Do you provide free quotes?

Yes, if you want we can give you an estimate or a quote if we have enough detail, just email us at info@empatlka.com some rough dimensions and a sketch and ideally some pictures of the area you have in mind and you will get a quote very quickly by email. If you are happy with the estimate then we can come and visit you when it suits you and talk in detail.

How reliable are your carpenters?

We are very reliable, stick to start times and days agreed, we do what we say we will do, we turn up on time every day in order not disrupt your schedule. And we are there throughout the job, not disappearing for one day to do something else.

Do you provide drawings?

Yes once we receive your deposit, we provide you with a hand drawn from scratch 3D computer scale drawing precise to the millimetre for you to check how it looks and to see if you are happy with the dimensions. If you like you can make any changes until the drawing is perfect.

How do I know you will do a good job?

Before I buy anything I read reviews so I suggest you do the same, we have over 100 independent testimonials on the internet. Please have a look at our testimonial page to see what our clients say about us

You call or email us, we asses your needs and give you an estimate or quote, then we arrange a time to come round and visit you, ask you more questions in detail to find out exactly what you would like, listen very carefully to your ideas and offer design ideas and solutions to best use your space and needs. We go away, email you a final quote. Once you decide to go ahead, we take a small deposit, then send you the drawings, once you have agreed the drawing we can book your place in the diary and we agree a start date. We then turn up with the materials and tools and build your units, then once built we paint them or oil them. Then once we are totally finished and you are delighted, only then do you pay us the balance, lastly if you feel testimonials have helped you choose us, please help us keep them fresh and leave us a testimonial here: https://plus.google.com/101927655300158702077/about?hl=en&review=1

Are you going to make a big mess in our house?

We understand that your home is precious and we do everything we can to make sure we leave it in the state we found it. All our materials are cut to size by a specialist cutting company before being delivered to your home, so minimal cutting is required onsite, even then we cover and protect the floors, cover your furniture with plastic sheets, use dust extractors connected directly to power tools, we even use a fine dust and chemical extractor for really sensitive areas, this is well over the top but we like to do the very best we can and offer the best service, and when the work is all finished we take all our rubbish away and give your place a clean.

What materials and finishes do you offer?

Our units are built of quality Medite FSC certified MDF wood then painted, or made of wood veneer we can oil or use matt water based clear varnish, and also melamine coated wood as typically found in kitchen units. We are also pioneering research in alternative healthier eco friendlier materials, we are the first UK fitted furniture company to use UK sourced strawboard which is totally natural and bound with no glues at all to make our bespoke furniture, we can build your units out of formaldehyde free MDF too, we also use recycled plastic sheeting for decorative purposes with lighting behind and recycled glass as well as many other sustainable materials and finishes to find out more please see our eco page.

Do you paint the units and what colours do you offer?

Yes, we use the best quality professional waterbased DULUX and Farrow and Ball eggshell semi matt white paint . If you would like the eco option using more natural paints please see our environment page. We mostly use white but can paint any colour you like (If you would like to paint your fitted furniture we can offer you free advice).

Do you spray the units and do high gloss?

We can arrange to spray the doors and outside visible parts and make the internal carcass of a white or other colour melamine coated laminate.

Are your charges transparent?

All charges are stated in advance in the final quote, you know what you will pay from the start, everything is listed in the quote. Only handles are optional and to be supplied by you or us, also parking is extra, so they are priced separately. All of which is clearly stated in your quote.

Does your service represent value?

For the quality of service we offer from beginning to end we offer outstanding value, we take great pride in producing only the best bespoke furniture that you will be proud to own for years to come, we offer a 2 year guarantee on our work, we are endorsed by various independent certification bodies, we take customer service very seriously, we understand that there is more to producing furniture than wood and screws, your total satisfaction is our number one priority, but don’t take our word for us see what our clients say.

How flexible are you once the work has started if something needs changing?

Our craftsmen all speak good English and have a great deal of skill and will do everything they can if you feel that something needs adapting, for example you change your mind about how many shelves you want, or the spacing between them, then if it is possible we will do what we can to please you, either free of charge or at extra cost depending on what it is.

Can you fix stuff in my home?

Yes if you need anything fixing in your home while we are there making your fitted furniture, if we can do it we will help you out. I like to offer a service that I would like to use myself so for such things as hanging pictures, fixing doors that don’t close and generally anything wood related tell us when we come to measure up for your fitted furniture.

Do you use real wood?

We use real wood veneers or plastic laminates that look like wood but not generally solid wood, we work with close associates who use solid wood, just ask us for contacts.

We don’t do bathrooms but if we are already working in your house doing other fitted furniture, we will consider any storage you would like for your bathroom.

I have sockets where I want my fitted furniture how will you deal with this?

If you have an electrical, phone or TV areal socket that is ok as we can cut a hole in the back so you can still access them, we can move electrical sockets around if they haven’t got far to go. Phone sockets we can more if there is enough spare wire.

Do you make kitchens?

No we don’t make kitchens but sometimes can make units that go in your kitchen such as a bookcase.

A day in the life of Tristan

Home » Blog » A day in the life of Tristan

As a professional carpenter, accomplished author, environmental activist and father of four, Tristan Titeux leads a busy life! So how does he do it? Check out this insightful write up for a glimpse into a day in the life of Tristan.

Wake up call

Tristan is an early riser and avid believer in getting stuck into work from the moment he jumps out of bed! Thanks to the convenience of a home office, Tristan is able to start work between 5am and 6.30am and fit in a good 2-3 hours of productivity before his family wakes up. These early morning hours are Tristan’s favourite part of the day, making him feel calm, relaxed and full of energy.

“I love my work and I am always exited to get up in the morning and get going!” he says.

When the clock hits 9am it’s time for a nutrient packed veggie smoothie to keep up the energy until lunch time.

A productive approach

Tristan takes a systematic approach to his work, basing his strategy on Brian Tracy’s famous book, “Eat That Frog” which teaches readers that the path to productivity is to start the day by tackling the hardest and most important tasks.

“If I have a drawing to do, I never do it in the afternoon, I always start first thing, as it requires a lot of undisturbed concentration in order to not make any mistakes. If I am not drawing then I will do quotes that need sending off, once this is finished I will get on to emails, finding materials, dealing with jobs, putting them in the diary, social media, website, there is a never ending list of tasks that appear every day.”

Tristan is also committed to networking, connecting with likeminded businesses and taking new courses to improve his personal and professional skills.

“I am never happy and always looking to improve everything we do, so I spend a lot of my time on that.”

Lunchtime rejuvenation

After a midday lunch, Tristan gets stuck into easier tasks such as checking emails. If he’s feeling tired, stressed or lacking in concentration, a quick 20 minute siesta usually does the trick!

“If I can’t work simple things out I just take myself away and have a siesta for 20 minutes. I then wake up refreshed and ready to go again and anything that I could not do before just seems to be so easy and obvious, it’s amazing!”

The afternoon school run

The afternoon school pick up is a good excuse for Tristan to squeeze in some exercise and family time, but then it’s straight back to work for the passionate Empatika owner. While he used to work right through until around 10pm, Tristan has recently capped his work day at 5.30pm in order to slow down and enjoy family life.

“I thought to myself, why am I doing this, there is no point stressing myself, I need to live a bit, relax and give myself time and my family in the week too. It’s not that I don’t enjoy it, it’s just that it gets stressful and tiring to keep going like that all day.”

Evening escapades

That said, Tristan still likes to conduct call out visits in the evenings as the ritual helps calm him down and really connect with his clients.

“I get myself totally inside my customer’s world, in their boots and totally forget about any problems I might have. Then I enjoy driving to see them and back, I listen to music and my audio books and call my friends and it’s a time I really enjoy.”

So there you have it – a busy day in the life of Tristan Titeux, one of the UK’s most sought after eco-friendly carpenters!