Timber Frame in Coropassi, NJ
DOUGLAS FIR TIMBER FRAME PAVILION
Traditional timber framing is the defining feature of this custom 20′ x 20′ Kingston Timber Frame Pavilion, professionally delivered and installed in Coropassi, New Jersey. Built using mortise-and-tenon joinery, the structure showcases substantial Douglas fir timbers, curved knee braces, exposed trusses, and a fully finished wood ceiling to create an outdoor space where the structural craftsmanship is also the primary architectural feature.
The square 20′ x 20′ footprint provides approximately 400 square feet of covered space, making this pavilion large enough for substantial outdoor dining and entertaining arrangements. With only four primary support posts, much of the perimeter remains open, allowing the covered area to maintain wide views and an easy connection to the surrounding patio and landscape.
Rather than conventional dimensional lumber, the Kingston is framed with #1 & Better Douglas fir timbers that are S4S, or surfaced smooth on all four sides. The timbers are also FOHC, or free of heart center, a premium timber specification selected to provide a cleaner, more refined appearance while maintaining the strength and character expected from heavy timber construction.
Four massive 8×8 posts standing approximately 9 feet tall anchor the pavilion. Above them, two structural timber bents form the primary trusses, each incorporating substantial 8×10 top and bottom chords. These exposed structural components give the pavilion its unmistakable timber frame appearance and create a dramatic view when looking upward from beneath the roof.
The joinery is reinforced visually and structurally by 4×10 curved knee braces connecting the posts and overhead members. Their sweeping profile softens the otherwise substantial dimensions of the timbers and adds one of the Kingston Pavilion’s most recognizable architectural details.
Heavy rafter plates and a substantial ridge beam carry the roof structure between the timber bents. The exact timber dimensions are engineered according to the pavilion’s span and structural requirements, allowing the Kingston design to maintain its traditional appearance while being appropriately sized for each individual project.
Above the timber framework, 2× tongue-and-groove #1 SPF roof decking creates a substantial finished ceiling. A timber oil stain was applied to both the structural timbers and tongue-and-groove decking, bringing out the grain and natural variation of the wood and giving the entire underside of the pavilion a warm, cohesive appearance.
The roof was completed with a full residential-style roofing system that includes synthetic underlayment, 1½-inch Musket Brown drip edge, and GAF Timberline HD asphalt shingles. The Musket Brown edge provides a subtle finishing detail along the roofline while complementing the stained timber visible below.
What ultimately distinguishes this project is the construction method itself. Mortise-and-tenon timber framing allows the structural connections to become part of the pavilion’s visual identity rather than hiding them behind conventional framing and finishes. The oversized posts, exposed trusses, curved braces, ridge beam, and wood ceiling work together to give the structure the presence of traditional timber architecture.
Unlike a DIY pavilion kit, this Kingston was professionally delivered and installed by the crew on the customer’s prepared concrete pad and footers. The completed 20′ x 20′ pavilion provides a substantial outdoor gathering area while showcasing the craftsmanship, natural materials, and exposed joinery that make a true timber frame structure unique.
- City: Coropassi
- Price Range: $25,000-$30,000
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