For New Energy Works project manager, Evan Clow, this timber frame porch is a project to remember, because it was his first. “I started as a sales assistant with New Energy Works right around the time that we were selling the job. So, I was making the model and doing some of the sales work around the porch. That was cool because I got to be a part of the project from cradle to finish.”
The clients had relocated from the Midwest to Portland, Oregon and had always dreamed of a timber frame home. With both children now grown, staying in Portland was a priority so they could be close to grandchildren. With timber frame still in their hearts, the clients decided to invest in a space the family could enjoy together.
“The clients had a plan to do something unique to make their suburban home stand apart from the crowd a bit. A special place in their backyard that their entire family could share,” Clow shared. “They decided, ‘Let’s just go the full nine yards and build the most awesome timber frame porch for our backyard!’ We drew up a few pretty elaborate frames for porches that we could fit into one spot, and they were excited by the results.”
Clow says, “The clients, were very engaged and wanted to be a part of the process as much as possible."
They were so excited for their new timber porch that they visited our McMinnville mill to witness their timbers being cut. That doesn’t happen often, and it was really special to be able to share that moment with them.
Timber Frame champion for this job, Seth Douglas recalled some of the challenges raising a frame in a suburban environment. “Working in occupied space and in urban areas poses unique site consideration and raising challenges. No access for heavy machinery meant this frame was unloaded, assembled, and raised the old-fashioned way, by hand.”
“Fortunately, we had Evan and Calvin onsite from our Portland Studio to help us muscle our way through it,” Douglas continued. “Working in someone's active backyard requires extra care and diligence. We always want the client to feel like we’re partners in their project—treating their home like our home. So, with this being an occupied space, the active construction takes more thoughtfulness than when we're miles from the nearest neighbor in Wyoming. But paying attention to these details pays dividends with happy clients and happy neighbors.”
Constructed on a concrete pad next to the back door of their house for easy year-round access, a new bespoke timber frame porch is now a place where the grill smokes, grandchildren play, and the entire family has a space to enjoy each other’s company.
Douglas recalls, “The client is a woodworker and was building an impressive homemade table for the space. There’s a lot of love and hard work in this smaller space.”
Clow adds, “The timber frame was our standard teak finish, and the tongue and groove was Pioneer Millworks clear finish which resulted in a really raw look. I think it has a nice contrast with the timber and turned out really well.”
Douglas concludes, “Projects like this are exciting, because they allow us to expand our scope beyond new homes and structures and contribute to enriching the homes people already have. Most often, the greenest buildings are the ones that are already there and can be updated to meet modern standards and occupant needs. A project like this corresponds with a ‘repair first’ approach to housing. We're able to add value and increase livability for our clients in a structure where much of the carbon-cost inherent in the building has already been borne out.”
He continues, “It's nice to be a part of our clients investing in and updating the homes they already own and care for, and where they already have memories. As a builder, it's rewarding to become a part of that relationship people have with place.”
