Thesis for Custom Site Design???

If you're able to create efficient code, then using Thesis may not result in any faster a website than doing it yourself from scratch.

If you're not, on the other hand, then Thesis makes an excellent foundation for creating any design and layout you choose on a site that will have good page-load times.

It's also efficient if you're building sites regularly because the foundations are already there - you don't need to start from scratch each time.

There are also the SEO functions within Thesis to consider: again, if you're good with code, and you're able to build in those SEO controls, then go for it. But if not, or if you're building lots of sites and need to save time, then Thesis would be worth considering.

The custom functions file (using hooks) enables you to minimise the use of plugins and that's one of the ways in which it both speeds up page-load times and improves stability, particularly at WordPress upgrade times.

Also, because the custom functions file is located within the custom folder your customisations are preserved through Thesis upgrades.

However, again, if your coding skills are up to it then do it yourself: you could create a base theme and then create child themes for your different customisations

Cheers,

Martin.

Damn Martin -- that is one of the best answers i've ever seen on WF! Thanks so much for taking the time to write it

You've helped me a lot! - I could do all the coding/seo/etc myself - but i think i will give thesis a go. The benefits seem to outweigh the time it will take to learn theis enough to make the custom changes i need.

Thanks again!

Like Abledragon said, if you can already code a nice looking site, understand how to do basic Onpage SEO then stick to what your doing. But if you don't then go for it, I use Thesis and find it great.