How to work with us

  • Step 1: Planning & Consultation

    We provide 2 free hours of pre-contract consultation to get your questions answered. Consultation beyond the first two hours is billed monthly at $150 per hour up until receipt of the signed contract and down payment. Consultation after that point is included within the project cost.

  • Step 2: Estimate

    Most often customers approach us with a basic design or floor plan in mind, and that is often sufficient for us to provide a rough estimate for your timber frame.

    If you have been working with an architect or engineer and have detailed drawings for us to review, our estimate will be more complete and accurate. We can provide design/engineering services as well.

    Based on our review of your design, we will provide an estimate that is guaranteed for 30 days.

  • Step 3: Contract & Deposit

    Upon your approval of the estimate, we will provide a contract for construction. We begin working on your project when the signed contract and down payment are received.

    The required deposit and payment schedule will depend on a variety of factors (e.g., type of wood, size and complexity of the frame, who will be doing the installation, etc.) Typically we require a deposit of 25-50%.

  • Step 4: Sourcing Your Logs

    Your logs will be sourced from our area in Northeastern Ohio. Our in-house foresters source logs from landowners committed to adhering to proper forest management practices. We also work with other logging companies that do the same.

    If there are logs available from your property that are being cleared for your project, we may be able to use them in your frame, or we can cut them for you to incorporate in some other capacity for your project, such as paneling or flooring (see “Optional Add-Ons” below).

  • Step 5: Crafting Your Frame

    Logs are cut into the timbers needed for your frame on our Select Sawmill, which can cut lengths up to 52 feet. Our sawyers have particular expertise in cutting timbers, optimizing each log to extract timbers of the greatest possible beauty and structural integrity.

    Next, your timbers move into our workshop where we craft the joints by hand, sand and finish them. We check to ensure your trusses fit together properly before they are disassembled and loaded onto a truck for delivery to your site.

  • Step 6: Delivery

    The disassembled frame is delivered to your site. Complex trusses may be shipped pre-assembled to save time on-site.

Optional Add-Ons:

  • Assembly. Some customers choose to assemble and erect their frame themselves, others contract us to do it. Your building site must be able to accommodate our equipment and a correctly-sized foundation must be in place. An incorrectly-sized foundation may necessitate costly and time-consuming on-site reworking of your frame, since the timbers will be pre-cut prior to delivery.

  • SIPs. Structural Insulated Panels are generally used to enclose and insulate timber frame homes & cabins. Ogonek Custom Timber Frames serves as a sales representative for General Panel and can order SIPs at a discount for your general contractor to have installed. We do not install SIPs ourselves.

  • Finishing lumber. We can provide additional lumber needed for your project, such as decking, tongue & groove paneling, and flooring.

Contact us with any further questions you have, and we’ll be happy to help.

We are looking forward to helping you make your timber frame dream a reality!