2015 Best of State in Utah!

When founding Western Timber Frame™, Hyrum Thompson & Brad Lavery designed it with the do-it-yourself crowd in mind. They thought a product with easy DIY kits that were more durable and much stronger than conventional kits would have universal appeal for those who like to get their hands dirty completing projects. Surprisingly 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 each of their 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 the #1 pergola and pavilion kit manufacturer in the entire United States and Canada, leading the way with cutting edge design styles, trade dresses, and several patent-pending designs & construction methods. It is their vision to provide a way to make it affordable for everybody to have a functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor living space in their own backyard.

Todd Fratzel of Home Construction & Improvement gave an independent review featuring a Western Timber Frame™ pavilion kit and installation. Below is an excerpt from his review:

You can read the entire review here: Outdoor timber frame pavilion by Western Timber Frame™

Western Timber Frame™ has received high recognition from their customers and peers for their extreme attention to detail and continual striving to insure the best 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. They use only renewable timber directly from mills in the United States that have sustainable and renewable timber growth policies, personally visiting the mills to ensure the highest environmental standards are in place and that they use responsible harvesting and forest management.

Western Timber Frame assembly and dovetail design and construction method termed as The Dovetail Difference™ which is stronger and more durable. 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 self-contained power post option, termed the TimberVolt^™ series. Western Timber Frame’s 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.

Western Timber Frame is continually developing and improving our products. In early 2015, Western Timber Frame applied for patent and trademark protection for their 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.

There is no visible hardware, bolts, screws, hangers or other mechanical fasteners, unless they are decorative in nature on all Western Timber Frame™ outdoor structures. 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.

Western Timber Frame™ provides their customers with 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 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™ 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™ 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. Western Timber Frame™ has grown in large from their customers 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 American family.  Western Timber Frame™ prides themselves in community involvement and the responsible use of their resources.

Western Timber Frame™ has assisted with School Scholarships to aid students in achieving their higher education goals, charitable contributions and non-profit entities. Western Timber Frame™ also has Family-friendly employment policies that mirror true American 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.