Wise Owl Joinery has had the pleasure of working with many clients to provide custom timber frame structures for their individual needs. We pride ourselves on building beautiful timber frame structures that exceed all of your expectations. Richard Cormier, the owner, and craftsman is dedicated to offering quality workmanship and professional service and can assist you in a variety of ways all depending upon the scope of your project.
Idea
It all begins with an idea!
In our initial meeting with you at our well equipped shop, we listen to your ideas, dreams and goals, adding our experience and knowledge to develop a mutual vision of what is possible. When you leave our shop after the initial meeting, you have a clear roadmap of what we would be able to create for you within your budget and meeting your goals.
Design
Design Begins:
We develop the design in consultation with you, and prepare the house plans and working drawings. After receiving your drawing deposit, Wise Owl Joinery creates small-scale drawings for your review. Depending on the project, these drawings could include floor plans, elevations, window and door placements, and roof details. We’ll modify and revise these drawings until they truly reflect what you are dreaming of, while giving us enough information to be able to cost your project.
Contract
Contract:
Once you have signed off and accepted the design drawings, we can calculate the project cost and draw up a contract for signing, deposit and scheduled payments.
Working Drawings
Working Drawings:
The working drawings or “blueprints” are based on the final agreed-upon design drawings. They are necessary for obtaining any building permits and for working with other builders or tradespeople who may be involved in the project. A good roadmap will save time and money during the project. Avoiding unnecessary changes is key to good design.
Shop Prints
Shop Prints:
These are the drawings that we use to cut the timbers for your project. They show exact dimensions of timbers and placement of joinery.
For smaller projects, and those that have already been designed, some of these steps are not necessary.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing Process
The quality of wood used to build your timber frame home has a direct impact on its structural soundness. We have a large inventory in our yard, which gives us the ability to start on projects without a huge turnaround to wait on materials.
Species of Wood
We build primarily in white pine because of stability and ease of working the joinery. We also use hemlock for exterior applications. For fences and arbours, juniper and eastern white cedar are common. Red oak is used for hardwood splines and built-in benches. Pegs are of black locust and red oak.
Preparation and Project Creation
The seasoned, rough timbers are brought into the shop where they are planed square in our large planer. The we begin the layout process, this is where the mortises and tenons will be cut. We then double check all the measurements (measure twice – cut once). We then begin to make the cuts to begin to bring your project to life! Each piece is carefully labelled to ensure the pieces go back in the right places. Sealing is applied to the ends of each timber, we can then add any embellishments you would like added to your project. We then prefit your project to ensure it meets with our high standards. Final planing then begins. Your project is nearing completion!
Colour and Finish Selections:
At Wise Owl Joinery we offer a variety of stains and finishes to meet a variety of needs and if you have a new idea, we are always open and willing to try to re-create any finish you are looking for.
We have a vast selection of colors to view at our Village Workshop. If you can dream it up, we will try to manufacture it.
Packing, Delivery, and Raising
Packing, Delivery, and Raising:
After we have cut and test-fitted the timbers in our shop, they are finished and stained according to the specifications in the contract. They are then packed and delivered to your site where they are assembled and raised into position.
Because of different geographical areas and unknown weather, the client is responsible for crane time, transportation and Wise Owl Joinery’s time on site. We will organize this step for you.
There is a scheduled payment before the timbers leave our shop and a final payment upon completion of the raising.
Pine Bough
Hang a Pine Bough! – It’s time to Celebrate
A traditional finish to the raising of a timber frame, to pay homage to the forest for giving up the trees, and to wish the clients good luck in their future home.