Our History

The Big Timberworks legacy began in 1979 as a business that was informally known as “a coalition of log building Gypsies.” Simply put, they built log buildings, learning and honoring a traditional building method based on humble materials used to build personalized and functional structures.

In the learning process, late owner Merle Adams and his partner were building nomads, moving around the country for the sake of mastering woodworking techniques. After gaining valuable skills, they moved back to the Bozeman, Montana area, and by 1983, they transitioned to timber framing, what they considered to be “a very honest form of construction, in which everything shows.”

In search of dry timber, the BT team came across a load of reclaimed lumber from an old industrial building on the West Coast. By 1995, BT was the largest end user of reclaimed timber in the U.S., starting a trend in sustainable building materials. At the same time, BT grew to incorporate a design team, including architects and general contractors, allowing them to build homes from scratch. Shortly after, BT began infusing metal and stone into many projects, enjoying the challenge and design aspects offered by different materials.

Today, BT has evolved and expanded to include timber design, timber framing, wood furniture, custom metalwork, and the reclaimed lumber sawmill. Still clinging to our roots as passionate craftsmen and women at heart, we are now a coalition of designers and wood home builders focused on sustainable building materials and personalized designs with character and soul. Our goal is to always be moving ahead and trying new techniques, without losing sight of age-old traditions.

We are forever linked to the past, but excited about the future.