Bark House

What Bark House does

Bark House, operating legally as Highland Craftsmen Inc., is a privately held manufacturer of reclaimed bark architectural products founded in 1990 in Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The company transforms raw bark—a waste byproduct of the Appalachian furniture and plywood industries—into carbon-negative exterior siding, interior wall panels, wall tiles, and complementary solid wood products (fencing, slabs, mantels). Its portfolio spans poplar, white birch, gold birch, fire cherry, white pine, and black locust species, with custom-fabricated panels available up to 12' long by 8' wide. Manufacturing relies on proprietary bark grading standards, custom kiln drying processes, and chain-of-custody verification, supporting the world's first and only Cradle to Cradle Platinum Level Certification for the Poplar Bark Wall Tiles.

The company serves design professionals (architects and interior designers) primarily in luxury residential, commercial/hospitality, and historic preservation segments. Customers include Christian Louboutin, Nike, 1 Hotel Central Park, Marriott Hotel and Spa Napa, Lululemon, Asplundh Cancer Center, Big Cedar Lodge, Eseeola Lodge, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Revenue is generated through one-time custom product sales on a quote-based pricing model, delivered via direct consultative field sales, e-commerce (for sample kits), and an appointment-only showroom.

Bark House distributes globally (North America, Europe, Asia) from a single manufacturing facility in Spruce Pine, sourcing fresh bark from a network of 500+ small Appalachian logging crews. It employs 11-50 people and is led by founders Marty and Chris McCurry, with a formalized sales leadership function added in 2020. Marketing is content-driven through the EmBark Blog, video, email, and earned media coverage in 100+ design publications.

Name

Bark House

Legal name

Bark House

Website

https://barkhouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bark House (Highland Craftsmen Inc.) is a Spruce Pine, NC-based manufacturer of reclaimed bark architectural products and solid wood finishes, serving architects and designers in luxury residential, commercial/hospitality, and historic preservation markets through custom direct sales and e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Bark and Wood Building Products

NAICS

Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing (3212), Other Millwork (including Flooring) (321918), Other Wood Product Manufacturing (3219)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400), Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430)

akta.pro primary industry

Wood Siding, Cladding & Exterior Wood Profiles (IMADADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wood Decking, Fencing & Outdoor Lumber Products (IMADADAF), Engineered Wood Siding, Trim & Mouldings (IMAMACAI)

Keywords

• Bark wall coverings
• Architectural bark panels
• Natural wood siding
• Regenerative building materials
• Solid wood products

Headquarters

HQ city

Spruce Pine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Bark Siding and Wall Panel Sales: One-time product sales of bark siding, wall panels, and solid wood products to architects, designers, and end customers. Products include exterior poplar bark shingle siding, interior bark wall tiles, poplar bark panels, white birch bark panels, black locust split rail fencing, and live edge slabs. Sales occur through direct collaboration with the Bark House team for customization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Bark House manufactures and sells natural bark architectural products—exterior bark shingle siding, interior and exterior bark wall panels, bark wall tiles, subway panels, leather bark finishes (birch, cherry, white pine), and complementary solid wood items (black locust split rail fencing, poplar pole end cut panels, live edge slabs and mantels). All products are made in-house from reclaimed bark waste sourced from Appalachian logging operations, then graded, custom kiln-dried, and fabricated to project specifications for architects, designers, and end customers.

Product overview

Bark House is a manufacturer of natural bark and solid wood architectural products, established in 1990 in the Appalachian Mountains of the United States. The product portfolio centers on bark wall coverings and sidings made from reclaimed waste from local logging operations—including Poplar Bark Shingle Siding, Poplar Bark Panels, White Birch Wall Finishes, Birch Leather, Gold Birch, Fire Cherry Bark, Cherry Leather, and White Pine Leather finishes—complemented by solid wood products such as Poplar Pole End Cut Panels, Black Locust Split Rail Fencing, and Live Edge Slabs. The company operates a custom fabrication department for bespoke bark, twig, and log projects. All products are sourced from verified forests and pass through rigorous grading and custom kiln drying, with the Poplar Bark Wall Tiles achieving the world's first and only Cradle to Cradle Platinum Level Certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Poplar Bark Shingle Siding Exterior bark shingle siding made from reclaimed poplar bark waste, manufactured in-house with custom kiln drying, grading standards, and chain-of-custody verification for architects and designers specifying high-end residential and commercial projects.
• Poplar Bark Panel Wall Finishes Exterior and interior monolithic bark panels handcrafted from repurposed poplar bark (a waste by-product of furniture and plywood manufacturing), available up to 12' long by 8' wide with multiple finish options for architects and designers.
• White Birch Wall Finishes Interior and exterior monolithic panels handcrafted from white birch (Betula papyrifera) bark with distinctive white background and black lenticels, available with feathering for hidden seams.
• Poplar Bark Interior Wall Tiles Interior wall tiles crafted from poplar bark, designed for ease of installation with rigorous grading and custom kiln drying for lasting performance; the world's first and only product to achieve Cradle to Cradle Platinum Level Certification.
• Poplar Bark Subway Panels Interior bark panels featuring a subway tile pattern format for distinctive wall covering applications in residential and commercial interiors.
• Birch Leather Wall Finishes Interior monolithic panels utilizing the inner layer of white birch bark with a suede leather look and feel, featuring a powdery beige background with distinctive black lenticels.
• Gold Birch Wall Finishes Interior and exterior (with consultation) panels crafted from yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) bark featuring luminescent gold tones with fringed edges for maximum texture and depth.
• Fire Cherry Bark Wall Finishes Interior monolithic panels crafted from Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) bark with reddish brown to charcoal gray outer covering, prominent raised lenticels, and fiery-red tones in the Akita finish option.
• Cherry Leather Wall Finishes Interior monolithic panels crafted from the inner layer of Pin Cherry bark with splashes of green mixed with reddish-brown background.
• White Pine Leather Wall Finishes Interior monolithic panels handcrafted with White Pine (Pinus strobaya) bark featuring papery-thin leather texture with grays over reddish brown color and white-toned lichens.
• Poplar Pole End Cut Panels Solid wood panels created from poplar pole end cuts, hand-sanded to create balanced texture while retaining rough bark texture for one-of-a-kind natural wall finishes.
• Black Locust Split Rail Fencing Split rail fencing made from Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), the strongest and most rot-resistant wood indigenous to North America, available in Standard Grade (minimum 8" circumference) and Government Grade (minimum 12" circumference).
• Live Edge Slabs and Mantels Solid wood products featuring natural live edge slabs and mantels crafted from Appalachian woods, with each piece telling a unique story of the forest.
• Custom Fabrication Services In-house custom fabrication department producing bespoke bark, twig, and log architectural elements tailored to project specifications for architects, designers, and end customers.
• Sample Kits Sample kits allowing design professionals to evaluate bark products before full project commitment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Poplar Bark Wall Tiles are the world's first and only product to have achieved Cradle to Cradle Platinum Level Certification
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Appalachian State University Materials and Finishes EXPOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2020Special invitation to participate in Appalachian State University's Second Annual Materials and Finishes EXPO, connecting with students and industry professionals.
• RegenesiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld leader in regenerative development. Bark House is working with Regenesis to dive deeper into regenerative development principles, integrating these concepts into their business practices and product development.
• Leger Wanaselja ArchitecturecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBerkeley, California architecture firm led by Cate Leger and Karl Wanaselja. Featured project in Berkeley showcasing Bark House brand siding. Leger is a proponent of the clean, single-material bark product.
• Paskevich and Associates ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm with deep commitment to cultural heritage. Collaboration focuses on honoring authenticity in projects through regenerative design principles.
• Christian LouboutincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury shoe retailer sourced Bark House materials for Miami Design District boutique, using regenerative bark wall coverings and panels. Poplar tree panels on exterior with white and gold birch plus pin cherry accents inside.
• 1 HotelcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxury boutique hotel brand focused on green, ecological sustainability. Bark House wall coverings incorporated into Central Park location, aligning with 1 Hotel's mission to embrace nature on a larger scale.
• Bill McDonoughcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuthor and Founder of Cradle to Cradle. McDonough's regenerative design philosophy aligns with Bark House's mission. Has provided endorsement of the company's sustainable practices.
• 500+ Local VendorscoreOthersNetwork of small logging crews throughout Appalachian Mountain region who supply fresh bark to Spruce Pine facility for kiln drying. Supports local economy and ensures chain of custody verification.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thermory USA: Producer of thermally modified wood cladding, decking, and paneling with a sustainability and durability focus. Comparable on premium architectural wood siding and wall finishes sold through designer/specifier channels.
• Windfall Lumber: Manufacturer of reclaimed and salvaged architectural wood products, including paneling, siding, and live edge slabs. Comparable on regenerative/sustainable sourcing model and custom architectural surface positioning.
• Delta Millworks: Austin, TX-based maker of reclaimed and specialty wood wall cladding and flooring for high-end commercial and residential architecture. Comparable on custom architectural wood surfaces and designer/specifier go-to-market.
• Smith & Fong (Plyboo): Manufacturer of sustainable architectural bamboo panels and veneers sold to architects and designers. Most direct comparator in terms of natural-material architectural wall finishes targeting high-end commercial and residential projects.
• Cedar Valley Shingle Siding Panels: Manufacturer of cedar shingle siding panels and shingle systems. Closest peer on exterior architectural shingle siding, though Bark House differentiates via bark rather than cedar.
• reSAWN Timber: Specialty maker of reclaimed and sustainably sourced wood cladding, wall panels, and flooring for architects and designers. Closely comparable on product category (architectural wood siding and wall finishes), sustainability positioning, and designer-led GTM.

Broad incumbents

• James Hardie Industries: Global leader in fiber cement siding and architectural building products. Broad incumbent in the same architectural exterior cladding category that Bark House's bark siding competes in.
• Garnica: Global manufacturer of sustainable plywood and engineered wood panels for construction and interior applications. Comparable on engineered wood panel production for architectural surfaces, but at much larger scale.

Emerging players

• Bolefloor: Manufacturer of curved, live-edge hardwood flooring and wall surfaces for high-end architectural projects. Comparable on unique natural wood surfaces that command a premium in luxury buildouts.

Regional players

• Stuga (European timber surfaces): European manufacturer of engineered timber flooring and wall cladding for high-end residential and commercial architecture. Comparable on premium architectural wood surfaces, but primarily Europe-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/bark_house
• Facebookfacebook.com/112637332102820
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1835034

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bark House