Hillier Timberworks

What

We are offering a five day introduction to timber framing course at our Huntsville Ontario workshop from April 21st to 25th, 2026 and again September 15th to 19th, 2026. The course will run daily from 8am-4pm. No prior timber framing or construction experience needed, everyone is welcome and we will work with all skill levels to make sure everyone gets the most from this experience. Lunch is included daily as well as snacks and coffee throughout the day. We plan to raise our structure on the final day of the course (Saturday) and your friends and family are welcome to come out and watch you raise what you have spent your week creating and join us for lunch.

Where

The entire course will be held at our workshop at:

1431 Brunel Road

Huntsville Ontario

P1H 2J3

If you are travelling from out of town and need help with accommodations let us know.

Cost

The course is $1400.00 + HST per person. This includes all required tools, the course handbook, and lunch daily. A $250 deposit is required at the time of registration to hold your spot and the remainder is due one week prior to the start of the course. Each course is capped at eight participants.

The Project

We are still working on some designs for the 2026 courses. During our Fall 2025 course we built an 8’ x 12’ bunkie/ shed out of S4S planed white pine timber. The course will take you from the first step of sorting timber through to raising the cut frame. The final structure is available for purchase if you are interested in the building. The SketchUp model of our Fall 2025 project is below (in Downloads) if you would like to have a look at it.

Safety

Your own steel toed footwear, safety glasses, and hearing protection is required. A downloadable copy of the Safety Booklet can be found at the bottom of this page along with a waiver. The Safety Booklet must be read, in full, prior to the first day of the course. A signed copy of the waiver can be emailed prior to the course or submitted on the first day of the course.

Tools

Tools will be provided but if you would like to bring some of your own (or do a little shopping before hand) please see the list below for suggestions. The low cost items early on the list would be helpful to bring along. The larger ticket items are very much optional. The list is approximately in order of most important first and includes some links for suggestions based on what we have found works well. We will have plenty of time to discuss tools throughout the course if you would like suggestions for tooling up in the future for your own project.

Tool Box or Bag

Pencils

Utility Knife

Tape Measure (imperial)

Framing Square

Combination Square

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/empire-true-blue-12-inch-combo-square/1000836322

Speed Square (12+ inches)

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/dewalt-12-inch-quick-square/1000737505

Angle Guide

https://www.atlas-machinery.com/stabila/STAB-39018/?sku=STAB-39018&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22748439742&gbraid=0AAAAAC6U5Fe88wn01Pt9-6r7XBdrEQya-&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwZDFBhCpARIsAB95qO1Wu-fqwOYXPoDdpW4C3TodysQNitpkzbJsSZg2DrvwpVN2SDZt614aAtCoEALw_wcB

Timber Framing Chisel (1.5” is the priority but if you would like to invest in more than one a 2” would also be useful)