Contributed photo
HE HAS A HAMMER — Al Williams is heading back into the carpentry business full-time after more than four decades driving a truck. A.J. Williams Construction opened in 1990 on the Ross Ridge Road in Littleton as Williams continued to drive a truck. He will now focus solely on carpentry.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
LITTLETON — He has hung up his keys to his big rig. Al Williams is back in the carpentry business full-time.
“I could care less if I ever drove truck again,” he said with a laugh. “I did not like it from Day One, but I was able to build a home and it helped raise a family.”
Williams was a truck driver for 45 years and when he was laid off in November, it seemed he knew what direction to take.
“I decided this is what I should be doing,” he said.
Williams started in construction when he worked two summers for Raymond Dow. Once he started getting phone calls to do some jobs, he thought why not give it try.
A.J. Williams Construction opened in 1990 on the Ross Ridge Road in Littleton. For years, he balanced driving truck in the winter and carpentry on the side. But, for the last six years, Williams spent all of his time over-the-road.
Now, he wants to get back to one of his first loves.
“I have been thinking about this for years,” he said. “I missed it.”
Williams primarily takes on residential construction, but he has also done some commercial work, as well. He usually focuses on remodels, additions, decks, garages, camps and interior finish work.
“I am too old for roofing,” he said with a smile. “I would rather keep to something low and not so high. We did not do a lot of it anyway.
“One of my biggest enjoyments is doing an interior,” he said. “I like working with wood paneling such as tongue and groove lumber or that type of material. But, I like it all. It is all nice. I enjoy building.”
There is not a job too small for Williams, who gives free estimates and delivers quality craftsmanship.
“I enjoy meeting with potential customers and working with them to build what they want,” he said. “And, at the end, to have them say ‘That is exactly what I wanted.’”
As far as estimates, Williams will give a quote and if the job comes in at a lower cost, the homeowner does not overpay.
“I would rather do a higher estimate and have it come in lower,” he said. “I try to be honest and fair.”
Williams is an old-school carpenter, who does not start too many jobs at once. He wants to stay at one place until a job is complete and give his customer full attention to do their job right.
Since being away from the building trade, Williams has noticed a change in material costs.
“Sticker shock,” said wife Marie with a smile.
“The biggest thing I have learned is the prices are a whole lot different than they used to be,” he said smiling. “Everything goes up — but our wages.”
Williams has been working on finishing the interior of a home he built eight years ago.
“The homeowner did not get it totally finished at that time,” Williams explained. “We are now helping to do that. In my 20 years, I have only built three or four houses.”
This particular job took a twist on Williams, as he wants to grow with his customers ever-changing needs.
“We had a new experience,” said Marie. “He made a spiral staircase.”
The homeowner wanted to install the spiral staircase, so Williams gave him the go-ahead to order a metal stairway kit. However, the homeowner wanted to use wood.
“I did not have a clue how to do one in wood,” explained Williams. “So, I called a close friend of mine in Moncton who is contractor. I told him I was at a loss what to do.”
Williams’ friend guided him, and the stairway is in place, looking beautiful and matching the wooden interior perfectly.
“It took a lot of experimenting in putting things together, but what my friend told me to do was very simple and it worked out very well,” said Williams. “This project was very new. I had never done it before. It was interesting and it was a challenge, a nice challenge, a lot of fun.”
Williams is open to new ideas and has a helper right now, and hopes to add a couple of more workers if the business picks up.
“I hope to get back the clientele I had, at least some that I had, while adding new ones,” he said. “I want to build a trustworthy relationship with my customers so that when they need a job done, I will be the first one they think to call.”
Williams can be reached by calling 694-9059.
