Cornerstone Timberframes is a family business owned by brothers Pete and Wayne Peters.
Located near
Mitchell, Manitoba, Canada the company produces hand cut timber frames of exceptional quality.
The company’s origin can be traced back to the quiet and inspiring witness provided by the family’s 1885 timber frame barn. As young men involved in residential and commercial construction, Pete and Wayne marveled at the barn’s ability to shrug off years with little or no maintenance. Why was this old barn still standing when so many newer barns had fallen to pieces? The search for an answer brought them repeatedly back to the amazing joinery that connected a network of beams, posts, rafters and ridges. “After 120 years of wind and storm the place testified to the work of a skilled builder who knew how to lock each of the timbers together into an amazingly resilient and beautiful structure”, recalls Wayne.
When it came time to build homes for their own families the brothers were naturally drawn towards timber framing. In 1990, after introductory and advanced joinery and layout training with timber frame master, Steve Chappell, Cornerstone Timberframes took flight. “We learned the craft, and made all of the novice mistakes on our own homes”, says Wayne with a chuckle, “and even though we might arrange the plans a little differently today, the frames we built for ourselves reflect our love for beautiful timber and authentic details.”
After creating more than 250 timber frames the love affair has only grown, while the original vision continues unchanged. Wayne sums it up, “We are filled with a sense of wonder at what previous generations were able to accomplish with timber and simple tools. We want to follow in their steps with a sense of gratitude and do our work in a way that honours our clients and our craft.”
Cornerstone Timberframes invites you to explore our gallery of photos and favorite plans. Contact us today and tell us about your dreams.
