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Knowledge Base
Designed for both industry experts and newcomers across the supply chain, Mass Timber Planning is a platform and knowledge base that addresses mass timber’s implementation, delivery methods, and best practices.
Dedicated to helping developers, engineers, installers, manufacturers, and more, we help you discover the growing power of mass timber’s functionality, cost-efficiency, and sustainability.
Sharing Value
We help shape an unparalleled learning environment that is informed by industry experts. Browse through our key posts to stay up-to-date on trends and broaden your knowledge base.
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Advice
Understand all aspects of the process, starting with the design, detailed design, and the fabrication model, all the way through to installation. If there are any parts not fully understood or covered by you or your team, hire expertise to fill the gaps as early as possible.
Advice
Mass timber helps address client’s sustainability targets.
Advice
Cost premiums with mass timber are offset by the more rapid construction process with pre-fabricated construction.
Advice
The timing of contractor engagement impacts the ability to get construction input on structural assembly sequence & detailing.
Advice
Use hybrid structural systems (timber/steel/concrete) to optimize for the best properties of each.
Advice
A bracing plan is important, and has a large effect on installation. Establish a bracing plan early and integrate it into the connection details. A good bracing plan allows the connections to assist with temporary stability and requires over-designing, but saves time, money, headaches, and patching.
Branching Out
Looking for inspiration? Filter your search by the various Roles and Phases to see what industry experts have to say about Mass Timber.
Advice
Design Build offers much more freedom, and takes risk off of the owner.
Advice
Design Bid Build can often be too formal if everything runs through the contractor. It is simpler if, for example, the engineer can talk directly to the architect. A carefully worded RFI can be helpful.
Advice
For public projects, consider getting expert timber engineers to look at connections (Design Assist delivery model).
Advice
For private projects, and early fixed pricing, use a modified design build or design assist (= design build but with a formal tender). Spec loads, performance, preliminary sizing and connections, etc. and go out for a price at that point.
Advice
Contractors and owners need to understand lead times.
Advice
Design Bid Build projects seem to come in over budget, probably due to feedback not being received early enough.
Advice
Having a design team that understands the entire process, or “vertical integrated design” helps to allay owner hesitancy to “lock in”.
Advice
Have detailed conversations with concrete subcontractors to stress how important tolerance is. This is the most efficient method of achieving tighter tolerances, as concrete can’t share models like steel can, for instance. An as-built survey helps, but adds time.
Advice
Suppliers want to sell you the best option but you need to know what you want first. Bring suppliers in early, but only make decisions once you know what you want.
Advice
Develop and share a water protection plan together with the general contractor. Work with the GC: they care because they have to install. Suppliers may or may not care, and also may not have the necessary facilities (eg. membrane applying station)
Advice
Water damage is a major issue that is not yet adequately solved, and results in schedule slippage. There must be a method to protect the timber products from rain and swelling during construction. Improperly coated connections cause problems.
Advice
Contracts are needed to guarantee supply; either own the fibre or enter into long term contracts. Every stakeholder wants supply predictability.
Advice
There can be challenges if the general contractor is running the show, as the result can be poorer architecturally.
Advice
Avoid locking in to a product for the wrong reasons by hiring (or having on the team) the person with the most knowledge of mass timber: a structural engineer. Ask them for advice on the right product for your application.
