Ottawa Valley Timber Works

05/05/2026

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Sinko de Mayo this Tuesday May 5th! 😁

04/30/2026

Only in Ottawa can you go from being in a t-shirt and shorts in 20°C weather on a Monday while getting a sunburn on my neck, (yes I'm a bit of a redneck) to 4°C and needing a hoodie and coveralls on a Thursday! 🫪😮‍💨

04/23/2026

Working on a deck job that was pushed back from last year. This one is a 1st for me, for I need a 40' scissor lift to get the materials up there! 😜😅

04/19/2026

Was a bit of a sad farewell on Friday just passed.
As some of you know I'm a grad of the Heritage Carpentry Program at Algonquin College, Perth Campus. Algonquin College

Sadly they are relocating the program to the Woodroffe Campus in Ottawa. This will be a huge loss to the town of Perth.
Whenever I would be in the area I'd always pop in for a visit and chat with my professors.

The purpose of my trip was to pick up a frame that the 2nd year students had built for a client of mine. While I was there I reclaimed my project that I built in my 2nd year. It's been on display in the wood working shop all these years, and I didn't want it to get potentially thrown away. I'll be giving it a new home in my workshop, once I do a small renovation.

04/09/2026

I've watched several of Noah's videos on log cabins. This is what is truly inspiring to me, not the huge Log McMansions that you see on reality TV.

I prefer the quaintness of a smaller cabin. You can always add on to them in the future with something that compliments a log cabin (or Timber Framed).

Go here to check out our Log Cabin Academy and build your dream cabin today: https://handmadehouses.com/log-cabin-academy/Building a log cabin that one will ...

03/16/2026

Yes it's coming! Spring is right around the corner. So you know what that means, you're already late with preparing for a spring build. It's not too late for this summer or fall, but when you're building something that will last generations. Does it really matter if you're a few months behind? 😉

I'd be glad to discuss your ideas for your Custom Timber Framed Structure.

Bunkies
Cabins
Cottages
Custom Homes
Front Entranceway
Outdoor Kitchens
Pool House
Pavilions
Porches

We use Locally Harvested Eastern White Pine from the Ottawa Valley, as well as Douglas Fir. I also have a limited supply of Reclaimed Barn Timbers.

We do Traditional Timber Framing Joinery with Mortice and Tenon held together with Wooden Pegs. That being said for more budget conscious clients we can use structural screws and simplify joinery.

https://www.ottawavalleytimberworks.com/

Looking forward to chatting with you.

Regards
Stephen Snaith

03/16/2026

Comparing Old Growth Douglas Fir to newer growth Eastern White Pine

03/13/2026

Why use an electric planer that makes too much noise, when you can use a sharp Stanley #5? It's also good for your soul, and you get some exercise too! 😁

These are reclaimed Douglas Fir Timbers that were once used for aircraft hangers at the old CAF Rockcliffe Base.
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02/11/2026

The Sun is shining, I have a fire roaring in the wood furnace, listening to some classical music on CBC2 and I'm using my Stanley #5 Plane. Life is good. 😁

To flatten out this Timber it took me less than 5 min, all without the racket of using a noisey electric planer. 😉

02/10/2026

Who needs to go to the gym when you're doing this? Making shavings on some Reclaimed Douglas Fir Timbers.