Testimonials

“Ray, Dave, John, Heather, Riley, and the entire team at Timberline

I just want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for all you and the rest of the team and subs have done to get us back to our cottage.

It has been a stressful year since the fire and you all have been so professional and accommodating.

It was amazing to walk in on Friday afternoon and see the transformation that has been made. 

We were overwhelmed at the new look and the detail and appreciate the hard work involved.  It was so nice to sit in the living room and look around at the view, once again. 

We never appreciate things until they are gone, and the entire Timberline team has revitalized the cottage and brought it back to life, and even better!

I know there are still several small things to complete over the coming few weeks, but we are so thankful to be able to use the cottage so soon, as you predicted on schedule. 

Thanks so, so much, once again for giving us back our cottage.”

Mark & Florence, Chemong Lake, 2019

“Timberline was a great building partner. They rescued a troubled project and delivered a fantastic product. They always acted as if the cottage was their own and delivered my project with excellent quality. I could sleep soundly at night knowing they were on the job. I would highly recommend the Timberline team to anyone looking to build a cottage or home.”

Gabor, Jack Lake, 2019

“Many thanks to Timberline for making our dreams come true! Our final decision to chose Timberline for our build was based on the level of trust that Ray Northey provided during our initial meeting. That trust was felt and delivered throughout our build from Ray's team and all of the sub-trades that partner with Timberline. Timberline delivered a high quality of workmanship, by a team who were always professional and pleasant to deal with throughout the process”.

Dave & Louise, Rice Lake, 2019

“John, Ray & Team,

Just a note to say thank you so much for the wonderful experience we had with you through our reno. The house looks great. Communication was fantastic. We have been through 2 other major renos & this experience was the best by far. Thanks again.”

Terri & Andrew, Katchewanooka Lake, 2019

“Timberline was great to work with. They listened to what we wanted and provided lots of design ideas without ever pushing anything on us, and were flexible when wanted to make adjustments. The quality of the work is excellent and they have been responsive to any issues even after completion. They did a tremendous job managing the project and coordinating all of the trades, saving us a few headaches along the way. Throughout the entire process they showed themselves to be honest and trustworthy, and we would definitely recommend them.”

Heather & Alasdair, Marmora, 2018

“Having wanted Ray to build us a home for quite a number of years it finally happened.  What a journey we have been on and Ray’s team was there, various crews and their specialties coming and going throughout. 

We began with design and were led through all the stages of the build with as much hand holding as we needed.  Adam was amazing to work with and took the extra time to make sure we understood and enjoyed the process.  When we asked questions, we got answers.  We were kept involved with decision making and were given leeway and assistance when we ran out of ability to come up with ideas or make decisions.  When we visited the site, we always felt welcome and comfortable.

Our new home is absolutely stunning, comfortable and feels like we created it from the ground up!  

To Ray, Adam, Dave, Dave, John and Derek as well as others, we very much appreciate all the caring and concern and expertise you brought to our project!

Thank you!”

Julie & Bryn, Elizabethville, 2018

"We are thrilled with our new cottage on the lake.

The Timberline folks were absolutely great to work with and did a awesome job. 

We were very impressed with their input on design concepts and the quality of their work. Each member of their team always seemed willing to go that extra step which ultimately made our building experience such a success. 

For anyone thinking of building a new place, we would certainly recommend talking to Timberline.

Timberline's honesty, integrity and professionalism - will not let you down."

Lynda & Gary, Belmont Lake, 2017

"We looked for a long time for a cottage that would meet our needs. We could never seem to find the right combination of location (with privacy) and design (able to house a family of three without feeling too large but also able to expand comfortably to host our extended families as well).

We found the lot and could see that it would provide us with a sense privacy even with neighbours quite close behind us. 

We asked Coryn and Julia from Backoffice if they would like to work on a design for us. The desire was to have a four season cottage where public and private spaces were separated, that could expand for larger groups when necessary but still feel properly sized for our small family. We wanted a design that would be energy efficient and give us as much access to the lake as possible. We also wanted to work with the land as much as possible. They came to view the site and get some ideas and then designed 6 to scale models for us.  We chose the design that appealed to us most in its simplicity and in the full storey exposure to the lake.

We asked around the lake for recommendations for builders and heard of Timberline. We knew that it would be a challenging design with many non-standard aspects that would require a lot of skill and patience to realize. From the unique engineering challenge of the floating upper volume to the exacting detail of all of the finishes, Timberline always came through; they worked extremely well with Coryn and Julia to execute their vision, and shared Coryn & Julia’s incredible attention to detail.

Coryn and Jon visited the site weekly or biweekly throughout most of the construction to handle the compromises that must happen between design and implementation. As soon as the concrete was poured and we could climb into the upper volume and see the vista of the beautiful lake - we were overcome with excitement. Timberline’s office staff, as well as their carpenters and sub-trades on site, without fail were friendly, helpful, considerate, and accommodating of the many requests, changes, and questions we had as construction progressed.

It has been a very long journey but with Coryn, Julia and Timberline to help guide us, we are extremely happy with the results. The attention to detail of the Timberline carpenters was incredible, and without that, the clean lines and deceptive simplicity of both the design and the finishes that we love would not have been possible. We have already had several full family gatherings at the cottage and it has been very accommodating. Everyone who comes to stay enjoys the cottage, and the comfortable and beautiful setting it provides to admire and enjoy the stunning Stoney Lake."

Jon & Gillian, Stoney Lake, 2017

"Hicks selected Timberline to be their construction manager . Hicks used to own a construction company himself and was impressed with the attention to detail and communications  between the  timberline team and his family.

They were  very aware of the objectives of Hicks and a rather short time line to construct the cottage so no summer season was lost. Starting in September of 2016  the cottage was ready for occupancy by July of the following year.

The team at timberline worked well with some trades that were brought in from Toronto to finish a few select items .

The millwork was all completed by Cabinetree and while being one of their larger projects to date they finished it with skill in coordination with the Timberline team.

The team at Timberline worked very closely with the site servicing companies and a unique solution was found and developed for the septic system with the sanitary filed area some 300 to 400 feet from the cottage.

Hicks thanks the Timberline team for creating a cottage that will meet the needs of a larger extended family for years to come. Since the cottage has been occupied  Timberline has been there to follow up on any service related issues  of which there have been literally none  and to make sure we are happy with the end result.

Hicks also wishes to acknowledge the staff and members of council at North Kawartha for their support of the project and for understanding the goals and objectives of the owner when they were considering the zoning amendments for the cottage."

Bill & Pamela, Stoney Lake, 2017

"We built our cottage/retirement home almost 20 years ago. But our dream home always felt like a “house on a lake”, not a cottage. Finances back then determined we finish the interior with drywall, not wood, but we always said one day we would like to “cottage-ify” our home on Stoney with warmer-feeling wood.

And so began my vision of “cottage-ification”.  After discussing my vague desire of more wood on walls and ceilings, Ray from Timberline walked through the cottage and started to expand upon my thoughts. On the main level I wanted ceilings transformed from drywall to wide white knot-free tongue-and-groove planking. I wanted stained pine on the walls, and to replace the 2” light maple flooring with 6-12” reclaimed elm boards.

With that start in mind, Ray stood in the kitchen, looked at the layout and ceiling bulkheads and suggested a post-and-beam look. Brilliant! The finishing blended beautifully with our kitchen cabinets, which we did not change.  All interior and exterior doors and windows were also kept, and Mel from Timberline was a wizard matching the stain on the new framing and baseboards to the existing doors and windows. Ceilings are all now white 6” poplar throughout the main and loft levels.  Paint colours were freshened up in the bathrooms and loft rooms and the pot lighting and wall fixtures were all upgraded to LED. Soft warm ambient lighting now glows on the new warm pine walls and gorgeous elm floor.

The lower level is where Ray’s understanding of my vision excelled. When we built, we had to blast away rock to create the walk-out ground floor. So I asked Ray if we could bring the look of rock back to that rear wall. After several drawings and ideas, we decided on the entire rear wall being clad in dry-stacked rock, and chose a rock with quartz content so that it has a subtle but stunning glitter in the light. It is truly beautiful and the key feature of the lower-level design. The built-in TV area is also inviting and functional now.

I grew up across the bay in my parents’ cottage which was panelled in reclaimed barn board, and wanted to recreate that on the other walls in the lower level.  Ray pointed out how expensive reclaimed barn board would be, and instead suggested rough pine that his painters stained to look exactly like aged barn board. It was inexpensive, beautiful and a perfect contrast to the rock wall. Again Ray’s eye saw big barn beams and post supports which finish the room beautifully. We also took the barn board into the three lower-level bedrooms and bathroom, with different combinations of barn board and drywall chosen by each of our three (adult) children to match their tastes.  The bedroom ceilings and floors were redone in 6” stained pine to match the new baseboards and window and door framing. 

Our “Cottage-ification”was a huge job, but the end result blending the original kitchen cabinetry, doors and windows with new walls, floors and ceilings throughout has exceeded our vision of “cottage-ification” on the main level. On the lower level Timberline transformed a big open cold space into a stunning natural/rustic space with TV viewing comfort, fireplace seating and a games nook, while updating the bedrooms and bathroom from “kid spaces” to warm and elegant rooms for our now adult family.

We love our “Cottage-ification” and the warm ambience it has created.  Thanks Ray!"

Sheila & Tim, Stoney Lake, 2017

"A spectacular, though challenging, riverfront setting and a design concept for a home with a distinctive period feel, called for a builder who understood our vision and could carry it out. Ray and the Timberline Custom Homes team finalized the design, carefully incorporating desired elements of Craftsman style such as windows and millwork and sourcing appropriate materials. Keys to the success of our build were the care paid to details by the skilled Timberline crew and sub-contractors and the constant communication with us. While our new home is energy-efficient and built to meet and exceed current standards and requirements, it has an early 20th Century warmth and hand-crafted charm. We're delighted with our new home."

Doug & John, Quarry Lake, 2016

"We have used Timberline Homes to construct our wonderful home. Timberline’s attention to detail and care in construction is exemplary. We recently added a theatre room and we are so pleased with it!  Timberline’s willingness to work with us and meet our needs provided for an exceptional state of the art theatre. Thank you Timberline Homes!"

Tiana & Marc, Stoney Lake, 2016

"We want to thank Timberline Custom Homes and their team for turning our cottage into a fantastic forever home for our family.

We first moved from Toronto 13 years ago, and were fortunate enough to purchase a Ray Northey home that was built when Ray was building his company. Our home was well built and perfect for us. When we wanted to expand we turned to Ray Northey and Timberline Homes to build a second floor screen porch to add to our upper deck. The workmanship was superb and added useful space for us.

When we decided to sell our country home and expand and renovate our cottage so that we could live on Stoney year round, we turned to Timberline Homes once again. Ray was gracious and discussed with us what our wants and needs were and from there he came up with an architectural plan that not only fit our family but kept the bones of our original cottage which was important to us as it held so many special memories. We want to thank Chris Clouthier, our project manager, and his team for their friendliness, skill and ability to make us feel part of the project at all points in the process. Our questions were quickly answered and any changes that needed to be made were quickly taken care of. The subcontractors that Timberline used during our build were professional and did a fantastic job. 

We would definitely recommend Timberline Homes. We have been here for just over a year now and living on the lake in our beautiful home has been a dream come true."

Sharon & Rob, Stoney Lake, 2015

"Ray,

We are thrilled with our new cottage and will be pleased to be a reference for you and your team. A unique, custom-designed cottage, taking in to account the considerations of the users and constraints of land lot, was created by Timberline Custom Homes. Our cottage was a new-build delivered ON-TIME and ON-BUDGET. The 19-page quoted identified the costs in detail and the potential issues were identified before we signed the contract. We were kept apprised of progress with pictures and cottage was delivered clean and ready to move-in on THE DATE promised 9 months earlier. Surprise visits to construction site always found it clean and questions were promptly responded to. Ray Northey, his team and contract suppliers have a good eye and we valued the suggestions and recommendations they made to our new summer home. Excellent workmanship and pride in their skills is evident in our new property."

John, Cecile, John, MC, Anstruther Lake, 2015

"An old story: three generations don’t fit into a two bedroom cottage. We had heard good things about Ray and Timberline from other people on the lake, so we asked him to do a design that would add two bedrooms, another bathroom, a larger kitchen, and a screened porch, but keep the old great room, which we all liked. From his years of experience, he came up with a design that kept the look of the old cottage and still fit in with the rocks and trees. Adam’s computer renderings were extremely timely and helpful as we went through many detailed design alternatives. The cost estimates were higher than we had hoped, but excited at the idea of having our “dream” cottage, we decided to go ahead.

Construction started in the fall of 2014, with a view to completion in the spring. Our first surprise was excavation of a full basement where we expected to find mostly bedrock. The next surprise was the coldest winter in years, really tough on the work crew, who somehow managed to keep going day after bitter day. Ray’s team was great in terms of the quality of their work and their responsiveness to changes. Fortunately our son-in-law Pierre is keenly interested in all aspects of construction, materials and products, and monitored every detail of the work through to the finishing touches. He was in touch with Adam on a daily basis for months. Chris, the site lead, was a pleasure to work with, and very skilled and experienced in his work and coordinating the trades and the inevitable changes. All the subcontractors were also very good. The cost estimate and change order process was very disciplined.

Having used the cottage all summer, we are very pleased with the design and workmanship and would recommend Timberline highly."

Bob and Laura, Stoney Lake, 2015

"Our existing garage had low door and interior height and a floor that flooded, froze and thawed every winter.  I approached Timberline and had them prepare a plan ... several modifications later, a deal was struck and work commenced.

 Our new garage is 36' x 48' and includes an external wood boiler heated floor, hoists, a laundry tub and bathroom.

 All building projects run into glitches and gotchas and our project was no exception.  All issues were handled professionally and efficiently.

 We have known Ray Northey for many years as he has built my in-law's and several friends and neighbors' homes.  Ray is very personable, trustworthy and it is always a pleasure to work with him and his team at Timberline Custom Homes."

Ian & Jan, Stoney Lake, 2015

"This project was one of several we've undertaken in the past five years, since buying our cottage on Upper Stoney Lake in 2010.  Each project has been done by Timberline, and we go back to them for the following reasons (and this last project was no exception).

Conventional wisdom is that if any major home renovation meets two of the following criteria, you should consider yourself lucky: very good quality, delivery on time, delivery within budget. Perhaps we're luckier than most, but Timberline has managed to deliver against all threecriteria on all our renovation projects.  This was all-the-more surprising as a number of the projects were essentially 'floor to ceiling rebuilds' of various areas (e.g. kitchen, bedrooms, sitting rooms, new additions) of our 5 bedroom, two storey cottage.

Ray Northey and his folks at Timberline have a very approachable demeanour, making our interactions with them always engaging and helpful.  They make great recommendations on design (building on our initial ideas and wants), and - because they know the region so well - they can suggest excellent service providers and appliance vendors with value-for-money in mind.

Most important to us has been Timberline's responsiveness to our occasional follow up questions or concerns; if something is not quite right, or not what we'd expected, Ray and folks are always there to make adjustments and ensure we're happy with the end result.  Pride in the end product and a client service orientation set Timberline apart."

Brian & Brad, Stoney Lake, 2015

"Timberline Homes understood our vision.  A home that on the outside, not only took advantage of the shape of the point of land to maximize lake vista's but blended into the landscape with very subtle and natural colors for siding, trim and stone.  On the inside we wanted a home that reflected what we think we stand for.  A place that not only welcomed you in but made you very comfortable, warm and at ease.

  Ray and his team worked hard to utilize our choices of very old barn board for floor, lots of stone and wall coverings usually reserved for outside use (clapboard etc), old barn beams for stair treads, a massive stone tub, and a very demanding A/V and lighting plan (just to mention a few of our selections/challenges for them) to achieve something beyond our wildest dreams.

Thanks Ray & team (Fèith Lodge) A dream come true!"

Kyle & Rosemary, Stoney Lake, 2014

"When we purchased this cottage five summers ago, we had a dream of adding a bunkee for our children.  Although we had been at my parents’ family cottage right next door for ~25 years, it was great to start to visualize our future extension of our own family cottage.  As this cottage addition was designed as a once in a lifetime extension, every detail was an important decision and we took great care in picking the perfect custom home builder.  My husband and I were not looking forward to living through construction, but Ray Northey and the Timberline team made this experience easy and hassle free.  Not only did they take care of all our architectural drawings, permits, coordinating all services/inspections, referring all ancillary services (e.g. landscaping) they proactively offered suggestions on how to make our addition better.  Their professional manner in clearly articulating what they would build, how much it would be, and how long it would take, while managing any changes through change requests, gave us great comfort.  This approach enabled us to make informed decisions to manage our costs, quality & time.  They built our addition over the winter while keeping the property neat & clear so we were able to access our property every weekend.  Not only did they deliver exactly what they showed us on budget, it was ahead of time.  Plus the workmanship was exemplary and exceeded our expectations!!  Not only were we delighted, our children love it!  We highly recommend Timberline to make your lifetime dream a reality!"

Doug & Sharon, Stoney Lake, 2009