Hello, I'm Jeff Empfield and I'm a timber framer based in Bend, Oregon and Indiana, Pennsylvania. Before I was a timber framer I earned a master's degree in American environmental history and worked as a researcher, writer, and educator in sustainable agriculture and watershed management. I also grew up in a family of carpenters and I've enjoyed a life-long passion for design, woodworking, and construction. Beginning in 2002 I 've pursued this passion full-time. I've secured varied opportunities to design and build ranging from Japanese-style gardens at a popular Japanese spa in Santa Fe, New Mexico to several self-built green residences. I've also served as a project manager for two green building companies. I've managed to integrate timber joinery elements and full timber frames into most of my work. I now do timber framing full-time. This past year I completed projects for several green building residential frames that exemplify the spectrum of contemporary timber framing. These ranged from a high-end three bedroom white oak frame that involved hiring a crew of six to a one-man project of sustainable logging, hand-hewing, and timber framing for a modest cabin. These projects are shown below. At the bottom of this page you will find pdf files showing some of my earlier work. White Oak Frame, 3BR residence near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Summer 2008.As a specialist, I am willing to travel for projects that make use of my unique skills. I can help you add timber elements to your project or cut a complete frame for you. If you have access to raw logs I can hew them into timbers and either cut a frame from them or construct a traditional log cabin. In the West I have access to affordable lodgepole pine logs we can use for your frame and in the East I have relationships with Amish sawyers who can provide affordable hardwood and softwood timbers. You'll be surprised how inexpensive these sources of materials can be. I believe this helps give me an edge in making the overall cost of my services more affordable. Please contact me to discuss your interest in affordable, sustainable, timber joinery projects of any size. Thank you. Jeff timberhousewright@gmail.com (541)-647-0094     Hewn Pine Frame, cabin near Bend, Oregon. Autumn 2008.  200 square foot frame of hand hewn lodgepole pine timbers from on site. 28 foot top plates for extended cantilever roof over south entrance. Approximate cost of frame and raising: $14k.   |