The Journey: Property Maintenance & Site Carpentry
Working for my old school friend’s company, Jewell Plumbing and Property Maintenance Ltd, provided me with the opportunity to tackle a diverse range of projects and build a comprehensive technical skillset. These projects allowed me to gain hands on experience across multiple trades, including:
General Trades: Painting and decorating, tiling, plastering, basic brickwork, plumbing, and electrics.
Carpentry (Second Fix): Interior and Exterior woodwork; hanging doors, architraves, skirting, specialist sash window repair (which I taught myself from the Colins book of DIY!), shelving, kitchen fitting, repairs to steps, gates and fences and bespoke cabinets.
Structural (First Fix): Major structural repairs, including replacing rotted floor and ceiling joists, stud walls and building new door frames.
Kitchen & Bathroom: Full bespoke installations, including frame works for showers and the precision task of fitting hobs and sinks into solid wood worktops.
Throughout this period I gradually invested in a professional set of tools. I wasn't earning a lot and so I mainly bought tools using credit cards. I was careful to make sure I made the monthly payments, and every time I got a credit increase, (over several cards) I bought new tools. I wouldn't try to suggest that it was a sensible method, and it ment that I had to work harder and harder to keep on top of the payments. Anyhow, it is what I did and after my first three years, I formalised this hands-on experience by completing a workplace assessment and gaining an NVQ Level 2 in Site Carpentry.
This background in site-scale carpentry is the foundation of the precision and durability I now bring to every project as a Cabinet Maker at Hykel Design.
It provided me with invaluable insight into how properties are constructed, how to maintain them effectively, and crucially, how to collaborate seamlessly with other tradespeople on-site.
Please browse the gallery below to see a selection of the projects I have been involved in.
Flat Refurbishment near St Andrew's Park
Flat Refurbishment on Belmont Rd, near St Andrew's Park
Very Tricky Worktop Angles, Perfectly Joined.
Worktops Fitted and Metro Tiled
Solid Wood Kitchen Peninsula being Fitted
Bespoke Glass Hanging Rack made from Solid Oak for the Mint Rooms Restaurant, Bath.
Outdoor Shelving, Mint Rooms, Bath
Outdoor shelves, Work in Progress
This picture contains before and after shots of a bathroom refurbishment where we had to replace the entire floor and repair the joists. There were pipes all over the place and it was in incredibly difficult job.
A washroom that I tiled floor to ceiling.
Here we removed a wall and supported the opening with a RSJ (Rolled Steel Joist)
This is a picture of the ceiling being supported with Acrow props while we removed the wall. Also in the picture is Geoff, the builder who taught me to do this, as well as to Plaster and various other building skills.
A work in progress and a nearly finished shot of a shower room I did the tiling in.
My first Ever Solid Wood Bespoke Bathroom Cabinet.
If you would like to find out about my work nowadays as a Cabinet Designer and Maker at Hykel Design, please click the button below.