Is snow load in the Uludağ foothills a problem for a timber house?

Not a problem — a load to account for. Snow load rises with altitude and the structure is sized for it. A pitched roof is an advantage here: it lets snow slide rather than accumulate. The American architectural tradition developed in snow country, and the steep roof pitch exists for exactly that.

Which models do you recommend for Bursa?

At altitude, the steep-pitched models named after the northern states: Jackson Hole, Whitefish, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Minnesota, Perham. These are plans drawn for snow country. On the plain the choice is freer — send us your plot's elevation and we can look together.

Which insulation zone is Bursa in?

Degree-day zone 2 under TS 825. But on high-altitude parcels in the Uludağ foothills the real heating demand exceeds the zone average; because insulation thickness is a tunable parameter in timber frame, we assess it against the elevation of the plot.

Can you assemble in winter?

On the plain, usually yes. On high parcels in the Uludağ foothills road access can close in winter, so we plan the assembly schedule around it. Once your plot location is settled we can give you a realistic timetable.

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Timber Frame Homes in Bursa

What sets Bursa apart is altitude. Designing a house in the foothills of Uludağ, the first load to account for is snow.

TS 825 climate zone: Zone 2
From our Gölbaşı facility: approx. 390 km

Between its proximity to Istanbul and the presence of Uludağ, Bursa has the most varied detached-house demand in Marmara: plots range from established villa districts inside the city to highland houses on the mountain slopes.

Where timber frame homes get built in Bursa

Nilüfer, Görükle and Özlüce — established villa fabric, zoned parcels
The Uludağ foothills, Kirazlıyayla and Sarıalan — high ground, mountain-house demand
Gürsu, Kestel and Gölyazı — vineyards and hobby gardens near the city
İznik and its lakeshore — olive groves and lake-view parcels
Mudanya, Zeytinbağı and Kumyaka — Marmara coastal plots
Orhaneli, Keles and Harmancık — forest and high-altitude land

Snow load: the technical issue that sets Bursa apart

The plain around Bursa shares Marmara's mild climate, but in the foothills of Uludağ that changes. Snow load on the roof rises quickly with altitude, and it is a load that directly affects how the structure is sized. In Bursa the elevation of your plot matters far more than the name of the province.

Here a pitched roof is not a preference but a technical advantage. The American architectural tradition developed in snow country, and the steep roof pitch exists for exactly this reason: it lets snow slide rather than accumulate, reducing drift build-up and ice damming. Our models named after the northern states — Jackson Hole, Whitefish, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Minnesota, Perham — are plans drawn for precisely this climate, and a far better fit in the Uludağ foothills than a shallow-eaved plan drawn for the Aegean coast.

Bursa's climate: degree-day zone 2

Under TS 825 Bursa sits in degree-day zone 2. On the plain, the insulation is calculated for that zone; but on high-altitude parcels the real heating demand exceeds the zone average and the insulation should be assessed accordingly. Timber frame has that flexibility built in: stud depth and insulation thickness are parameters that can be tuned to the zone and the elevation.

Humidity is a second issue. The Bursa plain and the area around Lake İznik carry high relative humidity; the ventilated cavity behind the cladding and a correct vapour strategy are details to resolve carefully in this region.

Earthquakes: the southern branch of the North Anatolian Fault

The southern branch of the North Anatolian Fault runs just north of Bursa, and the province lies within Marmara's high hazard band. The 1999 Kocaeli earthquake was felt significantly in Bursa. Under TBDY 2018 the acceleration value for each parcel is calculated from its coordinates.

Timber frame's advantage here again works through mass and ductility: earthquake force is proportional to mass, and a timber frame house weighs a fraction of equivalent concrete, while a diaphragm of nailed connections deforms ductilely rather than failing brittlely. In return the continuous load path, the sill anchorage and the hold-downs must be executed without gaps.

Transport and site access

It is roughly 390 km from our Gölbaşı facility to Bursa — a shorter run than Istanbul. On high parcels in the Uludağ foothills, the things to watch are winter road access, which can close, and level ground for the crane on sloping plots. We plan the assembly schedule around both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is snow load in the Uludağ foothills a problem for a timber house?: Not a problem — a load to account for. Snow load rises with altitude and the structure is sized for it. A pitched roof is an advantage here: it lets snow slide rather than accumulate. The American architectural tradition developed in snow country, and the steep roof pitch exists for exactly that.
Which models do you recommend for Bursa?: At altitude, the steep-pitched models named after the northern states: Jackson Hole, Whitefish, Two Harbors, Hibbing, Minnesota, Perham. These are plans drawn for snow country. On the plain the choice is freer — send us your plot's elevation and we can look together.
Which insulation zone is Bursa in?: Degree-day zone 2 under TS 825. But on high-altitude parcels in the Uludağ foothills the real heating demand exceeds the zone average; because insulation thickness is a tunable parameter in timber frame, we assess it against the elevation of the plot.
Can you assemble in winter?: On the plain, usually yes. On high parcels in the Uludağ foothills road access can close in winter, so we plan the assembly schedule around it. Once your plot location is settled we can give you a realistic timetable.