NORFAB HISTORY
Norfab is a modern and progressive company that specializes in pre-fabricated components. The list includes the following great products
1.) Roof and floor trusses to fit any specifications
2.) Pre-fabricated lawn and garden sheds of many sizes and styles.
3.) Pre-fabricated gazebos coming in several sizes and styles to suit your
personal needs.
4.) Super Stair Stringers, in 10 and 14 risers that can be cut and fit to
requirements.
5.) Dog houses that can be assembled in under 5 minutes.
6.) Automatic patio screen door closures exclusive in the North American
market.
7.) Sturdy shelf brackets made from 2 x 3 SPF material and assembled in our
plant using truss plates for superior strength.
8.) Pre-fabricated picnic tables
9.) Deck bench brackets

Norfab was created in 1987 by its current President Mr. Mel DeGagne. We started with a mission to manufacture quality roof trusses in a timely fashion. Mr. DeGagne was a home builder, and tired of truss plants telling him he would have to wait 6 to 8 weeks for roof trusses. Once this was under
control and running smooth , the company began to diversify into other products such as cedar gazebos, lawn and garden sheds , deck bench brackets, dog houses, shelf brackets, and stair stringers to mention a few.

With hard work and great products, Norfab has become an International Player. From the humble beginnings with 2 employees, Norfab has grown to a staff of over 150 employees and works two and sometimes three shifts,
seven days a week to keep our lead times in check . Our production floor space has grown from 1600 to over 55,000 square feet.

In order to keep up with demands, Norfabs administration has also been forced to grow to include, accounting with our own CGA, research and design team , marketing and sales team, shipping and receiving, purchasing department, customer service team, human resources and computer/web page analyst.

Norfab is located on the Ontario, Minnesota, and Manitoba border in Northwestern Ontario, approximately 5 hours north of Minneapolis, or 250 miles west of Thunder Bay and 250 miles east of Winnipeg. We are conveniently located for ease of shipping and market accessibility into continental United States and Canada. As a matter of fact if you look on a map of Canada and the United States, Fort Frances Ontario will be right in the centre.

In the beginning Norfab’s main thrust was in design and manufacturing of roof trusses, which is still is a large part of our business today.

During 1988 Mr. DeGagne saw an additional market opportunity for Norfab in the pre-fabricated structure business starting with cedar gazebos, and later
followed by lawn and garden sheds.

At first there was one size and style. Today there are 4 sizes, with 4 different models to choose from, plus we offer a wide array of options such as 2 tier roofs, cupola , planter boxes, screen kits, interior kits for gazebo roofs, walls, and floors, as well as roll up vinyl windows. Today we distribute thousands of units from Vancouver to Toronto and from New York to California.

Although we expanded a little each year, in 1998 we almost doubled the production floor space to accommodate the huge growth in lawn and garden sheds, and to satisfy a desire to accommodate our customers in a more efficient and timely fashion. This new building is where the shed components are pre-fabricated to strict specifications, allowing our customers to fulfill their storage needs with a world class shed.

Keeping the bugs out, and now protecting people from deadly viruses, has been a goal of Norfab from the beginning with our gazebos. While screen kits are a standard feature with our Natural series, they are available on all other gazebos we manufacture.

Norfab also offers Stair Stringers to their customers as an alternative to building their own. These stair Stringers are available to our customers in standard 10 or 14 risers, which can be cut to your specifications. By using our own unique design and a 2 x 6 strong back, our “Super Stair Stringers” are more than twice as strong as regular notched ones. Pre-fabricated stair stringers save builders time and money.

We are constantly searching for new wood products to manufacture, and are always open to suggestions. Recently one of our major accounts asked us to manufacture a pre-fabricated shelf bracket for them. We took the idea home, and came up with a unit that is now moving by the tens of thousands.

Norfab is a good corporate citizen helping and sponsoring groups like the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, The Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship, Fort Frances Little Theatre, The Association for Community Living, Cancer Society, Shriners, Kiwanis, and Habitat for Humanity as well as many local and distant community initiatives.

Norfab has come a long way since its humble beginnings but has never lost the feeling that all its staff are part of one big family. Mr. DeGagne is very much a hands on owner with high expectations from everyone to ensure all Norfab customers receive the best possible products, in the time frame they have come accustomed to.

Easy to follow instructions and in most cases, an instructional video is included with each kit. Norfab also offers you a toll free help line @ 1-800-465-2918 to help with to help with any questions you might have.