Pete Kobelt, Director of Mass Timber Solutions, Structure Tone Southwest

By Pete Kobelt, Director of Mass Timber, STO Building Group

Strong. Versatile. Resilient. Sustainable. These are just a few of the benefits mass timber construction offers—and part of the reason timber structures are taking the AEC world by storm. As demand for mass timber projects across the US continues to grow and evolve, designers, builders, and developers are constantly adjusting best practices. 

To be the best of the best at STO Building Group, our mass timber team regularly reflects learning from our setbacks, celebrating our successes, and improving our processes. Through our extensive experience building large-scale mass timber projects, we’ve gained valuable lessons that continue to inform our approach to future projects, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and excellence in every build.

Not sure what I mean by mass timber? Check out this article to better understand the basics.

1. Early Involvement is Crucial

Maximizing the potential of mass timber begins with early team integration. Early collaboration with architects, engineers, and mass timber manufacturers means we can identify potential challenges—such as structural load considerations, fire safety, and acoustic requirements—before they become costly issues during construction.

The Takeaway: Early collaboration ensures challenges are addressed before construction begins, saving time and costs.

2. Manufacturing Capacity and Lead Times Matter

Mass Timber construction depends heavily on the timely production and delivery of materials. One of the challenges we’ve encountered is the variability in manufacturing capacity and lead times, particularly for large projects. As the demand grows, working closely with suppliers to secure production slots and schedule deliveries in advance is critical to avoid delays. We also recommend leveraging local suppliers whenever possible to reduce transportation costs and carbon footprint. Find out more about mass timber’s impact on carbon here.

The Takeaway: Secure manufacturing slots early, align delivery schedules with project timelines, and prioritize local suppliers for reduced costs and carbon footprint.

3. Considering Scheduling Differences is Essential

Along those lines, considering the many nuances that make managing a mass timber project schedule unique is important. While a mass timber project schedule has relatively the same flow and process as a standard steel building, the time of year and your region are both key considerations in maximizing the speed of installation. Another scheduling distinction is mass timber allows your team to open up floor areas quicker and with less manpower than steel decking.

The Takeaway: Make sure you understand where mass timber components have the potential to slow down or speed up construction when building your project schedule.

4. Understanding the Impact of Weather Conditions is Key

When working with mass timber, temperature, moisture, and UV exposure are all top concerns. Although some of these conditions are outside of our control, our teams leverage best practices to maintain both the structural integrity and appearance of the wood. When it comes to general exposure, we use weather-resistant barriers and temporary coverings to shield the timber from rain and UV contact. After rain or snow, we de-water as soon as possible and avoid installing any metal screws or nails that may rust while the wood is exposed to rain. When working in colder regions, we’ve found that screws installed in the extreme cold are more susceptible to popping heads when temperatures begin to rise.

The Takeaway: Use proactive weather mitigation strategies, including barriers, taping, and sealing, to protect mass timber from damage during construction.

5. Coordination of Hybrid Structures Requires Expertise

Many of our mass timber projects involve hybrid construction, or the integration of timber with steel or concrete. Because the structural properties and installation processes of these materials differ, we work closely with structural engineers and material suppliers to make sure the materials blend well—both structurally and aesthetically—while optimizing project costs.

The Takeaway: Maintain strong communication with structural engineers and designers throughout a hybrid mass timber project and be prepared for potential adjustments on-site to ensure smooth coordination between materials.

6. Prefabrication Enhances Efficiency

The prefabrication of mass timber elements, such as Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels and Glulam beams, saves time on-site, but making sure all prefabricated components fit perfectly requires precise planning. We’ve learned that close communication between the design team, manufacturers, and installers is essential to avoid rework and delays. To fully understand the process and limitations related to your specific job, our team also recommends organizing a fabrication plant visit. When coordinated properly, prefabrication means a more controlled manufacturing environment, higher quality materials, and ultimately less waste.

The Takeaway: Prefabrication can help a mass timber project run more efficiently, but requires proper coordination between the design team, manufacturer, and installer for a seamless fit.

7. Ongoing Education and Training are Critical

Mass Timber is a rapidly evolving field, particularly here in the U.S., and staying informed is key. Ongoing education and training for our teams, as well as collaboration with industry experts both here and overseas, help us stay at the forefront of new techniques, materials, and best practices. We continually invest in knowledge-sharing within our teams to make sure we’re applying the most up-to-date approaches to every project.

The Takeaway: Continuous education and industry collaboration are critical to staying at the forefront of mass timber innovation.

I’ve just outlined a handful of the challenges (and solutions) that you may face in your next mass timber project. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of building with timber, check out this article written by my colleague, Sean Patchell, Building Envelope Manager at LF Driscoll. 

As mass timber projects become more common, our industry must continue sharing our knowledge and experiences to collectively fuel the adoption of this renewable resource as sustainable construction solution.

Considering mass timber for your next project? Get in touch.

About Pete Kobelt

Pete has been engrained in the exploration of mass timber in the US since its early days, contributing to the conception and establishment of the first CLT manufacturing plants in the US and the first and largest mass timber student housing project in the US. His passion stems from his time spent studying the dramatic advances in engineered wood manufacturing and construction in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany.

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