Timber Frame in New Kent, VA
HAMMERBEAM TIMBER FRAME PAVILION
Dramatic hammerbeam trusses with sweeping arches define this custom 24′ x 20′ Grand Teton Timber Frame Structure, delivered and professionally installed in New Kent, Virginia. Built from massive Douglas fir timbers using traditional timber-frame construction, the Grand Teton was designed to make the structure itself the focal point, with exposed beams, curved braces, and soaring open trusses visible throughout the pavilion.
Covering approximately 480 square feet, the 24′ x 20′ footprint creates a substantial outdoor living and entertaining area. Despite the size and weight of the roof system, the structure relies on just four massive 10×10 posts, leaving the perimeter remarkably open and allowing the timber frame to shelter the space without visually enclosing it.
Those four posts maintain approximately 9 feet of header clearance, adding to the pavilion’s spacious feel. The combination of tall openings and only four primary supports creates wide, uninterrupted views between the interior and surrounding property—an important part of the Grand Teton’s impressive architectural presence.
Overhead is where this design truly separates itself from a conventional timber frame pavilion. Two hammerbeam timber bents span the structure, incorporating large arched components that create a cathedral-like appearance beneath the roof. Rather than simply carrying the roof load, these exposed trusses become a major decorative feature that can be appreciated from anywhere beneath the pavilion.
Additional 4×10 curved knee braces connect the posts to the overhead framework. Their curved profile complements the arches within the hammerbeam trusses, creating a consistent design language throughout the structure and softening the visual weight of the oversized Douglas fir timbers.
The entire frame was crafted from #1 & Better Douglas fir, surfaced smooth on all four sides for a refined finished appearance. The timbers are also FOHC, or free of heart center, a premium specification particularly well suited to a project where nearly every major structural component remains exposed and visible.
Heavy timber rafter plates and a substantial ridge beam complete the primary roof framework. Their dimensions are determined according to the span and structural requirements of the individual pavilion, ensuring the components are appropriately sized while maintaining the heavy timber proportions characteristic of the Grand Teton design.
Above the framework, 2× #1 SPF tongue-and-groove roof decking creates the finished roof surface visible from underneath. An Australian Timber Oil stain was applied to the timber structure, enriching the Douglas fir and emphasizing the grain, joinery, arches, and curved braces that give the pavilion its handcrafted character.
For this particular project, finished roofing materials were not included with the timber frame package. The customer arranged for those materials separately, allowing the final roof finish to be selected and completed locally.
The Grand Teton was delivered and professionally installed on the customer’s prepared footers in New Kent. Because of the size and weight of the structural members, lifting equipment is required during assembly; however, lift rental was not included as part of the installation package and was handled separately.
With oversized 10×10 posts, open hammerbeam trusses, sweeping arches, curved knee braces, and nearly 500 square feet of covered space, this project showcases a more architectural approach to outdoor timber framing. Rather than hiding its structural system, the Grand Teton puts the craftsmanship on full display, creating a pavilion that functions as both an outdoor gathering space and a statement piece of traditional timber-frame construction.
- Year Completed: 2025
- City: New Kent
- County: New Kent
- Price Range: $34,000–$40,000
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