Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do you have a catalog?
A. As our work is custom we do not have a catalog showing lists of products, prices, and trading terms. We are able to send you a brochure showing the
type of work that we undertake. So that you can find us for your future projects, we will be glad to put you on our mailing list and recommend that you bookmark this web site for your online library.
Q. What experience does Agrell Architectural Carving have?
A. Ian Agrell started carving in 1961 and formed his own company in England in 1978. In 1981 he was elected a
Master Carver by the members of
The Association of Master Carvers in England. Whilst in England the company was involved in projects throughout the world including the Middle and Far East as well as
cathedrals,
palaces and
residences in the UK. In 1989 he moved to America to
teach and work. Since then,
Agrell Architectural Carving have completed numerous major
projects across the USA. However, in early 2003 Ian’s daughter, Kate, rejoined the business to provide the same services to the UK, European and Middle Eastern market.
Q. Do you only do "custom" work?
A. In September 2006 we were able to launched our new
Basics Line or Woodcarving in Stock, prior to this all our work was for
custom projects only. So that we could attend to the specific requirements of our clients on the type of wood, design, size and budget.
The Woodcarving in Stock includes; Brackets and two types of standard mouldings - Egg and Dart, Acanthus and rosettes to fit in the corners. The timber is our own and they come in 7’6” lengths. Refer to our
Woodcarving In Stock pages for both the
US and the
UK.
We also produce product lines for some design companies.
Q. Define "quality carving."
A. We believe it is better not to have carved decoration than to have badly carved decoration. Many of our carving may be virtuoso in their execution but it is the design and movement that make them exciting. However, more important than complexity is the structure and flow of the work and that its location is appropriate. Carving that is badly designed and executed does nothing to enhance architecture and, in fact, will detract from it.
The work at
Agrell Architectural Carving, Ltd. has a crispness and flow showing that it was carved by a skillful human hand and not machined with routers. When budget is at issue there should be less carving in exchange for quality carving. Quality is our strength — it comes from the hands of our carvers.
Q. Who does the design?
A. Clients usually come to us with an idea, or style in mind, but often need assistance in the detailing. Using experience and our extensive library we are usually able to quickly show our clients options that create the feel that is required. We normally work directly with the architect or designer. If contacted early in the design process, our advice can save a huge amount of time and money while offering the best in traditional accuracy. As a long standing
classical carver, Ian Agrell is an accomplished designer in his field. The combination gives him the ability to adapt designs to your requirements in ways that others cannot. Clients consult with Ian on their projects in order to create designs that are both esthetically pleasing and economically feasible. Good architectural decoration is not a matter of complexity. It is about well organized and tasteful design.
Q. How do you work with clients?
A. Agrell Architectural Carving, Ltd. is able to produce an estimate from a few lines, simply drawn and faxed to us with some dimensions. We can then offer you a range of designs, prices and options. Many clients show us photographs to give us an idea of what they require. We can take responsibility for furthering the design process, and produce a plan that will meet your budget.
You can choose to have us provide the carving only - to be applied by others - or we can make the structure with the carving attached and install the work ourselves. It is also common for contractors to send us their material, cut to size, to be carved and returned to the site or the mill shop. Payment involves a deposit and stage payment depending on the size of the project.
For large projects an American Institute of Architects contract is typical. At
Agrell Architectural Carving, Ltd., we strive to exceed your expectations. We deliver when we say we will - or sooner - and our workmanship is always the finest. You will not be disappointed.
Q. Why hand carving over machine made?
A. Carvings made by machines are available but cannot offer the same quality you will find in our carving. Machine made work shows the limitations of a spinning router blade and lacks any sharp, intricate detail. Each piece from our workshop is individually hand made. This gives our clients many advantages.
We can work in any dimension, not forced to compromise a design to fit the dimensions of a machine in width or length. Our hand work allows us to adjust the pattern of a molding so that the corners have the traditional neat finish - often with rich acanthus decoration - not just a cut in the middle of a pattern because the material comes in fixed lengths. You will not be limited to the type of wood, unlike machined carving. Contractors even send us their material for carving.
Because our work is done by hand, designs can be created that are unique to the client and location - at no additional cost. Machine carving is not cheap and you are constantly having to compromise. Why not take that same budget and have custom hand carving that the client can be proud of.
Q. How do I estimate cost?
A. Even experienced building professionals are often at a loss when it comes to estimating the cost of hand carved work. That is understandable since the use of carved decoration is limited to a select number of projects. Additionally there are few carving companies available to compare costs with. All this can add up to a low estimate resulting in budget overruns or an unnecessary high estimate that discourages clients from accepting the bid. The way to avoid these problems is to call
Agrell Architectural Carving, Ltd. early in the project. Working together we can control the cost by offering options in design, material, volume and delivery. Those options allow you to quote a price to your client that is acceptable and realistic.
Q. How long will our project take?
A. Obviously production time depends on the size of the project and the complexity of the design. However, keep in mind that
Agrell Architectural Carving, Ltd., employs fifteen carvers producing more than six hundred hours of carving a week, and has by far the
largest capacity for architectural carving in North America.
Call us and we will be able to give you an estimate of turnaround.
Q. Can you produce a product line for us?
A. Yes.
We work with a number of companies around the world to make and carve items for them. For example, furniture, gift items, finials and carved masters to be cast into products. Refer to our
Woodcarving In Stock pages for both the
US and the
UK.
