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Company founders, brothers Pete, and Wayne Peters, discovered their love for timber framing in the late 1980’s. Their old family barn, built in 1885 was a curiosity. How could it stand so straight and strong for over a century while newer farm buildings had fallen to pieces? The old barn was a timber frame, and it led them to learn everything they could about the timber frame craft, eventually starting Cornerstone Timberframes in 1991.
In those early years, the Peters worked out of a small barn, unloaded timbers by hand and used a single sided planer to square up and surface timbers. The first joinery was cut by chisel, ship’s auger, and hand saw. Despite the hard work, it was a love of craft and grateful clients that kept them learning and improving. In time, a larger shop with modern tooling replaced the little barn.
When the brothers were ready to retire in 2015, Pete’s daughter Tanya Bachmeier stepped up to lead the company. Tanya had started at Cornerstone in 2001, helping to run the office, but she soon found herself giving customers advice on finishing options and before long was applying stain to client timber frames after hours. In 2016, husband Nevin Bachmeier joined the team, bringing his planning and creative solutions mindset to Cornerstone.
Learning and openness to change have always been key to the company’s growth. As owners, Tanya and Nevin realized that the same tools and skills we applied to homes and cottages could also be used for large commercial structures. In 2016 we began working with glulam beams. In 2018 we added our first of two CNC timber cutting machines. And that same year we started offering cross-laminated timber panels (CLT’s) that can span long distances as either floors or walls.
The old 1885 barn continues to inspire new generations, preserved at a nearby historic village. The love for timber framing it set alight at Cornerstone Timberframes continues to burn brightly. We invite you to be in touch about your timber frame project. Let the dream begin!
Tanya grew up in a family involved in almost every aspect of construction. In 2000, she graduated and went straight to work, helping her father and uncle run Cornerstone’s office. In her early years, she handled bookkeeping and gained mastery of 3D design software. As customers asked how they should best protect their timbers, Tanya started by providing advice, but soon found herself staining client frames in the shop after hours. And she hasn’t looked back, annually assisting scores of clients with colour choices and directing a large, professional finishing shop. Tanya along with husband Nevin, purchased Cornerstone in 2015. They have two children.
Personal notes:
Rodney is always ready to discover something new. Learning is essential to his work with clients and colleagues, understanding what they hope to accomplish and helping them achieve it. Experienced in bringing out the best in people and products, Rodney is glad to share his knowledge freely, empowering Cornerstone clients to build some of the most beautiful, comfortable, and high-performing buildings on the market today.
Personal notes:
“I am honoured to carry the family tradition, creating beautiful timber frame structures, and building on a legacy of Integrity, honesty, and authenticity. We value relationships, respectfully acknowledging the value of collaboration while we strive to exceed our clients’ expectations.”
Michael grew up in Winnipeg and studied Architecture at the University of Manitoba. Following school, he spent two years in commercial and residential construction, gaining valuable insight into project management and effective problem solving. Michael’s favourite part of his job is creating personal connection with clients and helping them achieve their visions. Since joining Cornerstone in 2015, he has helped hundreds of clients complete projects big and small with custom timber designs and visualizations.
Personal notes:
Michael studied Architectural Technology & Engineering at Red River College and received his diploma in 2019. One of his favorite job assignments is studying and creating excellent technical details that will satisfy engineers, architects, builders, and clients. He is also Cornerstone’s machine language expert, translating timber designs into files that can be read by our two CNC joinery machines.
Personal notes:
Maison is a Certified Engineering Technologist having graduated from Red River Polytech in 2020. Her work at Cornerstone covers the full spectrum of residential timber design including unique entryways, outdoor structures and full timber homes and cottages. An area of specialty: creating photo-realistic renders to help clients see how their home or cottage will look with furniture, lighting, and finishes.
Personal notes:
Sarah is the friendly voice you will most often hear when you phone Cornerstone. She recently graduated as an Administrative Office Assistant from Robertson School of Business. While working for a national retailer during high school, she realized her joy in serving customers, being part of a team effort and working on solutions for clients. She finds satisfaction in interacting with clients, understanding requests, and connecting customers with the people and information they need.
Personal notes:
At Cornerstone, our top priority is always to ensure we are a good fit with each and every one of our clients. Book a consult to learn about the Cornerstone advantage today.
