Based in a unit at The Reclamation Yard in Beeston, Cheshire ~ Rockridge Oak Carpentry undertakes work varying from extensive building renovations & alterations, to conventional carpentry elements of household improvements, to conservation repairs and general maintenance on properties of all ages and building styles - from the medieval through to the modern.
Additionally, making hand-cut Oak Frame Structures, Oak Roof Trusses, Porches and Cabins; as well as handmade Doors, Gates, Kitchen Islands, Tables, Benches, Mantles and similar household effects in wood.
The main areas covered are Cheshire, North Wales, Shropshire and the closer reaches of neighbouring counties, although recent jobs in Cumbria have pushed the scope a bit further in that direction.
Hopefully the pictures on the website will be of interest to you, but please get in touch if you would like to discuss your own requirements in any degree of detail ~ contact information is on the Home page.
A general list of services offered is on the Services page.
As customers entrust me to deliver a good service for the welfare of their building the next section is intended just to briefly outline my experience for potential new customers.
Personal profile of experience :
1984 ~ Started full time employment for a watercraft manufacturer and boat builder located in an original warehouse on the Bridgewater Canal, which gave a first insight into skilled workmanship.
1987 ~ Started work for a local building developer in Chester who also had an architectural practice in Liverpool; first it was labouring in the excavation of the foundations and drainage phases of a new build office complex of masonry structures on a brownfield site, hod carrying for the Bricklayers and assisting the Joiners where possible; gradually started to assist the Site Agent with setting-out, dimensional control and management of the trades: then subsequently, after a few years, became their full time Site Engineer and Junior Site Manager, went part time to college to get a City & Guilds qualification (the industry standard back then) and finally became a Site Manager for the firm - the different sites being a varied mix of commercial and residential jobs both new builds and renovations, including period properties and some listed buildings:
office space, shops and restaraunts, houses of multiple occupancy, barn conversions, estate housing and warehouse conversions including two phases of the Albert Dock in Liverpool.
1995 ~ Went to US and Canada - took more interest in Carpentry.
1996 ~ Back in UK, went self employed, small jobs at first for domestic customers and commercial businesses ranging from terraced house refurbishments and modern extensions to small commercial fit-outs and conservation renovations .
1998 ~ Formed a limited company to operate as a main contractor, took on bigger jobs up to values around £1M, took on lots of subcontractors, addressed the usual builder headaches and cashflow challenges but stayed afloat and got to work on some decent buildings; ultimately received a Built In Quality Award from the Local Authority Building Control.
2003 ~ Closed company, went back to sole tradership concentrating on Carpentry biased Building & Renovation work, Oak Framing and Conservation Repairs - including undertaking ecclesiastical building maintenance and accommodating Period Property/Conservation Area & Listed Building Status mandates; plus making doors, gates, kitchen islands, Oak mantles and other fixtures in the hand cut style ~ continuing up to the present day
Please take a look at the picture gallery for a visual explanation.
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