A Chinese philosopher once said, "If you have one clock, you know the time; if you have ten, you're not too sure."

A similar dilemma is faced by those with the responsibility for building or renovating a church. Today there are more construction choices than ever before. Advances in techniques and materials allow structures not imaginable a century ago, resulting in virtually no limits on custom-designed and custom-built options. Add to this advances in pre-designed, pre-engineered options. As if this was not complicated enough, rising construction costs necessitate comparing one option to another and trying to reconcile quality with price.

This overview of the main construction types available today will certainly not answer all your questions, but it may help you to sharpen the questions you put to your architect or builder—to make sure that the church you get is the one you want.

Timber Frame Construction
"Timber framing uses heavy timbers with traditional mortise and tenon joinery, the typical structure of the American barn," says Dan Trimble, representative for Riverbend Timber Framing, Inc. in Indiana, Pennsylvania. "The roof and exterior walls are super-insulated with structural panels, with the long-term benefit of reduced heating and cooling operating costs."

To cover this insulation, the exterior finish uses conventional siding material such as stone, brick, or even wood. But it's the interior of timber frame construction that really glows. The wood framework, oiled and finished in the factory and typically clad with tongue-and-groove wood, creates an outstanding ambience.

"It looks great on the inside and creates a wonderful, warm feeling," Trimble says. He adds that parts of the interior, such as the ceilings or walls beneath the ceiling, can be covered with drywall and painted. In fact, the entire interior can be covered with conventional finishes, but this in a sense defeats the aesthetic value of the timber. "The timber naturally creates big open spaces, so it is very conducive to sanctuaries," Trimble says.

Trimble advises that timber frame construction can be very cost-competitive with other types of structures. Today's timber frame structures can be custom-prefabricated in the factory, and they go up on the site in a short amount of time. He adds that churches considering a timber frame structure should begin working with the timber frame company in the very early stages of design. This is needed to bring the specialized expertise to the project and coordinate the timber design with the entire system.

Dome Options
Different dome manufacturers make domes in different shapes, says Shawn Barrett, sales director of United Church Structures in Davison, Michigan. "Some are a half sphere, others are five-eighths sphere or other variations, while ours is one-fourth of a sphere," she explains. "We've streamlined ours so it's very attractive. It has a unique style, so it's good for churches looking for something a little different."

A dome creates a free, open, and spacious look, says Barrett. For this reason, the dome is best for a sanctuary, a multipurpose space, or a gymnasium, but not for educational or other spaces where you will probably want to use a drop ceiling. Barrett says that because you will always pay a premium for a large clear span, it's not the best use of money to then break up the large span into smaller rooms.

"Domes are known to be very strong structures that can survive severe storms in hurricane areas," says Barrett. "Domes take up less square footage than other options, and are very energy efficient. And all conventional finish materials can be applied to either the interior or exterior."

Monolithic Constructors, Inc. in Italy, Texas, offer a different type of dome. Gary L. Clark, vice president, explains how one is made. "First we use air pressure to inflate a large, heavy tarp, made either of nylon or polyester scrim and impregnated with polyvinyl chloride." Once inflated, the tarp has the shape of a dome, and construction begins on the inside. Using a "reverse construction" process, a three-inch layer of polyurethane insulation is applied to the inside of the inflated tarp. Clark says that's enough insulation to stop 95 percent of all heat transfer.

Then special clips are used to attach steel reinforcing bars ("rebars") to the inside of the urethane. When all of the rebars are in place, several layers of "shotcrete," or wet application of concrete, are sprayed (again from the inside) to form the solid shell. After the concrete hardens, the inflating fans are turned off and the interior finishing begins. Once again, any type of interior finish is possible, as simple or as elegant as desired.

Clark says the lifetime of this type of dome is measured in centuries rather than decades. They earn the highest fire ratings, for they don't burn—and termites can't get in. The cost per square foot is comparable to standard church buildings. But the saving in energy consumption compared to traditional construction allows the building to pay for itself within 20 years. The domes are safe, and can withstand winds up to 350 miles per hour. Domes create a serene space of peace and comfort, Clark says. The outside noises of airplanes, trucks, and trains do not enter.

Modular Construction
"Our modular buildings can be either temporary or permanent," says Cathy Conti, director of marketing for Vanguard Modular Building Systems in Malvern, Pennsylvania. Sometimes, she explains, a church might want a number of buildings in a different location. "We once did a complete development for a retreat area," she says. "There were cafeteria facilities—it was almost like a camp." The temporary modular pieces allow for quick transformations from offices to Sunday schools, or from daycare centers to fellowship halls.

Since the grading and other site work can be done while the modular buildings are being manufactured, "We are almost always faster than traditional site construction," Conti says. Modular buildings can be made from a number of different materials, she adds, though Vanguard's is basically framed wood. These buildings meet the same codes as traditional structures, and, in fact, are also bound by their own set of codes.

"The biggest obstacle we face is if you want the tall ceilings of a traditional sanctuary. Twenty feet high is not a good application for modular," Conti says. "And if you want a building four stories high, then modular is not a good choice for that either."

In terms of cost, Conti says, "In making a broad brush statement, we're usually less expensive than traditional construction. However, if you get into a very customized building, costs can run up. It depends on the choices you make."

About his company's modular structures, Jim Avery, vice president at Sprung Instant Structures in Salt Lake City, says a unique feature is the interior liner, a membrane structure made of aluminum and a polyester scrim, with a DuPont Kevlar™ coating. "This is guaranteed for 20 years, is fully insulated, very energy efficient, and will meet most code requirements," says Avery. The structures are designed, he says, "to provide immediate solutions for churches. They can be put up very quickly."

Sprung structures allow for flexible planning in that more structures can be easily added to an existing location. And although Avery prefers not to call his structures temporary, he does say they can be relocated if necessary. "They are a tangible asset," he says. "You can disassemble them, then completely reconfigure them in another location, reusing most of the assets. Churches often do not know where they are going to go in terms of growth. You can expand on an existing location or relocate down the road, transitioning from one piece of land to another."

Insulating Concrete Forms
Unlike traditional concrete wall forms, insulating concrete forms (icfs) stay in place after the concrete is added—becoming a permanent part of the wall assembly. The forms are made of rigid, insulating polystyrene foam, which makes them light and easy to assemble.

icfs take two basic forms, with many variations. They are either interlocking blocks, or separate inner and outer panels that are connected with plastic or metal ties. Once assembled, concrete is poured into the cavity formed with the blocks or panels. The outside face is available with many different finishes, including brick or tile veneer.

Joe Lyman, executive director of Insulating Concrete Form Association in Glenview, Illinois says, "The problem with masonry is that it is extremely labor intensive, and the problem with standard poured concrete is that it has no aesthetic appeal. But icf provides the durability of concrete while allowing a facade of any architectural look you want."

Because the foam used to make the forms is also a great insulator, Lyman says that energy savings and comfort are built into every icf system. "icfs start with a high R-Value," he says. "Also, air infiltration is minimal due to the continuous air barriers provided by the foam insulation and concrete. Energy bills can be reduced 35 to 50 percent, depending on design."

A typical six-inch icf wall has an impressive sound transmission classification (stc) rating of 50+, continues Lyman, making this kind of construction another good choice for creating quiet spaces. Also, neither polystyrene nor concrete will rot or rust. Concrete can even be exposed to the elements for centuries with few ill effects. Reinforcing steel buried deep inside and protected by concrete's alkalinity, does not corrode.

Lyman maintains that churches can be designed in any style using icfs. "Because custom angles and curves are easily created, it's simple to build in bows, bays, and a radius," he says. "And icf systems accommodate any of today's most popular design features, such as tall walls, large openings, long floor spans, and cathedral ceilings." Furthermore, Lyman says using icfs for the entire structure can significantly decrease the construction time cycle, speeding up a project by weeks or even months.

Post Frame Construction
Rob Lamberson, intern architect at Morton Buildings, Inc. in Morton, Illinois, describes the basic post frame construction as consisting of columns, laminated wood in most cases, and trusses, called a truss frame assembly. The columns and trusses are tied together by two-by-fours, and when the frame is completed, the roof and exterior walls are added.

"We pre-make everything in a climate-controlled atmosphere," says Lamberson. "It's like a giant jigsaw puzzle. Then our crews go out and put the pieces together. The building goes up quickly, and the design makes it easy to expand with future additions."

Aaron Stone, also an intern architect at Morton Buildings, explains that one advantage of this structure is that it offers a very long span of insulation. Instead of wall studs every 16 inches, a Morton structure has posts as far apart as seven-and-a-half feet. "Every time you have a break in the insulation you risk losing some of that protection," says Stone. "We also have ventilation cavities in the insulation."

Stone says that although post frame construction can make a building with unlimited length, the maximum width is about 100 feet. Also, a basement and two stories are as high as it should go, though it can still be a very large, 40,000 square-foot space. Moreover, post frame is amenable to every type of exterior and interior finish now available.

Steel Frame Construction
One of the best features of the steel frame system is the steel roof, says Michael Round, vice president sales, Southern region, for CECO Building Systems, in Columbus, Mississippi. "The roof is integrated with the structure that supports it," Round explains. "The male and female elements are machined electronically in impenetrable seams designed to keep any moisture out." Round adds that this standing seam roof system is economical, maintenance free, and long lasting—it has a 25-year warranty.

"This roofing system is also very good at reflecting sunlight and ultraviolet rays without heating the roof," Round says. "There's a movement afoot in the environmental arena called the 'Cool Roof' programs. It's been found that roofing that absorbs heat wears out quicker and allows more heat inside the building." The additional heat load requires larger air conditioning units and more energy to keep the building cool in hot weather.

In the same environmental vein, continues Round, "The roofing material is made from melted-down steel—it is 100 percent recycled material." Round adds that though "recycled" might in some instances connote a lesser quality, this is not the case here. The re-utilized materials are as strong and durable as they would be in a first-time usage.

A steel frame is necessary to support the steel roof, but the starkness of this material need not show. "The steel frame can integrate with all kinds of wall materials, including concrete, brick, wood, metal, and glass," says Jeff Saunders, vice president, national sales and marketing at CECO. "This is done to give a pleasing architectural look to the outside of the church, while the supportive strength is concealed within. On the interior you can do anything cosmetic you want. There is no design limit."

"One of the main benefits of this system," Saunders says, "is that steel frame design offers a clear, wide span. You don't need posts or columns every 25 feet or so. Usually, the wider the span the more stresses there are on the building. But a steel building can accommodate these spans economically and easily. It's ideal in situations in which you want a long clear span for the sanctuary." On the other hand, steel may not be that much of an advantage for smaller auxiliary spaces such as offices and education rooms. "Here it may be better," he says, "to marry steel with other materials."

Conventional Site-Built Structures
When you see the word "conventional," you might be inclined to think "ordinary"—but just the opposite is true.

"The main benefit of conventional structures is versatility of design," says Darrell Eggleston, president of Century Builders, Inc. in Houston, Texas. He explains that in this traditional way of building, nothing is pre-formed. There are no limitations in terms of design, and there are myriad choices of materials to draw from to bring the design to completion.

"Most of the churches we design have larger auditoriums, which require more engineering—more determinations for different loads. We can offer a church a broader design, and are not limited in what we can do."

Since design choices tend to be thought through anew, so are safety issues. All concerns of building codes and fire ratings are naturally addressed with the design.

"There are no limits as to exterior or interior finishes," Eggleston says, or anything else, for that matter. There is no limitation as to what the building can look like—it's wide open.

The one drawback, Eggleston acknowledges, is that the traditional site-built structures tend to be a bit more expensive than other types, which were often specifically evolved to offer a more economical option. He says that this type construction might not be the best bet for a smaller church, one with more cost concerns, for which a neat and simple structure might suffice. Here flexibility of design might not be that important. If desired, flexibility could be achieved through multipurpose spaces.

Michael Smith, senior vice president of construction operations at Myler Church Buildings Systems, Inc. in Crawfordsville, Indiana, agrees that a budget-constrained church will need to seek simpler designs. Smith says that Myler does, in fact, offer these other options to churches that need them. "But if you are wanting to make a statement, then site-built construction is the way to go," says Smith. But Smith agrees that the traditional way "will run a little more per square foot."

"One of the more obvious benefits is that the church is not going to look like a cookie-cutter type of building," says Michael Hankins, ceo of Myler. "Consequently, we have the church leaders explain their ministries to us. Then those ministries drive the design of the building."

Stick-built is especially good for renovations of old churches. "We can match an original gothic design," Hankins says. "We are able to meet the design requirements of the past while designing what is modern and unique today."

Hopefully, this discussion of construction choices inspired new thoughts and ideas for your next project. Happy building!

Thomas G. Dolan is a freelance writer who has written on a wide variety of topics.