Black Dog Construction

About

Hello, I’m Richard. I’m a carpenter, originally from Bath, with over 20 years’ experience in the trade. Whilst carpentry is my specialism, I am happy, and able, to do all types of building work. I used to sub-contract to bigger firms but, this year, I started Black Dog Construction. My business is named after my Labrador, Luna; it’s her little face you see on my logo. She likes to come to work with me, although she still has a lot to learn about carpentry.



My story is a bit unusual so let me bring you up to speed. I started this line of work before meeting my wife, Jen. We began our relationship just as she was about to join the Army. Being married to an Army lawyer comes with its challenges, not least because it’s impossible to win an argument against her. However, the main challenge we’ve faced is that we’ve lived apart a lot.



We got married when Jen was posted to Germany. Since then, we’ve lived in Northern Ireland, London, Australia, Shrivenham, Middlesex and now York. To ensure some stability, I have generally stayed working for a firm in Suffolk (near my wife’s family) which has involved a lot of weekend commutes and time apart from Jen. The commute to Australia was a bit too far so I joined her there (it really wasn’t a tough decision). The two years we were there presented a wonderful opportunity to learn how carpentry was done Down Under. I came back with a lot of good friends, new skills and great memories.



When we found out about the posting to York, we decided it was too far to commute and that we were done living apart (although I suspect this was more to do with Jen missing the dog than because she missed me). So Black Dog Construction was founded and here we are.



Whilst working in Suffolk, I developed something of a niche in period property renovation and I understand the sensitivity required in conserving the history of these buildings. That said, I have built a lot of houses from scratch whilst working in Australia. My experience is, therefore, extremely broad and I take great pride in what I do for a living.



Luna and I look forward to meeting you soon.