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Embrace a timeless profile with our 28 × 20 Timber‑Frame Saltbox. Built with straightforward common trusses and collar ties, this frame goes up faster yet still showcases authentic pegged joinery. Leave those collar ties exposed and one side of the home soars to 19′‑6″, flooding the main room with light and creating an airy, two‑story volume straight out of early‑American history. A full loft spans the other half of the footprint, giving you a flexible upper level for a bedroom, studio, or hay storage—whatever fits your lifestyle.
Efficient Footprint, Endless Possibilities
Ground Floor: 560 sq ft—ideal for living space, workshop, or animal stalls
Loft: 280 sq ft—perfect for sleeping, office, or gear storage
Total: 840 sq ft of adaptable timber‑framed space
With its classic “two stories in front, one in back” roofline, this saltbox can serve equally well as a rustic cabin, compact barn, or garage‑plus‑workshop. The steep front roof sheds rain and snow with ease, while the long rear roof gives you extra headroom where you need it most.
Ready‑to‑Raise Kits—Speed Meets Precision
Skip the guesswork: order the Ready‑to‑Raise Kit and receive every timber pre‑cut, pre‑drilled, and clearly labeled.
CNC‑cut 8× posts and beams, 6× collar ties, and common trusses
Traditional mortise‑and‑tenon joinery pre‑fit in the shop
Hardware, pegs, and step‑by‑step raising guide included
Your crew (or an ambitious DIY team) can lift and peg the frame in days, not weeks—saving labor cost and getting you under roof sooner.
Custom Design—Tailored to Your Site & Style
Need a steeper rear pitch for snow country, dormers in the loft, or an attached lean‑to? Our design team will customize any element—from window placement and floor‑plan tweaks to species selection and hybrid steel connections. We’ll deliver updated engineering and shop drawings ready for permit, milling, and delivery.
View Our Interactive 3d Model
We understand that every project is unique, so we offer extensive customization options for our plans and kits. Choose from various sizes, roof styles, and finishes to match your style and landscape. Our design team is dedicated to helping you create the perfect plan that reflects your vision.
Here's How You Can Get Started:
- Phone: Call us at 888-552-9379 (9–5, M–F) to speak with one of our experts.
- Email: Send your questions to projects@timberframehq.com, and we will respond within two business days
- Online Form: Please complete the form below, and we will respond promptly.
This website is a great resource! Glad I discovered it. Can you tell me the pitch of the saltbox plan, or if it is variable?
Thanks!
–Bruce Gordon
It has a 10 and 12 roof pitch on both roof planes.
Thanks very much! Food for thoughts about solar panels or roofing angle.
Can the plans be flipped so the larger open area is on the left side instead of the right side?
Yes you can easily flip the bents around and floor system.
Hi Brice,
I’m looking for a cabin plan and am comparing this with your 20×24 Queen Post Plan with Loft.
Can you please give a rough estimate of differences in build cost and ease of building?
I’m in Australia – have you had any experience using the eucalyptus timbers?
Great website!
Regards
David
I have no experience with the building cost in Australia or eucalyptus timbers. There is an article in the Timber Framing Journal Number 74 about a gentleman Rob Hadden that was building his own timber frame. I would search out any timber framers in your area (it may be a big area) and talk to them. I bet they are more than happy to share their knowledge.
Out of curiosity, what do you do for the walls? Frame out or use preconstructed panels?
Either system works well.
Estimate the 28 X 20 Timber Frame Saltbox cost of materials in Alabama?
Hard to say exactly. Depends largely on the species of wood that you choose and where you get it from. Sorry to be vague but would need more info to help you out.
Please email me at support@timberframehq.com to follow up more about the cost question.
Can you advise your concept for footing this plan and transferring the weight load of 9 posts to ground? Concrete footers to below frost line or…?
Take a look at the details at https://timberframehq.com/construction-details/masonryconcrete-to-timber/ . You will need to take the footers below the frost line.
I have a stock of 4×6 and 4×10 clear douglas fir in lengths up to 18 feet. Would these be usable in this plan?
Yes, you can use them in the rafters, collar ties and joists.
Do you have any photos of the cabin or timber frame finished out? I am a home builder in Oklahoma and am planning on building some cabins for rentals and wondering how the finish cabin looks . We would need to add a porch on one side for sure. Thanks Dale
Not yet, have a couple of people cutting them right now. How to have some soon.
It’s always desirable to have some overhang to protect wood siding… How can it be added to this salt box frame?
We/you can raise the rafters vertically a few inches and you can extend the rafters over the plates and extend the plates adding another set of rafters to each end. Take a look at the plan at https://timberframehq.com/shop/12×24-timber-frame/ and you can see an example. Let us know if you need help sorting this out.
Looking for plans for a timber frame car port
24×20 for storing my pontoon boat in during the winter months and useing it as a party pavilion in the summer/early fall .
My thought is to build it near the lake and simply pull the pontoon in during the winter
20 ft wide and 24 long with an unobstructed drive through
Can you help
Plans would be used for both building and acquiring building permits
Mike Dagelen
Can you please tell me what the height of the loft section floor to the rafter tie (effectively the ceiling height of the loft) and the loft section floor to the bottom of the plate on the taller side?
Are the plans for traditional joinery or steel fixings?
Many thanks, big fan here in the UK
Mike, check out our Custom Design Page; we can help with that.
Graham, it is 7′-1.5″ from the loft floor to the bottom of the rafter tie. It is 6′-1.5″ from the loft floor to the TOP of the plate (the plate is an 8×10). The plans are for traditional joinery. Thank you for your support!
Do you have any “finished” pics of salt box design
And are there multiple ways to anchor posts in your design plans?
Sorry, we don’t have a finished picture. We have completed a bunch of foundation details, you can find them at https://timberframehq.com/construction-details/masonryconcrete-to-timber/. You should be able to find one that works for you there.
Ahoy!
I am hoping to build in Kauai in an area that requires houses to be on stilts. Can this plan be built on an elevated “platform” to abide by local codes?
That would be possible but plans should be approved by an engineer.
I looking for a 13 x20, loft on house side and a hip on right side towards neighbors house , overhangs as long as possible work sidewalk all the way around , dormer for light on south side in open area, not loft side , and like to see former on both brands south side
Brent, we can help you with that- please check out our Custom Design services here.
Im looking for a 24×30 plan small house with an upstairs loft … that looks similar to what you have here
Joseph, we can adapt that plan for you- check out our custom design services here.
What is the first and loft ceiling heights at? Id like to modify the roof to allow for an overhang but dont want my overhang coming down too low and obstructing my views as I plan to use the 19’6″ side as my south facing window wall.
Check out a screenshot with all the elevations of this plan at https://www.screencast.com/t/LO90cYyjVY it should answer your questions.
Can u make that in 32×36?
We do take on custom projects. Check out our page HERE describing what we offer and the process of our custom design services.
Always admired timber frame steuctures and thinking of a mountain getaway constructed of timberframe.
I am interested in the Saltbox design, but the space where I am considering it for is smaller. Would it be possible to scale this design back for a foot print of 20’x14′ ? Also depending on the height of the taller side, possibly altering that dimension as well.
We can alter that design, please check out our custom design services here.
That can be achieved with the SIP Panels and some outlookers and soffit framed off the wall plane as well.
Would this frame support a shed roof addition along the tall side?
Yes it would- we offer this plan
Can the 20″ Girt Beams be scarfed at the center post?
It is best practice not to put them over the post, but you can if needed due to timber length.