Brooks Post & Beam

Brooks Post & Beam manufactures timber frame kits and designs in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, an operation that has been running continuously since 1967. The company was founded by Phil Brooks, who initially worked salvaging and restoring timber frames from old New England barns. As demand outpaced the supply of historic timber, the business evolved into designing and building new, energy-efficient timber frame homes and structures. Paul Freeman acquired the company in 2006 and continues to run it with the same craftsmanship and attention to personalized service that defined the original vision. The result is a builder firmly embedded in the timber frame community, known for quality, conservative project loads, and deep expertise.

What Brooks Post & Beam sells is precision timber frame kits. Unlike SIP or panelized builders, their work centers on the timber frame itself, the structural skeleton of post and beam joinery that becomes the primary architectural and load-bearing element of the home. Their kits include the pre-cut and joinery-cut timber frame components, detailed structural drawings for assembly, and coordination support through the building process. Customers or their contractors then handle the infill (walls, windows, doors, insulation), foundation, utilities, and finishing. It is a fundamentally different approach from panel-based kits, one that appeals to buyers who want the aesthetic and longevity of exposed timber and who are willing to coordinate multiple trades.

The timber frame itself is the real technology here. Brooks developed the first computer-controlled timber cutting machine in the world, a tool that integrates design software with shop-floor automation, eliminating manual layout and cut steps that slow traditional framing. A client's design transfers directly from the software to the cutting floor, where the CNC machinery cuts joints, drills holes for dowels, and marks each piece with its placement code. The frames arrive as a kit of labeled components that a skilled framing crew can assemble in a week or two, depending on complexity and size. Phil Brooks also pioneered an efficient joinery system that uses minimal material and labor while delivering the structural strength and visual character timber frames are known for.

Stock plans at Brooks Post & Beam include designs such as The Osgood at 1,350 square feet, a three-bedroom home suited to a cottage or primary residence. The Strafford runs 1,887 square feet with four bedrooms and more generous common areas. The Nutfield Barn Home stretches to 2,623 square feet and is designed to evoke the converted barn aesthetic. The Lakefront, also at 2,668 square feet, emphasizes views and open-plan living. Beyond timber frame homes, the company offers barns and garages ranging from small 821-square-foot garage options up to the Cannon, a 3,734-square-foot barn structure suited for storage, workshop, or mixed-use. Outdoor living structures include pavilions in 144 to 400 square foot increments, gazebos, screenhouses, and pool houses up to the Grand Poolhouse at 1,066 square feet.

Every design can be customized. The company makes a point of limiting their annual project load to maintain quality and personal relationships with clients, not because they lack capacity but as a deliberate business choice. This means longer lead times than volume manufacturers, often six to nine months from order to delivery, but also means the client gets real attention and the company avoids the scheduling chaos that plagues production shops. Customers work through design development with the Brooks team, refining plans, adjusting joinery details, verifying structural requirements for local building codes, and planning out the assembly and site logistics before a single timber is cut. The company also helps clients understand the sequencing of their project, from foundation preparation through frame raising, an important detail since the frame delivery and site readiness must align.

The timber itself is typically eastern white pine or other North American hardwoods, graded and kiln-dried to remove checking. The frame arrives ready to assemble: posts, beams, trusses, or rafters all pre-cut and marked. The joinery is strong and elegant, a blend of tradition (mortise and tenon joints) and modern efficiency (load calculations via software, CNC precision). Once the frame is erected on the foundation, it becomes the primary visual character of the house, and the buyer then builds the "walls" around it, often a simple exterior shell, insulation, and cladding that contrasts with or complements the exposed wood frame inside.

Pricing for Brooks Post & Beam timber frame kits starts around $60,000 to $80,000 for a modest 1,350-square-foot home frame alone, and scales up to $200,000 or more for larger or custom designs. These figures are for the frame kit, cutting, design, and coordination; the infill, foundation, utilities, and finishing remain separate costs. The company provides detailed quotations once a design is chosen and customization finalized. Long lead times and design fees should be factored into the timeline and budget.

The timber frame market has several competitors, from large regional producers like Timberpeg (now closed, but others exist) to smaller local frame shops, and international suppliers. What distinguishes Brooks Post & Beam is tenure, technology adoption, and philosophy. The company has been present and operating continuously for 57 years, with institutional knowledge built into every job. They own and operate their own CNC mill rather than outsourcing cuts to a third party, which gives them control over tolerances and turnaround. They actively limit scope to maintain quality rather than chase volume. And they have a deep stake in the local New Hampshire community, not a corporate branch office adjusting output based on quarterly targets.

Brooks Post & Beam timber frame kits suit buyers who want the character and durability of exposed timber, who are willing to engage in a longer design and building process, and who can coordinate the multiple trades needed to close the envelope and finish the interior. A timber frame appeals to buyers building a primary residence or significant outbuilding who value the aesthetic and the longevity of the wood structure. It is not a quick solution. The timeline from design to standing frame is a year minimum, but it is a proven approach that has shaped fine New England homes and structures for half a century.