According to a manufacturer of DIY timber pergola kits, the three key reasons that people want pergolas are for a place to spend quality time, a defined gathering location and protection from the elements.

"Improve Your Outdoor Living Space" is the slogan of Utah-based Western Timber Frame, manufacturer of fine luxury, DIY timber pergola kits. Their kits can be assembled in as little as one Saturday or weekend. Pergolas and gazebos are fast becoming a must-have backyard feature for residential outdoor living spaces. In a time when the U.S. economy has been largely stagnant, Western Timber Frame has realized explosive growth all across the United States. Brad Lavery and Hyrum Thompson are the joint owners of Western Timber Frame. They have realized their success by focusing on not just providing a unique, high-quality product, but also by offering an unusual design and planning process and focusing on a world-class level of customer support.

Crafting an Outdoor Living Space Using Timber

"People are finding themselves wanting to spend more time outdoors. But, they are also desirous of having their yard be just as relaxing and inviting as the traditional indoor living room or kitchen." –Brad Lavery, CEO of Western Timber Frame

These outdoor living structures range from a quaint garden arbor to a large-scale project, encompassing multiple pergolas, gazebos, and/or pavilions complete with an outdoor kitchen and living room. Often these timber structures feature outdoor radiant heaters, shades, lights, ovens, swings, louvered roofs, hot tubs, electric power, solar panels, and so on. Each project is unique and very specific to the individual needs of the homeowner.

"When anyone sees our pergola through the window or when they first step into the backyard, they are drawn to it and just want to go see it and sit to relax under it."
– Matt & Mimi Johnson, Riverton, UT

Key Aspects of an Outdoor Living Space

"There are three aspects we work with our clients as they seek to create the perfect outdoor living environment," Brad says, which, as he explains, are as follows:

• A Place to Spend Quality Time:
  As time devoted to family has become increasingly more important, a pergola or pavilion kit is the perfect way to incorporate family time into even the busiest of lifestyles.
• A Defined Gathering Location:
  Whether hosting a large event or gathering in a private group, a pergola kit is ideal to provide the ultimate outdoor entertainment space for restaurants, parks, family gatherings, weddings, reunions, business or community events and more.
• Protection From the Elements: "Got Shade?"
  A heavy timber structure helps protect your backyard or patio the heat and also creates some shade. It will cool you off and allow you to enjoy a peaceful, cool afternoon.

The Dovetail Difference

Western Timber Frame uses old-world craftsmanship combined with the best in today's most advanced manufacturing technologies to give clients what they call "The Dovetail Difference." They make use of a massive mortised dovetail joint system throughout their timber construction process. The Dovetail Connection System creates very strong, rigid joints. Over time, wood naturally expands and contracts with seasonal changes. "This is true even in seasonally temperate areas such as Southern California and San Diego. It's not a matter of if the wood will expand and contract, it is a matter of when," Hyrum Thompson explains. He goes on to say, "As the timbers expand and contract with changing seasons, these dynamic joints maintain a close-fitting connection, which minimizes gap exposure and reduces typical twisting and warping." The Dovetail Connection System virtually eliminates the use of unsightly galvanized brackets. This is in part why Western Timber Frame offers a 25-year warranty on their Oversize Kits.

Though their system speaks for itself, nothing speaks louder to its effectiveness than some sample testimonials from their customers:

"The beams fit together perfectly and I can't even tell where the joints are...all the timber was pre-cut and stained, ready to be installed. Nothing had to be re-cut. It had all been measured perfectly."
–Devon O'Brien, Holladay, UT

"My 3-year-old and I could safely watch the whole process. It was so cool. The Pergola went together like
Lincoln Logs!"
–Patty Sampson, West Valley, UT

"I was surprised at the speed of my backyard makeover, finished in only 3 ½ hours. It is almost magical how quickly and dramatically a place could be transformed into such an amazing and impressionable, beautiful backyard."
–Howard Bigenho, Eagle Mtn., UT

The Ultimate Customer Experience: Working With A Design Manager

As important as the construction method is, Western Timber Frame has a unique design and sales process. "I'm not sure it's even appropriate to call it a sales process," Brad remarked. Instead of trying to upsell customers or using high-pressure salesmen, they have Design Managers who will discuss the project with the customer and work to help them craft a perfect outdoor environment that fits their needs and, more importantly, fits their budget.

Design Manager Brian Thompson tells us, "Often I'll have a client initially express that they want a pergola or pavilion that is very large. If we were focused on the sales numbers, we would just sell them exactly what they ask for. However, as Design Managers, we are focused on creating an experience and environment that caters to each of our clients' individual needs and desires." In a case such as this, the Design Managers will then often work with the client to create two or three smaller structures with distinctive defined uses to create the perfect outdoor living environment.

Brad adds that the customer experience doesn't end when the timber kit is installed. They support their clients long after the sale with 15- and 25-year warranties, depending on the product line.

The massive photo gallery and sample customer testimonials on their website is a testament to this fact.

"With the addition of our pergola, we feel that we have added another room on to our home. We spend lots of time outside and the added shade that it provides is just what we wanted. We would recommend Western Timber Frame to anyone that is looking for high quality and a great experience."
–Steve and Camilla Starks

In conclusion, Western Timber Frame ensures that your outdoor living space is one-of-a-kind and is customized for your own individual (or personal) outdoor living needs.