Esmeralda FAQ
How much does it cost?
Pricing depends on how many modules you need and which upgrades you want. Use our pricing tool to configure your kit and get an instant quote. From there, you can pay a deposit to get started.
What's the lead time?
It varies by time of year and mill capacity. Reach out to Teanaway Millworks directly to check current availability.
Can I see one built?
Not yet, but we're working on it. In the meantime, you're welcome to stop by Teanaway Millworks to see the timber, the mill, and talk to Andrew and Shannon about your project.
Can I build this outside of Washington state?
Yes. The Esmeralda has been pre-engineered for aggressive snow and seismic loads, making it permit-capable in most locations. Every purchase includes a site review by Foundry Structural, who evaluates your specific conditions and stamps the drawings for permit submission. In the rare case that your site requires more demanding criteria, Foundry can modify the engineering on an hourly basis.
Planning your build
Can I connect multiple modules, or add more later?
Yes, on both counts. The Esmeralda is designed to stand alone or connect to adjacent modules end-to-end. Build a single 16' × 16' unit, or join several together to create the footprint you need. No redesign is required to extend the length. Details for the module connection are included in the Contract Documents.
What can I use it for?
The Esmeralda is engineered to Structural Risk Category II, which covers standard residential occupancy. That includes sleeping, full-time living, a backyard office, a studio, or an accessory dwelling unit. It is not limited to storage-only use, which is a common restriction on structures engineered to lower risk categories.
How do helical piles work and who installs them?
Helical piles are steel screw-type foundations driven directly into the ground without excavation, keeping the structure elevated above grade and adaptable to sloped, wet, or otherwise difficult sites. We worked with Techno Metal Post Evergreen on the design of the Esmeralda to make the handoff seamless. Chris Hebert, the owner, will engineer a foundation specific to your soil and topography. Installation typically takes one day.
Where do windows and doors go?
Anywhere you want. Because the timber trusses handle all lateral loads, there's no structural plywood constraining your layout. The exterior envelope floats outside the timber frame, giving you complete freedom over the size and placement of openings. Trace can help with space planning and envelope detailing on an hourly basis.
What about mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP)?
MEP systems should not penetrate timber members. We recommend building a chase or furring out a surface to run PEX and electrical through the framing cavity. Waste and vent lines are typically run straight down between timbers to an insulated umbilical cord to grade. Run trace heating there to keep pipes from freezing. The umbilical cord can take many forms: a concrete box, a large-diameter pipe, or a framed and weatherproofed chase.
How do I weatherproof and insulate this?
The exterior envelope floats outside the timber frame, so you have complete freedom to use any wall system you prefer. Trace can provide customized energy modeling and envelope detailing on an hourly basis to dial it in for your site and climate.
Putting it together
Isn’t timber framing hard?
Traditional timber framing requires specialized joinery skills. This doesn't. The kit arrives flat-packed; you cut the timber to length, mill in the connectors using our instructions and templates, and raise the frame. No previous experience required. Our construction guide walks you through the entire process, including templates, tool recommendations, and router jig instructions.
What tools do I need?
Primarily a circular saw or chainsaw for cutting timbers to length, a router for milling connector pockets, and auger bits for bolt holes. We recommend a 15/16" auger bit for ⅞" bolt holes and a 13/16" bit for ¾" bolt and drift pin holes. We're developing a comprehensive construction guide with detailed tool and jig recommendations, and select specialty tools may be available as add-ons.
How will it arrive and what do I do with it?
Flat-packed by truck, directly to your site. It includes the precision-milled heavy timber frame, tongue and groove roof and floor decking, and all structural hardware. Delivery is coordinated through Teanaway Millworks. Unload the truck and stack it on a level, well-drained area and protect it from rain right away. Place vertically aligned stickers between layers, then weigh down the top of the stack to prevent warping. Seal all freshly cut end grain with a wax emulsion sealer.
How many people does it take to raise the frame?
A small crew with standard wood tools is enough. You can also bring in a machine like a telehandler to speed things up. Either way, work out weights and balance points before lifting any large members.
Materials and hardware
How heavy are the timbers?
Heavy. The largest timbers will weigh over 300 pounds. Work out weights and balance points before any lifting, and handle large members with fabric slings rather than chains or cables.
Do I need to buy my own nails?
The essentials kit includes all structural hardware for the timber frame. If you opt for wall sheathing or other upgrades, you'll need additional fasteners. Source them yourself or purchase our collated nails upgrade for nail gun installation.
How do I finish the wood?
We provide the products you’ll need to finish the timber as an optional upgrade. See our timber standards guide for instructions.
Why timber and not studs?
The Esmeralda's trusses handle both gravity and lateral loads without plywood sheathing or other bracing. Pure timber, no hidden layers. It falls into the IWUIC heavy timber classification, meaning it chars rather than burns in a wildfire. And a home framed in heavy timber receives more love over the decades. The wood patinas as your house grows old, telling the story of the tree and holding the story of your life.
Can I use my own timber connectors?
Potentially, if they carry ICC approval for equal or greater load capacities. Submit any substitution in writing to Foundry Structural before shop drawings are submitted.
Can I use traditional timber joinery?
Not without engineering review. The Esmeralda was pre-engineered around custom steel knife plates and Sherpa cleats to handle our region's aggressive snow and seismic loads. Traditional wood-to-wood joinery alters the capacities and would require an hourly review and design by Foundry Structural to adapt. This would only be feasible on sites with low seismic loads.