Hello, I’m Will Aikman, the carpenter behind Kookaburra Carpentry. My journey began with an NVQ in Carpentry and Joinery at Petroc College in Barnstaple, paired with hands-on experience as a plasterboard installer.

Crafting Across Continents

I spent four years in Western Australia, working on a range of construction projects from home builds to maintenance jobs. During this time, I developed a strong interest in sustainable building, studying renewable materials and techniques like solar passive design and straw bale construction. However, my real passion was always wood, and I started teaching myself traditional timber framing.

In pursuit of this craft, I later travelled to British Columbia, Canada, where I cut my first timber frame, deepening my knowledge and commitment to timber framing.

Mastering Timber Framing at Carpenter Oak

In 2014, I joined Carpenter Oak in South Devon. Here, I had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, from porches and garages to complete home frames, wineries, and gymnasiums. Over seven years, I advanced to a team leader role, overseeing projects and teams, while refining my expertise in traditional timber framing.