Frequently Asked Questions
At the bottom of this page is a link to our Project Inquiry Form.
We recommend that new and potential clients read through these FAQs prior to submitting the form.
Q: What if I don't live in Connecticut or near Gaylordsville?
A: Depending on your distance from our workshop there are usually added travel expenses for projects outside our immediate area. To date, we have travelled as far away as South Carolina and have worked all over greater New England and the mid Atlantic States.
Q: Can I customize my barn design to fit my specific needs?
A: Creating a timber frame to fit your goals is our job and we do our best to accommodate each client’s needs. Each project is unique in its own way but will always fit into one of two categories:
UTILITY - A barn for animals, storage, garage, or any other non-heated outbuilding.
OR
HABITABLE – A barn style home, office, insulated workshop or any structure requiring heating, plumbing etc.*
*The design and creation of habitable buildings can be a more complex process than it is for a non-conditioned utility structure. The timber frame itself may be similar, but the addition of insulation systems, plumbing, HVAC work, electrical requirements, and many other aspects of the build will necessitate extra thought, drafting time and, of course, construction time. Our team can design the project, prefabricate and erect the timber frame, and perhaps be involved with the enclosure of the building. We prefer to partner with a General Contractor, (either of your preference or of our recommendation) to manage and complete the many additional work items associated with any conditioned structure.
Q: How much of the project does The New England Barn Company handle?
A: Budget and Design: Based on your project’s goals and budget, we work with you to create the design of your timber frame. Following the completion of the construction drawings and the procurement of all necessary permits, we order the timbers and begin prefabrication.
Excavation and Foundation: We will bring in local excavation and foundation subcontractors or work with teams of your choosing. We prefer to stay involved in the process of the foundation’s construction so as to ensure accuracy and quality from the ground up.
Raising the Timber Frame: Often the most exciting part of the process is the raising. Depending on the size of the frame and the chosen method of raising, this process can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.
Building Enclosure: For utility structures in our area, we can oversee the installation of roof boards, siding, trim, windows, doors, etc. For habitable structures we can oversee the installation of SIPs (Structural Insulated Panels) if specified. However, we prefer to partner with a General Contractor who takes on overseeing most trades associated with a habitable structure.
Q: How long will my project take?
A: This is an important question with a complex answer. There is no way to give you a hard timeline for your project, but there are ways to ensure that it moves along quickly:
Design, Permits & Timbers - Using one of our “generic” barns as a template or starting point can help speed up the design process. Depending on the size and complexity of the building, the process of creating a set of construction drawings, suitable to submit to your town for all necessary permits, can take several weeks. We are happy to advise you on requirements or assist in special circumstances surrounding the acquisition of permits. The actual time it takes to procure a building permit (if necessary) will vary depending on the municipality. Once ordered, timbers can take a few weeks to a couple of months to arrive at our shop.
Prefabrication & Raising - The time it will take to prefabricate and then raise your timber frame depends again on its size and complexity. A typical 30 x 40 barn frame will take 6 to 8 weeks of shop time before it is ready to be raised. The raising itself, for the same frame, would probably involve about a week of on-site work including pre-assemblies and the actual erection.
Closing in - Using again a 30 x 40 barn as a reference, enclosing the frame for a non-insulated utility building will most likely take about a month. The same sized building created as a barn-style home could take anywhere from 6 months to a year to complete.
Q: How can I get a ballpark estimate of my desired build?
A: The best way to help us give you a ballpark estimate is to have a good idea of what you're looking to build. Information like: building use, square footage, site conditions, desired wood species, your own budget etc. are all helpful to know. You can fill out our Project Inquiry Form to guide you through these types of questions. We can then schedule a call or correspond through email to work towards providing the ballpark estimate.
Additionally, we have a price list for our generic barn styles that we send out to potential clients after they submit their Project Inquiry Form. The generic barn price sheet does not include any costs for foundation, excavation & backfill, sitework, roofing, or travel costs/expenses.
Depending on the structure, the cost can vary greatly from our price list whether that be a garage/outbuilding or a fully functioning home.
Hopefully, the above has given you some sense of how to begin the process. If you feel comfortable with this information, click the button below to get started!