Loudonville, Ohio— OakBridge Timber Framing Ltd., based here, pre-cuts and installs timber frame homes. The company purchases 195,000 total board feet annually of Softwoods and hardwoods.
In the past 10 years, the company has experienced growth both in employees and production. “My sons have also become partners and are active in the family business,” explained Owner and CEO Johnny Miller. “In 2010 there were only a handful of us. Today, we have nearly tripled the amount of wood we use and a lot has changed since then.”
He continued, “In 2014 we felt like we were at a crossroads. We wanted to move on up the mountain of excellence of service, client experience, quality of product and internal client (employee) experience. So we launched ‘Pinnacle 2014’. We got our suppliers and our associate companies together for a conference to thank everyone for helping us get this far up the mountain. We invited everyone to continue with us, or they had the option to stay at the comfortable heights they were in that would be their decision. The end result was that some decided to drop out and others joined the exciting climb! It has been a fun and strenuous climb.”
Established in 1986 by Johnny Miller and Levi Hochstetler, the company is composed of three generations of an Amish family.
Miller and Hochstetler began OakBridge Timber Framing from their experience raising barns in their youth. “Timber framing has always been part of our culture,” Miller said. “My father built mortise and tenon structures with his father.”
OakBridge Timber Framing’s custom timber frame homes are constructed from Douglas Fir and white oak. Throughout history Amish and Mennonite people have been recognized for their hard work, attention to detail and true commitment to the craft of constructing barns and other buildings. Much like their Amish ancestors, the skilled craftsmen at OakBridge take pride in their work as they craft each timber with hand tools. Utilizing a traditional draw bore technique with 1-inch pegs, the joiners achieve exact cuts and precision in the joinery of timbers. “We use a draw bore technique, which makes for much tighter joints,” Miller explained. “We plane and finish our frames using a lot of techniques to keep our joints as tight as possible.”
“Our mission is to build dreams that bring families together and enrich lives.”
Johnny Miller, Owner/CEO, OakBridge Timber Framing Ltd.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has brought about changes. Miller said, “As for frame raisings, we didn’t do very much in the early months of the pandemic. But being classed as essential, and with a good amount of projects booked, we were able to keep pre-cutting and stacking. By the later months our woodshop storage was bulging.”
As for ways the business changed operations he noted, “On the main day of our frame raisings we have a traditional cooked frame raising feast. So this past summer, the ladies delivering the food would dish out the food instead of the self-serve. Also we usually invite past and potential clients to the frame raising, but mostly we just had the client and their friends. We feel very blessed to have been able to keep going strong.”
When asked to what he attributes the continued success of OakBridge Timber Ltd., he said, “We have a great team that takes our clients through a well-defined process. We believe the less surprises, overall the better the experience for the consumer. When it comes to the backbone of our company, I would quickly point to my father that has been with us from the get-go in 1986. He is now 82 and still comes to the woodshop every day. His mentoring of his grandchildren (third generation) has been invaluable. He loves working with wood and has brought a lot to the table.”
Miller continued, “Also, we believe the values of family, faith and work ethic play a big role in our success. Work was a big part way back in the creation. So, working and accomplishing are divine and that is where part of our human fulfillment comes from that gives us a sense of purpose.”
The Millers prefer to use Douglas Fir in Softwood lumber and red and white oak in hardwood lumber. “Oak has a nice grain pattern and beautiful character. White oak is rot-resistant,” Miller commented. “We live in the heart of some of the best oak in the country. Douglas Fir also is a very strong wood; it’s softer and lighter.”
Miller and his team of 14 employees build an average of 30-plus projects per year. “Our projects are beautiful homes, banks, wedding venues, wineries, outdoor spaces and museums,” he said. He added that he appreciates the size of his company as it is today, to ensure exceptional quality craftsmanship. “I have been to many old-fashioned barn raisings where the frame is raised, enclosed and even the stalls are built in one day by a crowd of several hundred people. But those framers used rough sawn and unfinished timbers and the joints didn’t fit very tight. Our plan is to grow in size slowly, but focus primarily on growing in quality and service.”
A family owned and operated company, key employees include Johnny Miller’s father, four sons and a daughter, two brothers, three nephews, and a few cousins and friends.
With timber frames now in 27 states, Johnny Miller is still in contact with many of his previous customers. “Our mission is to build dreams that bring families together and enrich lives,” he said, referring to the company’s mission statement, which is complimented by the company motto, “Where quality is first, quality lasts.”
Committed to the environment, OakBridge Timber frame homes are constructed from the highest quality timbers. The entire building process is energy efficient and non-toxic to the environment. And in keeping with their Amish culture, the OakBridge facility is run by manpower, pneumatic and solar power.
OakBridge Timber Framing Ltd. is a member of the Timber Framers Guild, Timber Frame Business Council, the Building Industry Assoc. of North Central Ohio, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
OakBridge’s homes are custom designed for each customer, either from an original design, or starting from a wishlist.
To learn more visit them at www.oakbridgetimberframing.com.
