Unique, Local, Custom-Built
J. Thompson Unique your local shop for custom pieces
J.T. Unique is not a new shop in Des Moines. We have been in business for almost 12 years working with both residential and commercial clients. We’ve designed and created a lot over the years. So, let’s talk about what that means for you.
We are a prefabrication shop that designs and builds everything from cabinets to custom doors and everything in between. Along the way, in my construction career, it became apparent that a superior way to construct a lot of finished work and millwork is in a waterproof, conditioned shop space. Sometimes the word “prefab” has a bad connotation. Don’t let it scare you. Prefabrication, put simply, is the practice of constructing parts beforehand. The quality is oftentimes better than on-site fabrication because the carpenters and/or builders have all the right tools at hand and are working in a space not affected by the elements such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation.
Prior to purchasing shop space, we would create make-shift “shops” on site to assemble and make custom pieces for the current home build. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a bad practice. However, with consistent conditions and more than enough room to work, we can work more efficiently. Oftentimes, the finished work is better looking because you don’t have to improvise as you do on site and builders can be more creative, hide fasteners, be more consistent with each piece, etc.
Prefabrication is also helpful when making multiples of the same piece. For example, J.T. Unique has worked with hotels. Typically a hotel doesn’t require one or two of the same piece, they require hundreds - one for each room. We needed to expand to accommodate the extra space needed for making multiples of each piece. At the same time, we knew that the larger space would work well for our custom home construction as well. So we expanded. We bought a building in 2005 and have been improving it ever sense by adding tools, assembly tables, etc. We’ve grown so much that we have doubled our space in the last two years and have added a metal shop!
All the additions and growth of the shop have allowed us to provide more services to our clients in both residential and commercial spaces.
When we manage the build of a custom home, we can keep the build on track by creating the custom elements required for the space without outsourcing. Another aspect of the shop is building multiples. Multiples meaning 10 to upwards of 1,000 pieces of the same design. This is great for our commercial clients!
Items we have built in multiples:
Bar Tops
Countertops
Cabinets
Furniture
Wall packages - live edge siding
Prefabricated wainscot paneling
Reclaimed lumber doors
We build what people want and the timelessness, versatility, and eco friendliness of reclaimed lumber make it a perfect material to work with. Several of our pieces such as reclaimed sliding doors will be available soon. Be on the lookout for our expanded public offerings on J.T. Unique’s etsy page!
J.T. Unique is a service first shop. We’ve got a strong group of very experienced makers that I’ve worked with for 10+ years. We will be posting more about our interesting cast of characters in individual profiles here on the blog in the coming weeks. Until then, check us out on Facebook, Houzz and JTUnique.com or in person in Johnston or our shop in Grimes. Not located in Iowa? We can ship or deliver custom pieces. Give us a call: 515-202-1500 to see what J.T. Unique can do for you!