Due to the overwhelming success in Isreal for Decking Professional Iain Shepherd the Decking Network asked him a few questions.
1. What trade are you and where did you do your education.
Carpenter, day release city and guilds and 8 years experience in and around London, everything from shuttering to fine finish carpentry on all sized projects.
2. What made you choose the subjects that you studied.
While labouring one day I got to help the chippie set out for and build a staircase in a lightwell and I guess thats what sparked the interest in me enough to find out about a course. My grandad was an excellent shipyard joiner in his youth as well so Im following somewhat his footsteps but to be honest it was that staircase in Ealing that sparked it all off.
3. What got you interested in decking.
Here in Israel there's quite a demand for quality decking but fortunately for me not the same professionalism and quality that I'd come to expect from home and so I thought Id try to fill that gap.
4. Had you worked for any other decking companies prior to setting up your own.
Yes one other company for about 4 months after arriving in israel, great guys to work for, very well established and respected by the local trade but I thought I could build better decks.
5. What is your company called, where is it based and what does it do.
Its called simply "Decking" the local word in hebrew for deck is "deckim" so to me it sounds close enough and in a hebrew accent it sounds like "the king". We're based from a lockup in tel aviv(no showroom as yet) and normally operate on sites within a 40 mile radius of the city. We're a specialist deck design, build, treatment and maintenance firm
6. What is your favourite timber and why.
Tough question, im mad for wood and love working with them all, someone asked me recently for my favourite project that ive built here and I have to say I dont have one in particular, like the wood type I like all the projects for their different elements and challenges for bringing out the best from the material. I guess at a push I would say my favourite decking surface is wood and not the synthetic substitutes, they have their advantages too but for me the ability to sand down the deck scratches stains and all and renew the surface means that wood willl always win out.
7. What is the most complex decking project you have been involved with.
Another tough question, they can all be complex, if not the decks then sometimes the clients make it so, curved deck skirts, or some of the swimming pool surrounds, ah there was also a jacuzzi spa that needed 9 removable sections including access panels and removable stairs and all without a visible fixing.
8. Where do you see your self in 5/10 years time.
Doing exactly the same thing (I really love my work) just maybe from "The world of decking" - a bigger lockup with a showroom and for sure a nicer car or two for us all to get there.
9. Would you like to say anything else.
Not right now I suppose but im always open to suggestions on new methods and quality products to improve the decks we're building here so am happy to hear from others in the trade internationally on the latest trends.
