmen to be extremely productive in our shop and at your site.

Attention to every detail of design avoids extra expense from other tradesmen such as plumbing, heating and electrical installers.

We research and specify materials and construction techniques that will give you a building which requires as little maintenance as possible.

Heating and cooling costs will average less than half that of today's traditionally built structures.

For these reasons our timber framed and paneled homes are almost always less expensive than other similar construction, and can be competitive with quality 2x6 construction. This is usually the most economical way to achieve a high degree of energy efficiency.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF BUILDING WITH S. P. BROOKS & CO.?

• An initial get-together to discuss your plans, your lot, costs, and contracting methods.
• A visit to one or more of our existing projects with features similar to your ideas.
• Developing rough 1/8” scale plans and unit cost estimates.
• Modeling your frame in 3-D perspective on our computer.
• Specifying details and producing a set of working drawings.
• Securing firm bids for construction using plans, specifications and details from your Owner's Manual.
• Obtain permits and finalize financing.
• Signing contracts.
• Beginning construction.
• Monitoring construction progress.
• Evaluating the finished product.

OWNER'S MANUAL

Building a new home is not a job to be undertaken lightly. To help guide you through the many decisions with which you will be faced, we have written our Owner's Manual. Whether you plan to contract out the work, be your own general contractor, or do it all yourself, this book will help you to understand and to specify every detail of every task involved in constructing your new home. Our hope is that this book will help eliminate those unplanned-for items that cause misunderstandings, unscheduled changes and cost overruns. Unfortunately, we can make this book available only to our customers. Included are specification sheets, estimating forms, architectural details and contract forms on the following subjects:
• GENERAL INFORMATION
• ESTIMATING
• SITE PLANNING AND EARTHWORK
• CONCRETE
• ROUGH CARPENTRY
• TIMBER FRAME AND PANELS
• WINDOWS AND DOORS
• ELECTRICAL
• PLUMBING AND WATER SUPPLY
• HEATING, VENTILATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
• DRYWALL
• MASONRY
• FINISH CARPENTRY
• CABINETS AND COUNTERTOPS
• WALL AND FLOOR FINISHES
Having this kind of information available will give you the confidence you need to be sure that your future home will live up to your present vision.

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