Alton Road

This 2400 sqft home in Harrowsmith, Ontario was discovered by their owners in 2004. It is a classic Ontario cottage that has the profile and form that only a heritage home can have. This home required a complete rebuild and was a project taken on by the owners who were both graduates of the heritage trades program in Perth Ontario.

The original home was striped to the original hand hewn timber frame shell and re-wired, plumbed and then insulated with spray foam creating a very efficient home. The owners maintained the trim and room shapes but completely re-built the home taking care to match and respect the original build. The windows were rebuilt to match the original 6 over 6 sash by restoration expert Dave White. On the exterior, the original corner boards, frieze and water table were replicated to match the original home, and the new siding is natural cedar shingles.

The addition was build by Gibson Timber Frames and done in White oak. This timber frame style was taken from the 17th century timber frames of Europe. The roof is built with heavy pulins that support a lighter secondary rafter system. This system makes use of all tree parts, big and small, and was developed as the number of trees dwindled in Europe. The stone fire place and chimney was built using local hand faced limestone harvested from a barn foundation. The floors in the addition are re-claimed boards re-used from the removed sheathing on the original house. Although the re-use of the local and natural material is labour intensive, it has a lighter impact on the environment and creates a comfort and appeal that can not be obtained with man made replications.

The property also had a carriage house that was re-build by Gibson Timber Frames with new timber using traditional joinery and is a replication of the original building. The large 36 x 48 barn at the back of the property is in excellent condition with hand hewn timbers and a stone foundation. This barn has been converted to a fully operational and insulated workshop with new 2" pine t&g floors currently used as Gibson Timber Frames work shop.

The 5 acre parcel is professionally landscaped with natural stone work including two natural limestone patios and a fertile vegetable garden created with 20 yards of top grade compost and soil.

Special thanks to all of the trades people and companies who understood this rehabilitation and helped make this project happen: Oosterhof Electrical, Leonard fuels, Gibson Brothers Flooring, DJ White Restoration, Shea Construction, Lowen Windows and Doors, Frasers Drywall, The Wood Source, Atkinson Home building Center, Brad Smith Spray Foam and Simmons Plumbing.

Gibson Timber Frames is expanding and this property including the house and shop will be entering the market soon.

Building Specs:

Builder: Gibson Timber Frames
Wood Species: White Oak, White Pine