Blackspruce

We built this custom timber cabin tucked into the trees near Devon, Alberta, where the boreal fringe meets the river valley. The owners wanted a rustic-modern retreat that could handle Alberta winters without losing the warm, hand-hewn feel of a classic backcountry cabin, so we designed a four-season envelope with continuous insulation, triple-pane windows, and a high-efficiency HRV system that keeps the air fresh and the heating bills low.

Because the site sits on a gentle slope with mixed clay and shale, we engineered a site-appropriate foundation that reaches frost depth and uses helical piers where the ground demanded it, all permitted and inspected to Alberta building code. The timber frame was cut and fitted in our shop, then assembled on site with exposed joinery that shows the craft without shouting about it, and the exterior combines locally sourced cedar siding with a standing-seam metal roof rated for heavy snow loads.

Inside, the open plan centers on a stone-surround wood stove, with polished concrete floors that store solar heat by day and release it by night. We ran all mechanicals in dedicated chases so future maintenance never means tearing into finished walls, and every finish, from the live-edge shelving to the zero-VOC millwork, was chosen for durability and indoor air quality. The result is a cabin that feels like it grew out of the land, yet performs like a modern high-performance home.

Haylo Contracting is owner-operated by Scott Pinder, with fifteen-plus years building across Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Parkland County, Edmonton, and the wider Tri-Region. We handle permits, coordinate trades, and keep you informed at every stage so there are no surprises, just a finished project you can trust. If you are picturing your own custom cabin or renovation, reach out for a free quote and let us show you how we build.