an interview with David Sammut, Proprietor: Lumberjack Woodworks
David Sammut, comes from a family of carpenters and was introduced to the family business at a young age. Carpentry, and the passion for this trade runs in his blood. “Some of my earliest memories revolve around the family’s lumber workshop. By the age of eight I was already helping out my father by turning the wood on the lathe – a machine used for cutting, sanding and drilling wood,” David recalled.
David stayed in the family business until he turned thirty, some 8 years ago, when he decided to set up shop independently himself. “I started out operating from my home garage, taking on small jobs to get started. I already had a good reputation in the sector, based on the work I had done for my father,” he added. The quality and craftsmanship of his work spoke volumes on David’s behalf and new requests were soon pouring in.
“The very first job I got as an independent contractor was for the Karl Vella Foundation. Since this was for a valid cause, I did the job free of charge,” David said. The work he carried out for free turned out to lead him to his subsequent job – a paid one this time – as someone who saw the work he did for the Karl Vella Foundation commissioned him to do the reception area for the National Audit Office.
What started out as David’s one-man operation soon gathered momentum and 8 years down the line, he now employs 5 specialised woodworkers, under the company name Lumberjack Woodworks. “Some of my team members work in our woodshop – cutting and finishing the woodwork in our garage, while others are specialised installers and work on site. My wife also works with the company as a hands-on fellow colleague as well as assisting me with the general company administration,” he proudly explained. The employees who joined Lumberjack Woodworks since its inception are still with the company. “What is important is the fact that my team is very professional and experienced in working wood. They are dedicated and passionate about their jobs.” David added.
“all our doors are produced to the client’s specification in our workshop in Malta, where we use a CNC digital wood carving machine”
The company does a considerable amount of work for residential clients, including apertures, traditional Maltese wooden balconies as well as a range of doors. “One day a friend of mine called me telling me that the late Hugo Chetchuti wanted some doors done quickly. At the time, I didn’t know who he was and I took the job, thinking he would be just another client. He pressed me to go on site immediately and once we met he commissioned me to complete 40 doors within a fortnight. I was eager to work, so I pushed myself to finish the job on time and deliver it to the client’s specifications,” David said.
Satisfied with David’s work, Hugo commissioned him more jobs and after he passed away, his son continued to do the same. “Since I used to go to Paceville for Hugo’s jobs, I became a familiar face to other bar owners and managers, who, seeing the work I did for Hugo, commissioned me with their own bar work,” David explained. The fact that Lumberjack Woodworks supplies commercial jobs urgently also helped him develop this niche. “Nowadays, in addition to residential clients, we do a lot of work for hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. We were also responsible for the new doors at the catamaran berthing place in Valletta,” he explained proudly.
“Rather than simply importing pre-determined doors, all our doors are produced to the client’specifcation in our workshop in Malta”
Today, Lumberjack Woodworks is renowned for manufacturing doors of all styles. “Rather than simply importing pre-determined doors, all our doors are produced to the client’s specification in our workshop in Malta, where we use a CNC digital wood carving machine,” David said. He added that some clients send bespoke ACAD drawings in digital format, which are then entered into the CNC and Lumberjack Woodworks produces the door. “Otherwise we can show clients different digital visuals so they can choose their preferred option, which we then produce for them,” he said.
While Covid had a negative impact on some industries, it was not the case for David and his team. “Over the past 3 years, our workload has increased, despite Covid, the situation in Ukraine and the overall global economic situation. During Covid, a number of restaurants shut down their operations temporarily so they could carry out refurbishments. We also had a number of residential clients, who also took advantage of the slower pace of life during lockdown to refurbish their homes,” he said.
It is undeniable that cost of raw material has increased significantly, with a large portion of plywood and natural woods having been traditionally imported from Europe’s East. “Items which previously cost €45 are now being priced at €120. And though we are trying to source raw materials from different countries, this is proving to be quite difficult. It can be difficult to explain to clients that a job that previously cost EUR 100, has now gone up to EUR 130, specifically due to the substantial increase in raw material prices from overseas,” he added. “The reality is that this steep cost increase has to be absorbed by the client, and we have made sure to be clear that any cost escalations are pure cost increases – we would not raise our margins to exploit dire circumstances, as such a strategy would be misguided, unethical and unsustainable in the long-term,” David emphatically noted.
“we would not raise our margins to exploit dire circumstances, as such as a strategy would be misguided, unethical and unsustainable in the long-term”
Projects in the works for next year include two small boutique hotels and a key hotel in Paceville, as well as some larger hotel contracts. David plans to focus on consolidating the company’s current market position and expand into windows and apertures, using the same business model and strategy that his company’s values enforce. Lumberjack Woodworks will launch double and triple glazed windows (similar to what you find in Italy), next year, “These are fully watertight, with aluminium from the outside and wood from the inside and can be customised to the client’s specifications, with quick turnaround periods,” David explained.
Other developments in progress include the provision of quick turnaround DIY projects in 48 hours at highly advantageous retail prices, for retail consumers. “We are very excited about this and are currently in the process of sourcing the machinery and the application technology from our overseas suppliers.
“Our residential as well as commercial clients look for a high end finished product which will stand the test off time”
photo: a Maltese traditional balcony rebuilt by Lumberjack Woodworks
Lumberjack Woodworks is renowned for delivering a high quality product, which is especially important for commercial clients, where there is high usage and plenty of wear and tear. “Our residential as well as commercial clients look for a high end finished product which will stand the test off time. This is why we use high quality brands and raw material – for example, all our machinery is made by the top brands, we use the best glues and hinges,” he explained. David is aware that in a competitive market, their use of superior equipment and raw material, his passion for woodcraft, their sheer commitment to deadlines, and a no-nonsense approach to after sales are important advantages.
An operation which started out in a home garage has grown to a fully-fledged business with over 3000 square metres of warehousing facilities, where Lumberjack Woodworks stocks its own material and wood and components. “We maintain a minimum of 80% capacity of warehousing for different types of woods and manufacturing materials,” David explained.
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