Precision Carpentry & Joinery prides itself on an impressive level of craftmanship whilst HBXL Building Software helps the business maintain its bottom line.
“Our work is often completely bespoke,” enthuses Ryan Greenwood who, with his business partner James Tonry, is the proprietor of Haverhill-based firm, Precision Carpentry & Joinery. In the company’s substantial workshop material is transformed by a highly skilled team into doors, windows, staircases, bespoke units and practically any other timber component you’ll find on a new build or refurbishment job, where it’s then transported to Ryan’s on site carpenters for expert installation.
“We’re in the privileged position of being recommended for some very nice jobs,” enthuses the Suffolk chippie. “We like to think of ourselves as problem solvers rather than builders with clients often coming to us for something that will be unique to their project. Whether it’s replicating traditional carpentry techniques in period properties and listed buildings or fabricating and installing the most energy efficient aluminium clad windows of our own design – we can do that and everything in between.”
Whilst they’ve most certainly got the skillset covered, HBXL Building Software makes sure that everything is accounted for, and a healthy profit margin is maintained. With PlansXpress, for instance, Ryan creates comprehensive CAD drawings and 3D models of often complex builds, which can then be exported to EstimatorXpress for a full and highly professional quote: “We were using spreadsheets before, and the difference in terms of time saved has been transformative. It’s also a lot more cost effective than employing quantity surveyors, especially when you consider that there’s no guarantee of ultimately winning the work.”
“HBXL’s software makes sure you’re not forgetting any elements of the projects,” continues Ryan, “which can be a costly omission. I can tailor it to my business in terms of the materials we use, with all our labour and plant costs included. Some of the drawings we get from clients are not very detailed. What I get from PlansXpress is as exhaustive as I care to make it, I know that I’ve got the dimensions and volume of materials right, and we can show it to clients so they can visualise what they’ll be getting.”
Ryan and James’s company is in charge of every part of the carpentry and joinery process and also offers a factory finish on products from their in house paint shop. It exemplifies a culture of meticulous care, where door and window frames are subject to a base coat followed by two topcoats. All that work behind the scenes can be realised in an estimate and HBXL provides courses and continuous support to its software users throughout. “I’ve attended two HBXL Skills Bootcamps and put another member of staff on one, which are hosted online, and they’re really useful for learning how to navigate your way around the system, whilst improving your business. Through planning and estimating real jobs you can then fine tune it for your business. It does take time to get to that point but, once you do, you’ll be rewarded.”
Indeed, Ryan is now fully converted to the HBXL suite of solutions and uses Health & Safety Xpert to generate all of the documentation he needs. “It makes sure that we’re fully compliant when it comes to all requirements to CDM management and produces all the relevant risk assessments, COSHH assessments and much more, and is a very useful tool.”
Into the woods
Having started trading in 2007, Precision Carpentry & Joinery now has an 11-strong staff, supplemented by sub-contractors where necessary, and operates across the counties of Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Essex. The firm can literally turn its hand to any wood working task, whether it’s fire doors for a school or pews in a medieval church.
“There is something really satisfying about bringing old timbers back to life or working on a new build with unique carpentry elements,” adds Ryan. “Added to that we have worked hard to ensure all our doors and windows are fully tested to the PAS24/2022 security certification, which is mandatory for new builds. Our workshop team is working with vacuum glazing that can achieve enhanced U-values to old windows and is often accepted by conservation and listed building control.
With such a hugely diverse portfolio of projects to point to, HBXL has become a vital member of the team: “Providing more information to a potential customer can actually be something that they appreciate and has won us more jobs, whilst we can also choose exactly what we want to show them. In a competitive market I need to be satisfied that every layer is reflected in the quote and that’s what HBXL Building Software does. It allows us to undertake the work with the confidence of knowing that the business is making its money. I want to spend more time with the family, instead of being glued to a desk while the family does other things without me. HBXL makes us more efficient and will help us with that.”
For further information on the HBXL range of building software visit Estimating Software | Take-off Software | Builders & Developers | Try free.
If you would like to find out more about the work of Precision Carpentry & Joinery go to www.carpentryjoinery.co.uk.
