One of the joys of summer is being outdoors, surrounded with pleasant views, unharried by the cares of the world. If you are looking for outdoor happiness, a well-designed and properly sited timber frame structure, like a pergola, gazebo or outdoor bar can transform a pleasing backyard into an oasis of wellbeing and delight.

1. Ease of Use

No other construction material is as versatile or easy to use as wood. It can be cut, shaped, and fastened with basic tools. With experienced supervision, installation is quick and can be undertaken by a small crew with only basic carpentry knowledge. Repairs and modifications are easy and do not require heating or other special measures in cold weather.

It might interest you to know that presently, one US dollar is equivalent to 1.37 Canadian dollars. This implies that an individual with US dollars can purchase a $1,000 item in Canada for only $730 USD.

It’s like a year-long store-wide 30% discount that is likely to persist well into the future.

In one of our recent blog posts, we discussed energy efficiency by using a widely used concept in commercial construction: the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). We then examined some approaches to constructing efficient spaces but encountered three main challenges in the building product and construction spheres. Super-insulated homes often have complex assemblies that are difficult for builders to consistently achieve, many insulations have adverse health and environmental effects, and timelines for planning and building an energy-efficient home are often too long.

The conclusion from that post was that a better way is needed. To have a real impact, this better way must be simple, robust, precise, healthy, fast, and affordable. That’s quite a list! Is it achievable? Let’s find out…