Services and products offered by Algonquin Timber Frames
Craftsmanship
A frame built by John R. MacDonald is a quality experience, a celebration
of the beauty of wood. This master timber framer is still hands-on, doing
what he does best, building simple, elegant frames.
Clients love to come by the shop and see their frame in progress. They appreciate the personal touch. The three people that the clients meet in the shop cutting their frame are the same people who arrive at their site to raise the frame.
Our Frames
John crafts traditional timber frames with mortise and tenon joinery from
local white pine. The dramatic, open spaces that timber frames are known
for are made possible by the strength of this joinery. Algonquin Timber
Frames has built frames from Douglas Fir, Mountain Larch and Red Pine
but typically local white pine is used.
We love the look of natural timber so we lightly sand and then apply an eco-friendly oil finish. We softly chamfer timber edges, use drawbored hexagon pegs and house our joints for strength and stability. We seal ends with a natural end sealer to reduce checking.
Depending on the desired feel of your home, the timber can be finished
with a rugged, natural or more refined appearance.
Affordability
We are able to offer high quality frames at very reasonable prices. Our
investment in promotion and advertisement is minimal. Our business comes
by word of mouth. We contract out trucking and limited use of large machinery
when necessary, keeping running costs low and reasonable. You reap the
savings as well.
John’s knowledge and skills developed over 30 years of working with heavy timber has enabled him to streamline the crafting of a frame. His wizardry with an electric chain saw must be seen – cutting exactly to the line, reducing chiseling time.
Our new Swisspro Chain Mortiser (John’s armrest in the accompanying picture)is a dream. It has dramatically cut down our mortise chiseling time.
Loving what he does, John chooses to specialize in timber framing. He encourages clients to hire local contractors, who he will meet and work with to ensure all the details are looked after. He takes the time to hear your ideas and to develop a clear pre-design concept. This offers our clients dramatic savings. We do not take a percentage for the contractor or architect’s work.
To discuss your ideas and pricing, call John 613-584-3806, he loves talking
timber.
Product
We build frames for:
1 & 2 storey houses, cottages, workshops, additions: sunrooms and great-rooms, garages, studios, screened porches, verandas, gazebos & pergolas, retail space, signage, stairs & railings, roof trusses
accent components:
mantles, openings between rooms, archways, eave
accents