BUILDING OHIO ABOVE: Pictured is one of the Adkins’ three cabin rentals. The cabin was created and designed by Nathan Adkins as a part of “BEHM Cabin Rental.”
PIONEER TIMBER FRAMING: A LOVE FOR CRAFTMANSHIP Timber framing business out of Adams County builds handcrafted homes
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STORY BY ALEX PORTER | PHOTOS BY JOEY MADORE
athan Adkins’ start to timber framing came major work was for his sister. unexpectedly. Prior to becoming the founder and In 2010, Adkins made the decision to change his career. owner of Pioneer Timber Framing, his profession “I decided to quit my nursing job and go into this was quite the opposite of what he finds himself [timber framing] full time,” he says. But, just like any doing today. decision about leaving a stable job, Adkins had his doubts. “I worked for GE Aviation, and I was a registered “It took a leap of faith for me to leave my job,” he says. nurse,” Adkins says. After working those jobs, he found his “It was a really good job that paid me well, and it was low passion for timber framing. stress.” “Fifteen years ago, I went with my wife for a business Despite these reservations,Adkins dove headfirs meeting she had in Louisville, Kentucky. I bought a book on major factor that motivated him to start a timber framing timber framing and was really interested in it,” Adkins says. business was the lack of competition. Timberframingisauniquecraft dierentfromtraditional “I’m still one of the only people in southern Ohio that lumber building and framing. According to the Timber does the kind of work that I do,” Adkins says. Framers Guild, timber framing uses heavy timbers as the frame of a structure, as opposed to smaller pieces of wood. BUSINESS KEEPS ON BOOMING Additionally, timber framing uses pegs to hold the structure There are perks to being one of the only timber framing together, not nuts, bolts or screws. businesses in southern Ohio. It allows Adkins to stay busy From then on, an interest discovered in a book sparked and creative. a hobby, which sparked a business. Upon returning to “I always love turning nothing into something,” he Ohio, Adkins bought a sawmill and went to work. He says. “For most of the projects, I always do everything, from started with smallcabinsandothertypes offrames. drawing His first the layout to construction.”
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