Timber Framing

How well do timber framed homes stay cool/warm?

I’m looking at a timber framed home but am not sure how they are with retention of heating and cooling. Thank you in advance for your answers.

Depends on the thickness of the walls, which is determined by the size of the studs used, and the same in the roof with the rafters. The space between the studs and rafters is where the insulation goes, so the wider they are, the more insulation you can put in and the better the house stays warm or cool. A lot, if not all, new construction these days, at least where I live, is 2×6 stud walls, which allow for five inches or so of insulation. With roofs, you can and should, and probably have to anyway for structural reasons, go with bigger lumber because much of your heat loss is through the roof. The size of these things is determined by your needs and your budget. My last house had almost 10 inches of insulation in the roof. Timber frame is quite common here in Canada and all through the US and handles extremes of temperature very well if it’s properly done. They don’t retain much heat or cold in the mass of the walls as perhaps stone does, if that’s what you’re used to, but they certainly keep heat in or out.

How to Build a Timber Frame House