Hyrum Thompson at table during the Utah’s Premiere Best of State ceremony in Salt Lake City.
As an independent writer of blogs and posts for businesses, I have enjoyed writing for and doing business with Western Timber Frame and have learned much about their products and have gained a tremendous respect for them.
I have come to know the products and the people at Western Timber Frame that I have become so sold that I am now in the process of getting my own timber framed pergola for our backyard; which I hope to show off in an upcoming post soon!
It was exciting to learn that Western Timber Frame was honored first place in Salt Lake City for Utah’s Best of State Award for small businesses. Utah’s Best of State Awards was established to recognize excellence in outstanding triumphs, successes and worthy endeavors in individuals, businesses and organizations throughout Utah.
Last year, Western Timber Frame’s founder, Hyrum Thompson sent me a video clip of Simon Sinek, a Ted talk sensation on why we do what we do. Hyrum said, “I like this guy.” He said it was his desire that every person at Western Timber Frame feel fulfilled by their work and those who bought from them to not only get the best architecturally designed product on the market but to enhance their lives and really bring bring families and communities closer together.
I was impressed with the Simon Sinek talk he sent me but just as impressive to me is that in all of my dealings and interactions with Hyrum and the people from Western Timber Frame, it is more than mere admiration of those business beautitudes but they were sincerely applying those principles already in everyday life.
Hyrum expressed to me the gratitude he felt to all those people to whom this award belonged to, those clients whose word-of-mouth and reviews have helped to steadily grow the business, his co-workers, family and his list went on.
Hyrum Thompson and Brad Lavery at Utah’s Premiere Best of State ceremony in Salt Lake City.
When founding Western Timber Frame™, Hyrum Thompson & Brad Lavery designed it with the do-it-yourself crowd in mind. They thought a product like this would have universal appeal for those who like to get their hands dirty completing projects. They were surprised when instead their business, which provides rough heavy timber pergola, pavilion, and gazebo kits for people to assemble beautiful outdoor living spaces, appeals to those who prefer to have a professional installation.
Western Timber Frame™ has combined old world timber craftsmanship, with the latest in state-of-the-art technology and design. Western Timber Frame pergolas, pavilions, and gazebos have a distinct design that is instantly recognizable.
In North America, outdoor living spaces are growing from a simple outdoor patio or deck to full-fledged living rooms, outdoor kitchens, and even outdoor bedrooms. Western Timber Frame has lead the way with cutting edge design styles, trade dresses, and several patent-pending designs & construction methods to become the #1 pergola and pavilion kit manufacturer not only in Utah, but also in the entire United States and Canada. Their vision is to provide a way to make it affordable for everybody to have a functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space in their own backyard.
Western Timber Frame has also been featured on Home Construction & Improvement with an independent review of the product and installation by Todd Fratzel. Here is an excerpt from his review:
“The price of this kit, shipped from UT to NH was $14,397. When I started pricing my own frame to build the cost of materials alone was well over $10,000 and that was before I cut anything to size! So the price of this kit, including shipping, and the beautifully crafted joinery, and the pre-stain is an excellent value.
When it comes to quality there’s simply nothing I can complain about and everything exceeded my expectations. The pavilion is absolutely beautiful and everyone that’s seen it so far has complimented the craftsmanship of all the details. I’d love to take credit but all I did was help put it together.
Lastly I want to compliment the folks at Western Timber Frame for making the process of ordering their product easy and enjoyable. They took the time to understand my needs, they worked out all the details, the product arrived on time and the assembly directions were excellent.
The best way for me to put into perspective my thoughts on their product is put it in terms of my day-to-day job. I manage the construction of custom homes for customers every day. I would definitely buy another one of these kits for any of our customers without doubt because the quality is excellent and the price is right! If you’re thinking about putting a pavilion in your yard I’d highly recommend Western Timber Frame. Whether you assemble it yourself or hire someone to do it for you this is an excellent product.”
Todd Frazel
You can read the entire review here: http://www.homeconstructionimprovement.com/outdoor-timber-pavilion-by-western-timber-frame/4/
Development of superior products:
One of the main reasons Western Timber Frame has received such high recognition from their customers and peers is because of our extreme attention to detail and continual striving for greatness in their products and designs.
Western Timber Frame sources directly from the mills and use only #1 Appearance Grade A Douglas Fir, Incense Cedar, and/or Redwood. Those who buy from Western Timber Frame, both DIY homeowners and contractors, who assemble their own kits rave about how smooth the installation process is and how exquisitely beautiful and majestic they are. Western Timber Frame only sources renewable timber directly from mills in the United States that have sustainable and renewable timber growth policies. Hyrum and Brad personally visit these sites to ensure the highest environmental standards are in place and that these mills use responsible harvesting and forest management.
Western Timber Frame has several patent-pending designs/products: The Dovetail Difference™ construction method, TimberVolt™ integrated and self-contained power system series, TimberClad™ decorative cladding line, an exclusive EarthAnchor™ structural aluminum knife plate anchoring and alignment system.
Western Timber Frame has a pending assembly and dovetail design and construction method which is termed as The Dovetail Difference™. Independent engineering has shown that our dovetail joints are 500% greater in strength and load carrying capacity as compared to traditional hangers. Not to mention, it also eliminates virtually all exposed hardware that is not of a decorative nature. Western Timber Frame’s mortised interlocking dovetail joint system allows for the natural seasonal expansion and contraction of timber pergola joints.
Western Timber Frame has also developed a patent-pending self-contained power post option, termed the TimberVolt™ series. Our TimberVolt power post integrates electrical receptacles and USB ports directly into the Pergola, Pavilion or Gazebo posts for easy setup of fans, lighting, televisions, charging of phones, tablets, etc. This system may also include a male plug so that a generator can be attached for easy power in a remote location via our recommended Goal Zero battery operated generators. Also, if desired, plumbing for showerheads, spigots, and more can be plumbed directly into the post so that all plumbing can be hidden without any exposed piping.
Western Timber Frame is continually developing and improving our products. In early 2015, Western Timber Frame applied for patent and trademark protection for our TimberClad™ decorative steel hardware. This luxury decorative cladding is designed to be both breathtakingly beautiful and easy to install. Plus, unlike most decorative hardware, they can be installed after a timber kit has already been secured in place.
Western Timber Frame’s timber products also utilize a proprietary water-based, in-house UV-stable solid stain to protect and add beauty to their beautiful timber kits. Instead of having to reapply stain every 1-2 years, this stain only has to be touched up every 3-5 years. Plus, the touch-up and maintenance process is simple, not labor intensive. It can be applied with a simple spray bottle to any areas that require touch-up in one afternoon. In addition to Western Timber Frame’s industry leading solid stains, they also have developed the use of a bleaching agent to simulate aged wood when desired.
Western Timber Frame has developed their water based stain to not only have a longer life and protect their kits for decades, but also to protect the environment and employees and customers health when they stain or restain.
Besides their patent-pending products and construction methods, Western Timber Frame has over 600 copyrighted designs. Western Timber Frame is the industry leader in timber pergola, pavilion and gazebo designs. Western Timber Frame has developed various styles of products including our Traditional, Contemporary, Asian, Tuscany, Rustic/Reclaimed, and Tropical designs.
In addition to the 600 trademarked designs, Western Timber Frame has 7 unique Trade Dress designs.
Western Timber Frame has developed a vastly superior product line that leads the industry in quality, design and satisfaction for their customers.
Typically, there is usually more maintenance associated with natural products. Western Timber Frame has addressed these issues with their unique designs and stains that allow for a minimum of maintenance, along with a more durable construction that prevents gaps, warping and twisting. Western Timber Frame stands by the quality of their kits with a 15- to a 25- year warranty.
Besides trademarked designs, there is no visible hardware, bolts, screws, hangers or other mechanical fasteners, unless they are decorative in nature. All exposed edges on our heavy timbers are smoothed with a ¼” round. This allows the timbers to retain their rough appearance, with a touch of refinement. The people at Western Timber Frame take great pride in their attention to these small details. Their top “shade planks” are spaced closer together as compared to other pergolas giving not only a unique look but offering additional shade as well. Western Timber Frame uses true to size rough-sawn timber for all components rather than standard smaller “dimensional’ lumber. Western Timber Frame uses rough-sawn timber as opposed to smooth or S4S (smooth 4 sides) timber. The rough-sawn is more difficult to work with, but its’ natural wood grains is far more aesthetically pleasing. Western Timber Frame uses taller and wider rafters on our double tier roof as compared to what you will find elsewhere. All of their kits come pre-finished and stained.
Western Timber Frame has also developed a patent-pending structural aluminum knife plate Earth Anchor™ that makes for easy installation of the timber kit to the substrate or footing. This structural aluminum alloy knife plate secures the heavy timber kit to the substrate and contributes to the 160 mph+ wind ratings. From an aesthetic standpoint, the structural knife plate is completely concealed within the timber post. Lower support/load beams ‘appear’ to go directly through each other. Western Timber Frame has no exposed post base plates or saddles, but rather they use their concealed structural aluminum Earth Anchor™ knife plates to fasten each post to concrete, deck, or a footing.
Another unique feature that Western Timber Frame includes with every timber pergola kit is drop-in rafter layouts. There are two main benefits of the drop-in rafter layout. The first is ease of installation. Because the timber beam that supports the rafters is already marked and slotted, you don’t have to measure anything or try to figure the proper spacing of your rafters. However, the primary benefit of the drop-in rafter layout is that it helps prevent warping and twisting of the rafters year after year.
Lastly, one of the most powerful things Western Timber Frame has done that separates them from others in the field is that not only do they offer their customers a superior product, but they also provide them a Backyard Living Design Consultation™ to assist them in crafting and designing a kit for their specific needs and budget. This is one of the key factors that has differentiated them from others in this field and has created a vastly superior buying experience for the customer.
From the moment their customers contact them, they are given a Design Manager. A Design Manager is an expert in the backyard planning and design process. Over the phone, in person, or through email, these Design Managers help them to determine what their needs are for their unique situation. Here in Utah, they will often visit them personally in their backyard for a Backyard Living Design Consultation™ where they analyze their clients issues, desires, and dreams for their project.
Western Timber Frame has developed a National Dealer Program that is expanding across the country. This program has enabled their product to be showcased in other locations across North America, which has greatly increased their presence and sales nationwide. Western Timber Frame now has 59 individual dealers across the United States and Canada, 6 of which are based right here in Utah.
In any and all states, provinces, and/or countries that Western Timber Frame does not currently have a dealer set up, they sell their kits directly to the consumer.
Western Timber Frame also saves their customers’ budget by helping them not to overbuy more than they need. Another aspect that they help them to consider is that instead of purchasing one large outdoor living space, they can provide them with a timber kit for 2 or 3 smaller, but more defined living areas. This unique planning and discovery process is something they work with every customer in creating their timber kit. Western Timber Frame does not have ‘Kits’ in the traditional sense of the word. Not one timber kit is actually pre-stocked at our 20,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility. Instead, each kit is custom designed and crafted for each customers individual needs and desires. Western Timber Frame does not fit customers with pre-made kits. Western Timber Frame tailors each timber kit to the customer. Therefore, no two kits are the same.
After the consultation process, they will then create a 3D rendering of their project. Western Timber Frame listens to what they need, takes the time to making sure their problems are solved, and then their dreams are brought to reality. The “WOW!” factor is what Western Timber Frame strives to achieve for their clients. This is their investment in a ‘Home Away From Home in Your Own Backyard™.’
Western Timber Frame uses modular components and processes to streamline construction and keep costs down while allowing incredible flexibility and customization.
Western Timber Frame has attained World-Class Customer Service, resulting in a 5-Star customer-rated service for the last 5 years and running. These reviews are based solely upon actual customers who have purchased products from their company. When touring home shows, their customers stop by just to tell them hi and to let us know how happy they still are and that they are actively referring Western Timber Frame to their friends and family.
Western Timber Frame has contributed to the quality of life in America by improving and complementing the culture and tradition of family by providing jobs and spurring growth in the local economy through advertising, etc. Western Timber Frame prides themselves in community involvement and the responsible use of their resources.
Improvements to Utah’s Culture, and Quality of Life:
At Western Timber Frame, they cherish America and the Utah tradition of family, community and country and love inviting people who share in the same common values to gather together, to build a stronger America. They believe the integrity of a structure says everything about the people who built it, which is why they engineer and design beautiful architecture that their customers’ Great-great-grandchildren will enjoy, too.
Contributions to Charitable Organizations:
Western Timber Frame has improved the quality of life in Utah with charitable contributions to these and other Utah based organizations and non-profit entities: YOZA Baseball, Children’s Hope Chest, Ghan Warriors. They have also assisted with the Mountain Valley Scholarship Fund to aid Utah students in achieving their higher education goals.
Family Friendly Employment:
Western timber frame also has Family-friendly employment policies that mirror Utah’s values. Western Timber Frame has a very flexible maternity leave and after care, flexibility and generous vacation time, and a strong sense of caring for each of our employees needs and situations.
Customers use their timber structures for outdoor gatherings, wedding receptions, and protection from the elements which helps lower energy cost.
Western Timber Frame is making America better, more family-friendly place by creating Backyard Resorts that bring people together. They create a beautiful backyard environment where solid relationships can build and be reinforced.
Improvements to Property Values and Beautification:
Having people use their backyard saves money on travel by creating a unique outdoor living space for family and friends and increases property values via their beautiful backyard timber centerpieces.
Good work and congratulations to all those people at Western Timber Frame and abroad who have had a hand in or played a part in helping to build not only a better Utah but a better America!