For more than 130 years, the Tindell name has been synonymous with lumber, craftsmanship, and the building materials that shape East Tennessee. The story begins in 1892, when Fate Tindell launched a steam‑powered sawmill in the hills surrounding Knoxville. Astimber opportunities shifted, he moved the mill from tract to tract across Knox, Union, and Anderson counties, eventually settling in the Halls area in the 1920s. For the next three decades, the sawmill remained the heart of the business.​

The Great Depression tested the family’s resolve. Fate lost most of his land holdings to cover co‑signed notes, but he managed to keep the sawmill alive — a testament to the grit that would define the company for generations.​

In 1938, Fate’s son Francis joined the operation. When Fate was forced into retirement due to health complications, Francis carried the business forward. He expanded the company’s capabilities in 1948 by adding a planing mill and began supplying lumber to Knoxville builders, laying the groundwork for a broader vision.​

The 1950s marked a turning point. As Francis’s son Paul entered the business, Tindell’s began transitioning from a pure sawmill operation into a full building‑materials supplier. By the 1960s, the sawmill had been phased out entirely. Tindell’s Building Supply was officially established, with its first materials center fittingly located just across the road from the original mill. A second location opened in Maynardville in 1960, signaling a new era of growth.​

After Francis passed away in 1964, his son Carl joined Paul in leading the company, and their cousin Richard soon followed. The 1970s brought further expansion, including a new Oak Ridge location and the launch of a roof‑truss operation in Halls. Carl eventually purchased his brother’s share and became sole owner and President. By 1979, Tindell’s had added another building‑materials center in LaFollette.​

The 1980s were defined by diversification. The Maynardville center merged with Halls, and Tindell’s began offering installation services — first garage doors, then fireplaces and vinyl siding. In 1989, the original sales center moved into a newly constructed building acrossthe road, which would later become the company’s corporate headquarters.​

The 1990s continued the momentum. A new facility in Karns was acquired in 1993 to support the expanding truss plant. A Millwork Division followed in 1995, and Installed Sales grew again in 1997 to include insulation and punch‑out services. That same year, Tindell’s opened a retail location in Sevierville and even entered international markets by exporting building materials to Korea. President Carl Tindell also served as Chairman of the National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association in 1997.​

The late 1990s brought challenges. A slowdown in new home construction and unusually heavy rainfall in 1998 forced the company to streamline operations. But by mid‑year, sales rebounded, and a new customer‑focused market plan positioned Tindell’s for growth heading into 1999.​

In 2000, the Truss Plant earned the SHARP Safety Award from TOSHA — the first truss plant in Tennessee to receive the honor. It would go on to maintain that certification for many years, reflecting a deep commitment to safety.​

A new chapter began in 2002 when Johan van Tilburg, joined as President. Under his leadership, Tindell’s experienced steady growth, reaching record sales by 2003. A new Millwork warehouse was completed that year, followed by the opening of a Maryville location in2005 and the acquisition of a Cleveland store in 2006.​

Then came 2007 — the beginning of the “great housing depression.” Over the next five years, the industry collapsed. Tindell’s faced shuttered locations, layoffs, and pay cuts as the company fought to survive. The broader economy faltered as well: major banks collapsed, AIG failed, and government intervention became necessary to stabilize the nation.​

Recovery finally began in 2012. From that point forward, Tindell’s experienced steady, year‑over‑year growth. In 2017, the company celebrated its 125th anniversary with a commemorative logo and special fleet wraps. Between 2012 and 2019, Tindell’s reinvested heavilyin its future — overhauling the truss plant, adding a new interior‑door machine at Millwork, and renewing its fleet. During this period, ownership transitioned to Johan van Tilburg, Carl’s son‑in‑law, marking the fourth generation of family leadership.​

Today, Tindell’s Building Materials stands as a modern, locally owned supplier trusted by builders across East Tennessee. Knoxville’s Parade of Homes regularly features projects built with Tindell’s materials — a reflection of the company’s long‑standing reputation for quality.​

Builders rely heavily on the engineering expertise of the truss plant and the turnkey convenience of Tindell’s Installed Services Division. In an era defined by labor shortages, Tindell’s provides both materials and labor, installing insulation, garage doors, fireplaces,windows, and exterior doors. The punch‑out division handles shelving, mirrors, bath hardware, locksets, and shower doors. The Millwork Shop pre‑hangs interior and exterior doors, and bends trim to any radius using a custom oven.​

Innovation continues to drive the company forward. A new Hundegger Saw at the truss plant now enables precision end trimming of I‑joists to within 1/16 of an inch and allows for engineered HVAC routing — saving builders time, money, and rework. “Our ability to anticipate our customers’ needs is what sets us apart,” says van Tilburg. “We aim to offer a true one‑stop experience.”​

Today, Tindell’s employs over 200 people across East Tennessee, operating stores and warehouses in Knoxville, Maryville, Sevierville, Morristown, and Cleveland. The Truss Manufacturing Plant is located in Karns, the Commodity Distribution Center in the Forks of the River Industrial Park, and the Installed Sales Division and Millwork Shop at the company’s headquarters in Halls.​

Beyond business, Tindell’s remains deeply committed to the community. The company supports local schools by participating in the “Ride and Decide” and “865 Academies” high‑school programs as well a sponsoring athletic programs. Tindell’s proudly sponsors St. Jude, March of Dimes, United Way, SecondHarvest, and the Home Builders Association of Greater Knoxville.​

After more than a century of evolution — from a roaming steam‑powered sawmill to a modern, multi‑division building‑materials company — Tindell’s continues to honor its heritage while building for the future. The mission remains unchanged: serve East Tennessee withintegrity, innovation, and relationships that last a lifetime.​