As a structural engineer, Jim Jendusa appreciates precision. When designing a building he uses lots of details, taking time to plan the most stable structure possible.
Jendusa is the owner of Hartland-based Jendusa Design & Engineering Inc., and recently launched Hartland startup Lightweight Structures LLC, which has developed a new energy-efficient floor and wall framing system.
With a career that heavily revolves around building and construction, Jendusa said his hobby of woodworking and furniture building came naturally to him.
“It’s kind of like putting a building together, but on smaller scale,” he said.
It all started in 1992 when he built his current house on an empty, wooded lot. Jendusa chopped down the property’s large cherry, walnut and ash trees to create space for the project, and decided to keep
the wood to have it converted into lumber. To his surprise, he ended up with 3,000 board feet, or 12 inch by 12 inch by one inch pieces, of cherry, walnut and ash wood.
He used the wood to create his first of many woodworking projects – built-in, cherry wood cabinets with raised panel doors – for a room in his newly constructed home. The wood was also used throughout the house for hardwood floors and trim molding.
When time allows, Jendusa continues to build furniture pieces to keep for himself or to give as gifts. He is currently working on ash and walnut wood cabinets for his daughter, who shares his love for woodworking and often helps him with his projects.
“It takes my mind off the day-to-day grind, and gets me out of the office and using my hands,” Jendusa said. “I really enjoy working with the wood. Each (type of) wood has its own character.”
