Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Curtiss Woodworking?
2. How long have you been in business?
3. Where are you Located?
4. How much does each piece cost?
5. What is your Turn-Around Time?
6. What kind of installation shall I expect?
7. Do you have a catalog or price list?
8. How do we choose the type of wood or finish?
9. How do I place an order?
10. How many years of experience do you have?
11. Will I get to talk directly to the Woodworker?
12. How much deposit do you require?
13. Can you ship my order?
14. What if the woodworker creates a custom design and I do not like it?
15. Can the woodworker re-create a design I saw?
16. What is the difference between the types of woods?
17. Are the finished designs guaranteed?
18. My item that I purchased from you became damaged with minor scratches after a period of time, will you repair the damage?
19. I have a tree that I cut down that was on my land, can you use it to make a woodcrafted design in my house?
20. I have and Architect and/or Interior Designer that I know, Will you work with them?
21. What wood profiles are used?
22. What makes a Quality Door?
23. Can you remodel all areas of my house?
24. How much does the estimate cost to come to my location?
25. How far will you travel for an installation?
26. Who takes measurements for the Room or the Project?
27. Who do you use for your Millwork and Woodworking designs?
28. Will you provide me with complete drafting designs?
29. Do you subcontract your work to outside contractors?
30. How do you get the Materials and Components for the Project?
31. What Forms of Payment do you accept?
32. Will you be able to help me with a Historical Renovation?

For A Specific Question you would like to ask Curtiss Woodworking, please submit below:

FOR PHOTOS or Attachments, Please submit below:

1.        Who is Curtiss Woodworking?  Curtiss Woodworking began at a young age in the late 60's from my love of the woods and woodworking.  I became fascinated with the world of wood.  We are a small shop that was located originally in Oxford, Connecticut in a farmland/dairy building that belonged to my family for generations.  After many years of business and residential side job-type projects, I finally established my business in 1985.  In the Spring of 2007, Curtiss Woodworking Expanded and relocated to a 10,000  square foot location in Prospect, Connecticut.

One of my greatest assets is my diversified knowledge to do a variety of work.   I can build furniture to pass on as family heirlooms, create entry doors, remodel kitchens or build commercial display cases.  My vast experience with all kinds of wood and stains allows a spectacular finishing touch to my pieces.   I can produce a piece of furniture to match any existing style or design you may have and  I build furniture to your exact specifications.

I take a lot of pride in my craft and it shows in the final results.   My business has been built on my excellent reputation for the quality of exotic and domestic woods that I hand pick and repeat customers offer testimony to the craftsmanship in the final product.  I offer competitive pricing with unmatched unique quality.   Working with you from start to finish, I will design with uniqueness integrating your preferences of style and choice of wood.  All of my customers get my personal and full attention throughout their project.

All estimates and consultations are free. If you have a project in mind, give me a call or send me an e-mail. I will be happy to discuss any of your ideas.  

Sincerely,

Dale R. Curtiss

Curtiss Woodworking, Inc. President

2. How long have you been in business?  Curtiss Woodworking was established in 1985.  Dale R. Curtiss began Woodworking and making Handcrafted items since 1970 .

3. Where are you Located?   Curtiss Woodworking is located in New Haven County, Connecticut at 123 Union City Road, Prospect, Connecticut, 06712  

4. How much does each piece cost?  As with all Custom Shop items, each piece will vary according to type of wood and custom design.  We provide free estimates and will work with you from start to finish on the estimate of cost and the quality of workmanship will be endorsed with any questions that you may have to provide you with cost-effective quality products.

5. What is your Turn-Around Time?  Depending on the special quantity of products ordered and other vendor timeframes, we will be able to estimate time of delivery soon after completing your free estimate.  We will work closely with you with any architects, interior designers, and other professional services that you may use and will collate your project's work with them in order to deliver according to your needs.  Our bids will include estimated delivery and installation timeframes.

6. What kind of installation shall I expect?  Our employees are trained and work directly for Curtiss Woodworking to provide you with the most professional installation.  If you have any special needs or requirements, we are very happy to accommodate with your request.  We have installed in the most diverse environments and feel confident in our professional mannerisms.

7. Do you have a catalog or price list?  At this time our website is our catalog so feel free to browse within the different areas of interest.  In regards to price lists, we do not provide same item delivery choices and choose from billions of different concepts.  We provide free Price Estimates upon private consultation of what your project and architectural designs and embellishments may be.

8. How do we choose the type of wood or finish?  Please feel free to read about different types of woods in our Design Page to familiarize yourself with your areas of interest.  Curtiss Woodworking will provide you with any samples necessary to narrow down your final decisions.  Our Estimates will include the most professional warranted finishes available for your customs needs.    Important Information about WOOD, MOISTURE, and TYPES OF WOOD!

9. How do I place an order?  During our free estimate process, we will discuss the cost of items and the required deposit for design and order initiation.  A check, cash, or credit card will secure an order to begin process and at that time we can go over the timeline of design, making, finishing and installation of your custom work.

10. How many years of experience do you have?  Dale R. Curtiss has a total of 37 years of woodworking experience.  His Custom Shop was established in 1985 and employs personnel commiserate with the demands of the projects that we bid on.

11. Will I get to talk directly to the Woodworker?  The estimates are completed by Dale R. Curtiss and he is the Master Woodworker.  Any questions that you may have can be direct towards him. This process will ensure accurate communication of your Custom Needs and will provide you with accurate design and installation.  At any time upon meeting any of Curtiss Woodworking employees, you may always inquire about anything that you may want to know of about the Woodworking process and items.  We encourage direct communication with you and your woodworkers.

12. How much deposit do you require?  Curtiss Woodworking does not have a fixed deposit amount  or  fixed percentage amount versus total estimate for deposit.  You will be notified upon completion of estimate what is required and the timeline of payments required for the complete job outline.  We base our estimate on numerous variables and will inform you of such variables as the job may require.

13. Can you ship my order?  The largest percentage of Curtiss Woodworking’s Custom items requires personal service and installation.  However, for some items that are stand alone, we can work with freight companies to deliver to your doorstep without installation.  Items within driving distance of Curtiss Woodworking will be delivered by Curtiss Woodworking.  We will ship Worldwide for items that are appropriate.  Please ask upon inquiry for your location and since we are a Custom Shop, we will also be creative in your shipping needs with insurance guarantees.

14. What if the woodworker creates a custom design and I do not like it?  All designs at Curtiss woodworking can have samples of design before the completion of the project.  It is advised to ask as many questions as possible to prevent buyer remorse.  We understand that visualization of the project may be difficult.  We have all experienced with painting of a room how different the final color can be with the sample, however, the designs can be described and elaborated on to prevent such buyers remorse.  Please inquire on all concerns and our belief is to negotiate to customer satisfaction without remorse.

15. Can the woodworker re-create a design I saw?  It is very possible to re-create designs with real life examples via photographs and other methods. The more information we have on the items history and development, the closer a replica can be made.  We encourage expression and input on the artist way.  Please realize the artist will always have the vision of woodworking process and that each and every natural and domestic wood will have its own unique way, so the replica will be unique to its own image.

16. What is the difference between the types of woods?  Curtiss Woodworking will define the recommended woods for each type of application.  On our Design Page, we have listed types of woods; however, we have mastered the patterns of woods to be used in each quality application.  Types of woods are an educational process in itself and we will gladly enjoy talking about personality and behavioral associations with each type of wood within your design application.

          Important Information about WOOD, MOISTURE, and TYPES OF WOOD!

17. Are the finished designs guaranteed?  Curtiss Woodworking takes pride in all finished products.  Our guarantee is customer satisfaction and free from defects in workmanship.  Please always let us know about any situations or developments of our products and Dale R. Curtiss will be more than willing to discuss the guarantees with you.  We appreciate your business and all referrals from our products beauty.   Our professional staff is very proud to become part of your world.  Our experienced Craftsman allows you to have your choices in wood, style, finishes, measurements, interior and exterior options, including architectural embellishments with your freedom of choice.  All of this process will ensure a beautiful designed environment.

18. My item that I purchased from you became damaged with minor scratches after a period of time, will you repair the damage?  Please free to inquire on any future repairs or restorations.  We can discuss the process and the fee, if applicable, with any future situations or developments that you may require.

19. I have a tree that I cut down that was on my land, can you use it to make a woodcrafted design in my house?  Generally speaking, we do not transform a tree into a finished, ready-to-use piece of wood for installation.  However, the beauty of our business is that all woodworking comes from trees, so, if and when you have that special one that has been processed after the tree has been cut down, let us know and we can make an evaluation of what percentage of the final product of the tree may be usable for installation.  Remember each tree has its own unique DNA, per say, and that its personality would be different each and every time you cut down a different tree.  We do not necessarily carve creatures, however, we can make sense of a particular tree that has been prepared for finishing for a unique touch to your project.  We will be sincerely amused to accommodate.  Remember, we prefer to incorporate the tree within a project and not necessarily make it the project as most wood carvers do.

20. I have an Architect and/or Interior Designer that I know, Will you work with them?  Curtiss Woodworking encourages all connections that you may have for your project.  Please feel free to introduce us to your team and we will meet and discuss the complete design.  We also provide our own contacts for such an application as well.  Our job is to make your project compatible and suitable to your comfort level of service and expertise.  We will design, install, build, draft, while giving you hand rendered floor plans and all other necessary compatible requirements working with you and your preferred professionals.  In addition, Curtiss Woodworking’s design and engineering department works hand in hand with all of our clients to provide precisely the outcome that you are looking for.  Detailed shop drawings are prepared for amending a design approval before and during the Custom process.

21. What wood profiles are used?  Curtiss Woodworking can accommodate any profile that your design may require.  Typically, the wood profiles are door stiles, panels, mullions, and casing.  We will work with you from start to finish choosing wood, profiling, construction, and any weather striping and hardwoods required that will be necessary leading all the way to the final stages of staining and finishing.  We can design and/or reproduce an existing profile or accommodate your custom designs.

22. What makes a Quality Door?  We will produce a solid wood stile, rail construction made of the finest hardwoods with our years of proven manufacturing techniques creating the highest quality door, interior and/or exterior.  We will explain the differences to you as we proceed to give you your free estimate on the doors that you wish to install.

23. Can you remodel all areas of my house?  The diversity of wood is astounding and can be installed in every area of your environment.  Every room in your home or office can be remodeled with wood.  Personal uses and commercial uses are so numerous to mention, so use your imagination!

24. How much does the estimate cost to come to my location?  Estimates are free within the New England States and the Tristate area, within a reasonable driving distance from Prospect, Connecticut.  Outside of this area, we will negotiate procedure of how to handle the estimates.  Estimates are FREE and initial discussions are FREE within the driving distance area!

25. How far will you travel for an installation?  Travelling and planning will be discussed as we proceed with the job or project.  No job is ever too small or too big for us to travel to; however, we will discuss the reasonable fees associated with this request.

26. Who takes measurements for the Room or the Project?  Our professional staff will take measurements for the Project.  We will also use professional architect schematics for reviewing and completely a bid.  Every measurement is a task we enjoy taking since the accuracy to the slightest fraction of an 100th of an inch which will create the matching of elements and complete the balance and beauty of design.

27. Who do you use for your Millwork and Woodworking designs?  Curtiss Woodworking is a complete facility with a complete staff.  We have the resources to assist you in all of your decisions and we will work with you from start to finish with our staff and yourself for all designs.  Meeting Dale R. Curtiss, President of Curtiss Woodworking will put you within the comfort zone of knowing that having an experienced professional woodworker and millworker on your project will create a long lasting friendship in the making of handcrafted wood.

28. Will you provide me with complete drafting designs?  Certainly, upon request, we will provide all of the intimate drafting of designs that we have initiated on your project and explain them to you in detail.  In some instances, it will be easier to provide samples of what will be used and the explanation of what you expect will assist in your designs.  More complicated drafting designs are certainly provided.  We have our professional staff assisting with this type of drafting for your Woodworking Project.

29. Do you subcontract your work to outside contractors?  Most jobs that we do, we have a complete staff to do all of the work.  On occassion, we will hire professional subcontractors for work to be done.  When we do, their work would excel in comparison to the application that we could provide.  Upon request, we can inform you of this development, however, at our sole discretion, we may not feel the necessity to inform you of our professional decisions.

30. How do you get the Materials and Components for the Project?  Curtiss Woodworking has decades of experience in obtaining the Best Quality Materials and Components with relationship to Numerous Sources that extend as far back as the late 1970’s.   We extend our experience to your designs with these professional resources so that you will have the quality that you have in our guarantee of finished product and installation.

31. What Forms of Payment do you accept?  We accept cash, cashiers check upon verification from bank, personal and business checks, MasterCard and Visa, and Wire Transfer to our banking account.  Please inquire upon making a payment for procedure directly from Dale R. Curtiss.

32. Will you be able to help me with a Historical Renovation?  Yes, Curtiss Woodworking will work with you on any Historical Renovation.  Please provide us with all materials on the type of renovation and documents that you have received and our Free Estimate process will allow you to understand what will be necessary for the Historical Renovation procedures.