The process: 1. Call Matthew, and talk through your needs (click to call) – good old fashioned customer service by a master craftsman. Ask us about our proprietary laminate system for building enhanced engineered solid wood beams to last in the mid-atlantic humidity and heat. Ask about the latest high efficiency and energy conserving coated glass technologies from Solar Eclipse when you specify them to prevent UV damage indoors and provide that energy efficient envelope saving you cooling costs. Ask Matthew about anything else he would consider. 2. We will do a site visit to examine your rot or any structural problems that may be occuring (if applicable). With photos and measurements from your existing structure we take your rough sketch and make it into a “shop drawing” – which is a specific architectural drafting that accounts for the special assembly needs of wood. The shop drawing is drafted by our specifically trained engineering architect to account for the structural characteristics of responsible solid wood construction. Your deposit accounts for the drawings, and purchase of the specific species of wood to build your door.
Virginia Custom Door Builder working
3. Your lumber hits the shop, and our experienced craftsmen guide your wood from rough hewn lumber into finely trued finished members. It may appear to be an easy process, but the grain structure of the lumber can cause warping, curvature, and stress deformations over time if not accounted for. A factory door does not account for the hidden shape of the wood used to build your door. So if you’re finding that your brand new home’s door is no longer shutting in the first long humid stretch of the summer, well – that’s likely why. A door in direct sunlight can hit surface temperatures over 200F which is enough to boil water and so the temperature gradient alone is enough to warp an internally unstable beam. 3. Experienced craftsmen will be out to install your door. Finish carpentry only works in three dimensions and 3 cubed makes for a lot of variables that can trip up the inexperienced, so our craftsmen come out to handle it.
Full wood door hand joinery Virginia
We are a custom wood door and interior millwork builder that specializes in building custom solid wood doors the old fashioned way, fitting wood to wood by hand. Naturally air dried raw lumber is hand selected piece by piece to create solid wood door designs that are guaranteed to outlast our lifetimes. Enhance the beauty of your interior or exterior with entryways built by master craftsmen and inspired by history. You can see our work from the historic halls of the Catholic University of America to the placid shores of the Chesapeake bay historic homes. [ninja_form id=9]
Historic Restoration and Building projects require specified wood products build using historic methods and our Richmond shop has years of experience producing hand made wood building products.
An architectural masterpiece built in 1853, meticulously restored by Gepetto craftsmanship honoring the original materials and techniques. A douse of imagination and thoroughly great taste add modern amenities like washers, driers and luxury bath amenities . Windows, woodwork, staircases, floors and plaster moldings all original design restored or renewed by Gepetto’s historic millwork services. You might see “Over-sized” windows bringing gorgeous views of the changing weather patterns over the bay into every room but then you’d remember this was built before light bulbs and realize how the architectural elements add natural light to almost all corners of the home. These details add up to living in the historically significant property. It’s not just luxurious living, it’s living closer to nature. The Impressive estate property can be upkept with a simple call to the craftsmen here who helped restore it, or you can add your own design or finishing touches with our master builders help.
In 1642, the land of Glen Roy was patented by a 600-acre land grant patented by English King Charles I. During the Civil War it was the site of the Battle of Glen Roy when the house was the headquarters for Union Soldiers. Today, Glen Roy encompasses almost sixty acres of farmland, woods, and sweeping lawns that extend to the shore of the Ware River in Gloucester, Virginia. Set high up and back from the water as historically safe from flooding.
The classic Greek Revival proportioned manor house presents the characteristic four-over-four Georgian floor plan with a three-section center hall. The central staircase will weave it’s tendrils around your heart as it winds three floors up to a sky-lit cupola with widow’s walk. The custom restored skylights are a unique bit of carpentry that manages airflow, moisture and light in a brilliant design that taught us some things about how well thought out builders of the era practiced their craft.
13 total rooms – with 15-foot ceilings downstairs and 14-foot on the second floor give spacious and airy feel to timeless proportions. Elegant and comfortable room size does not overwhelm but allows a moderate feel to a very spacious house. Along the west elevation on the river, the hall, living room and dining room open to a sixty-foot glass conservatory. The moderate room sizes are designed to be heated by the 12 working fireplaces as dictated by the time period. Living in the modern age, these small architectural differences show the natural elegance of architectural design that incorporates environmental factors.
The nineteenth-century carriage house was converted to a seven-room guest house with two bedrooms, dining room, living room, kitchen, and two marble bathrooms. The spirit of the original structure was preserved by transforming the front carriage entrance into an over-sized window, dramatizing the interior space and giving a full view of the water. The oldest building, with east gable entrance and west gable end chimney above a raised brick cellar, features oyster shell mortar, 5-course common bond, beaded weatherboard, and six-over-nine double-hung sash windows. Once a doctor’s office, it has been restored to a delightful library. Adjacent are the fascinating ruins of an early, circular brick dairy. The frame, two-bay garage has two rooms on the second floor – now smart offices — with bath and kitchen on that could accommodate household staff or security. The striking, antebellum grain barn displays a rich, picturesque patina. Also, included are an early 20th-century frame stable, sheep shed, and lawnmower shed.
Historic Restoration Builder
Exquisite original architecture, estate presence, and coastal lifestyle, Glen Roy exemplifies the ultimate Chesapeake Bay country experience.
Trust Gepetto with your most complex architectural designs built in wood.
Historic Warehouse Renovations
Historic warehouse renovation happens to be a specialty of ours because of Richmond’s tobacco row. Located just below the rapids of the James River, and dating even to before the civil war the center of the tobacco industry was housed in this mostly brick structures. The tobacco grown all through the south was transported to Richmond for processing and distribution. The Renaissance or Richmond’s old industrial district into office, restaurant/retail, & living spaces has driven our market from the beginning. All through Gepetto’s operating history we have been supplying renovations with:
Pictured above in the video is a three story spiral staircase. Built by Gepetto in a renovated warehouse in the old tobacco row of Richmond’s downtown the steel and wood staircase connects the office and restaurant spaces with a finished architectural element connecting the levels together. The historic wooden floors were matched with antiquing techniques to add visual harmony to the newly constructed staircase. It is pretty funny to see our guys beating some wear marks into brand new flooring, but the the solid beam stair treads can definitely handle it!
Don’t hesitate to ask us to match a wood floor that has been around since the 1800’s – contact us for all your warehouse renovation needs: 804.938-2094
Don’t hesitate to ask us to build any or your architectural drawings in wood to match existing species, hue and weathering. We can source reclaimed materials and make all manner of eclectic, organic or ultra modern looks come together in newly fabricated solid wood construction. We can easily ship to renovations or restorations in Baltimore Maryland, Washington DC, Raleigh NC, Savannah GA, Charleston SC and other historic cities. Don’t hesitate to ask us to match or fabricate new wood construction with wear, antique or faux antique finishes.
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historic warehouse renovation
creative use of historic warehouse space
Renovating an Historic Warehouse for Mixed use Space
