morris@wvgazette.com

Their exposed wooden support beams evoke rustic, pioneer architecture, and for that reason timber-frame houses have become popular at high-end second-home developments near state resorts.

Looks can be deceiving.

Built with mortise and tendon joinery, the all-wood designs demand sophisticated technology such as programmable saws and microwavelike wood dryers, and actually are on the cutting edge of energy efficiency, said Shannon Westerman, president of Charleston's Mountaineer Timber Frames.

They're also a bright spot in the country's increasingly dour construction market.

"We've been affected by the downsizing of the industry," Westerman said. "But business is starting to see some activity. We think the market is going to be super for us."

He and three other investors - Charleston lawyer Fred Holroyd; Bob Bliss, the chairman of the University of Charleston's Division of Business; and UC business professor Jay Dewhurst - bought the business in August, when it was known as Sunset Structures and had been in operation for 27 years.