Sam grew up in nearby Topsham, VT on a homestead with his four older sisters and younger brother, and he first learned about building from his father– a talented carpenter. He briefly left New England to attend Reed College in Portland, Oregon then Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY, where he graduated in 2005 with a B.A. in Psychology.
Sam first developed his passion for building as a professional trail builder on the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Trail Crew, where he spent five summers building stone staircases, water bars and retaining walls on the trails of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. The trail projects he enjoyed most were the bridges and ladders and boardwalks—anything that meant getting to shape wood with his hands.
In 2011, Sam opened his own building business and began tackling jobs of all sizes: from window replacement to whole-house gut and remodel. He developed a reputation for high quality work, and dove into understanding houses as an entire system— from a birds-eye view of structure and aesthetics to the nitty gritty everyday living details, like how many steps from the stove to the refrigerator and the exact placement of light switches.
Seeking a larger community of builders to learn and grow with, Sam joined the TimberHomes team in 2017.
Sam has also worked in wilderness therapy, leading outdoor expeditions for troubled teens and sharing with them his love for the outdoors and the opportunities for personal growth while pushing oneself in the mountains. When he’s not building and discussing the finer points of insulation and air sealing, Sam enjoys rock climbing, camping, skiing, cooking, singing, and spending time with his two daughters on their family homestead.
