Cabin Creek Timber Frames, based in Franklin, N.C., specializes in one-of-a-kind timber frame structures erected from Eastern White Pine, Cypress and Douglas Fir.
CABIN CREEK Makes Dream Homes A Reality
By Michelle Keller
Franklin, N.C.—If you can visualize it, Cabin Creek Timber Frames can likely create it. Specializing in handcrafted mortise and tenon timber frame structures, Cabin Creek has been in operation since 1996.
The company’s one-of-a-kind timber frame structures are erected from Eastern White Pine, Cypress and Douglas Fir. Cabin Creek purchases approximately 100,000 board feet annually of green timbers.
“We design and build timber frame buildings expected to last centuries,” co-owner Joe Bell said. “We work diligently to bring beauty, elegance, durability, and energy efficiency to your residential, commercial, or public space. Together with Structural Insulated Panels, these buildings cost half or less of what a stud wall/fiberglass insulated building would cost to heat and cool,” he continued.
It’s not by accident that Cabin Creek has a reputation of ‘celebrating’ wood. The company’s staff consists of skilled craftsmen with impressive backgrounds. A Naval Vietnam veteran, Dr. Joe Bell established Cabin Creek while operating his anesthesiology practice. He has a number of years of experience cutting and designing timber frames and even ran a summer camp that included a timber frame program.
Every piece of the timber frame is handcrafted to exacting specifications.
After 35 years in anesthesiology, Dr. Bell retired from medicine and focused on Cabin Creek Timber Frames. However, at the beginning of the current recession he had the foresight and the love of his business to come out of retirement and teach at Wake Forest University, where he is an assistant professor of anesthesiology.
Bell is still active and very much a part of the day-to-day aspects of Cabin Creek. “I am still very active in timber framing,” he explained. “When not at the hospital, I enjoy maintaining several of our larger pieces of machinery including the 1928 Tannewitz 36" band saw. I also present AIA approved continuing education on timber framing to architects in the Southeastern United States. Other days I can be found in the sales office at Cabin Creek Timber Frames.”
Jo "Miss Jo" Bell worked as a registered nurse from 1974 to 2001. She formally joined Cabin Creek after marrying Bill in December of 2001. Jo works in sales and makes sure the financial part of the timber framing process moves smoothly.
Cabin Creek Timber Frames has the capability of designing timber frame structures using the latest in CAD software. Only after the design is completed, their artisan timber framers grade and select each and every timber that will go into the timber frame. Every piece of the timber frame is handcrafted to exacting specifications. Once all the individual pieces have been handcrafted, the craftsmen perform a trial assembly of the structure in the beamery of their own facility.
Once all the individual pieces have been handcrafted, the craftsmen perform a trial assembly of the structure in the beamery of their own facility.
“Trial assembling double checks that all 'the individual pieces' are correct, ensuring that once we are on your jobsite the work flow is as safe andas smooth as possible,” the company website www.cabincreektimberframes.com states. “The timber framers who handcrafted your timber frame are the SAME individuals who will be erecting it on your job site.”
Kevin Lanier, experienced timber framer and CAD designer, was a deputy sheriff for Cobb County, Ga., for eight years. Lanier started his career with Cabin Creek Timber Frames as a timber framer and later as a designer. Lanier’s knowledge of universal building codes and what is feasible for different areas of the U.S. is vast. One of Cabin Creek’s compound joinery instructors both in the beamery and in their workshops, he uses a state-of-the-art timber design CAD program to draw in 3-D and create blueprints for cutting timbers in their beamery.
The firm’s timber frame artisans include John Booker, Jeremy Ford and Roy Holloway.
The company’s one-of-a-kind timber frame structures are erected from Eastern White Pine, Cypress and Douglas Fir. Cabin Creek purchases approximately 100,000 board feet annually of green timbers.
The timber framers who cut the frame travel to each job site to raise the frame. “Prior to the raising of the frame, post lengths are left long. Often, sub-floors built prior to our arrival are not level. We measure elevations of each post position and cut the post to the correct length for each position on site to ensure a level and plumb frame.”
Tongue and groove or paneling is applied next. “We encourage the use of what we consider the most cost effective insulation on the market today, SIPS,” Cabin Creek’s website explains. “A sandwich panel of oriented strand board (OSB) on both sides and Styrofoam in the middle, SIPSs are much tighter in controlling air flow (or heat loss) through the walls or roof. SIPS adds a very strong component to the already quite strong timber frame. SIPS are precut with prepared window and door openings, which are ready to accept units from a supplier. After this is done, we turn over the essentially green project to the general contractor.”
A testament to their belief in this method, the Bells built their own timber frame home in 2005 utilizing SIPS for insulation. “Over five years, with an electric heat pump, it averages $80 per month to heat, cool and power,” Dr. Bell explained.
Specializing in handcrafted mortise and tenon timber frame structures, Cabin Creek has been in operation since 1996.
Cabin Creek Timber Frames is a member of the Timber Framers’ Guild and the Timber Frame Business Council. Dr. Bell is an accredited lecturer for the American Institute of Architects and a diplomat of the American Board of Anesthesiology. For more information visit www.cabincreektimberframes.com or contact (828) 369-5899.
Buildings usually go up from subfloor to dried in and insulated structures within 2-3 weeks, allowing comfortable work in any weather, and minimizing exposure to the elements.
