Mourne Timber Frame has enjoyed a very successful first five years in business, during which it has earned an enviable reputation for delivering fast, efficient and sustainable new homes that offer outstanding performance.
Based in Kilkeel, Co. Down, Mourne Timber Frame was founded in October 2021 by husband-and-wife Christopher and Amanda Quinn as a sister company to Quinn Joinery & Roofing. It has grown beyond all expectations and now boasts a 14-strong team, including Christopher’s parents Canice and Pauline, and brother James. Mourne Timber Frame manufactures and erects superior quality, airtight timber frame shells in double quick-time nationwide.
“The last five years have flown by,” reflects Christopher who, at 35, is one of Ireland’s youngest timber frame company owners.
“We provide a top-class service that includes off-site manufacturing and erection. We have eight people in the workshop and six on-site. And because we’re a family-run business, you’ll always get one of us. I’m everywhere and anywhere, but you’ll always get me at the end of the phone!
“We recently invested in a 60-tonne crane for installation and use only the very best products, including Scandinavian timber, which undergoes rigorous testing beforehand, fixtures and fittings from Securall Fastenings and insulation from Mannok. Speed and efficiency are our two biggest selling points and have led to us working for developers as well as self-builders and small contractors.
“Our goal for 2026 is to keep growing and to put ourselves into a position where we can deliver turnkey finishes to clients in our own area. The demand for full builds is there and it’s something we’re preparing for by building up our team. About 90% of our work is south of the border where we have a lot of connections and are mainly on big sites. Our work north of the border is mostly self-builds.”
Christopher continues: “Timber frame construction is becoming more and more popular, and accepted. It’s not a lesser option by any means. Off-site manufacturing is perfect for Ireland where the weather often delays things. It also makes it easier to plan ahead with regard to the other trades. There is a quick turnaround time and the customer gets a beautiful, ‘A’-rated home.
“The reason we can get in and out so quickly is that we have already done a lot of the preparatory work off-site, having studied the plans and know exactly what’s happening before we arrive. We’d have been speaking to the client for a couple of months in advance. When we arrive on-site, we don’t hang around unnecessarily. We give the client exactly what they expect and the client is always happy that we can move on to the next phase.”
Clients are assured of an exceptional shell, factory built and expertly fitted, including internal walls and an airtight membrane on the ceilings. Christopher goes on-site to oversee every aspect of the project and when his team moves out, everything is ready for electricians and plumbers to arrive and begin first fixing immediately.
Mourne Timber Frame is at the forefront of off-site timber frame manufacturing, offering a range of specifications while maintaining a reliable service and quality product. The company has completed many timber frame structures since its inception and can count Lagan Homes, Ballygorman and Cranwood Homes among its valued clients.
“We build a lot of creches around Ireland for Lagan Homes’ ‘Fasthouse’ division, which specialises in rapid construction,” the young managing director explains.
“We’ve also forged strong relationships with Ballygorman and Cranwood Homes in recent times. Last year, we carried out our first development for Ballygorman which consisted of nine homes at Nun’s Walk, Collon, Co. Louth, and we’ll shortly be starting a six-unit development for them at Chapel Lane in Tullyallen, and a much larger 65-unit development in Dundalk later in the year. Before partnering with Ballygorman, we were building mostly one-offs, so to work for them was an opportunity we couldn’t refuse.
“We also recently finished a scheme of 11 houses for Cranwood Homes called The Orchard in Carlanstown, Co. Meath. In addition, we’re commencing our single biggest build at the Old Rectory wedding venue in Killyman, Dungannon. It’s the second phase of an accommodation block which is 10,000 sq. ft. in size and is three times bigger than the first phase which we also completed and the client was obviously very pleased with.”
Reflecting on the genesis of the company, Christopher says: “When I left school, my first job was working as a timber frame erector. I’ve been doing this since I was 15 or 16. I spotted a gap in the market for one-off houses and small developments. Everything is going big in Dublin and the big builders don’t want to know about the small jobs, so it was hard for people to find a small timber frame company doing small projects.
“For me, it was a no-brainer to set this company up. I had plenty of connections in the industry. I followed my intuition and started Mourne Timber Frame to provide a service that nobody else was providing. While we’re not as big as others, we can match the big boys for quality and for the direct approach we take.”
As Mourne Timber Frame continues to go from strength to strength, Christopher would like to take this opportunity to thank his clients and suppliers for their continued support as well as his highly-skilled team for their hard work, dedication and expertise.
Here’s to the next five years and many more!
Mourne Timber Frame
40 Greencastle Street,
Kilkeel,
Co. Down,
BT34.
Telephone: 0044 77 56405716
Email: [email protected]
This article was published in Building Ireland Magazine, May 2026, Vol 12 No 5
