Founder Hugh Lofting’s earliest building projects were house renovations in Lancaster after attending college at Montana State University, where he dabbled in rodeo, studied agriculture, worked at a guest ranch, and a stint in the Air National Guard. Hugh then returned to his family farm and to his roots in Pennsylvania, supplementing farming and beekeeping with building. When he first read about the timber frame revival movement in the early 1970s, Hugh got in his car and toured around New England, joining a small group of woodworkers responsible for reviving timber framing, ultimately building his first structure in his cousin’s garage in 1980.
In the 50+ years since Hugh raised his first timber frame, Hugh Lofting Timber Framing has fabricated and raised countless structures all over Chester County, the Mid-Atlantic, and the United States. While technology has impacted the design process, we remain committed to hand-cut traditional joinery and excellent service.
Hugh’s passion for the art and execution of timber framing is contagious, and the team that works alongside him shares first-hand construction experience and a dedication to craft and service. We work collaboratively with homeowners, architects, designers, and builders. We can design, engineer, and construct your timber frame project with enthusiasm, creativity, and quality.
Hugh Lofting Timber Framing can provide varying levels of service to homeowners, architects, or contractors. We will work with you and your design and construction teams to provide consultation or comprehensive design services, depending upon your needs.
From an initial conversation, as well as sketches, photos, or drawings provided to us, we can recommend strategies and styles of timber framing that best suit your needs and budget. Our years of experience enable us to arrive at the best design packages quickly and efficiently. Our design concepts include coordination of structural insulated panels (SIPs), tongue-and-groove decking, and steel connections. We’ll specify what you need, price it, integrate it into our shop drawings, for a seamless transition to delivery and installation.
We design, fabricate, and pre-fit every frame in our shop to ensure there are no surprises on the job site, you can be assured the timber frame raising will be smooth and successful. Our designers know how to integrate timber frames into the most complex buildings, and we combine the best computer design tools with our experience to solve any challenge that may arise.
Our dedication to our customers doesn’t stop when our scope is complete. We value your decision to use Hugh Lofting Timber Framing, and we will be there to answer questions and offer advice long after our trucks pull away. After nearly 50 years in business, we have made many friends – and we keep in touch with them all.
Typically, hardwoods or softwoods like oak, Douglas Fir, or pine are used, though more modern structures may use glued-laminated timbers. Our design and fabrication process is intricate, much like crafting a piece of furniture on a large scale.
Each frame is hand cut by our expert craftspeople blending old-world techniques with modern engineering, showing up in homes, barns, pavilions, and public buildings—classic at heart, but totally compatible with contemporary design.
One of the simplest and oldest truss forms, a King Post Truss has one central vertical post (the king post) connected to a horizontal tie beam. This form is simple, strong, and economical.
A close relative of the King Post Truss, a Queen Post Truss consists of two vertical posts instead of one, allowing for a wider span and more open sight lines.
Instead of one long beam, short horizontal beams project from the walls to create wide, open interiors and reduce visual heaviness in this medieval inspired truss style.