CRUARD MENUISERIE

For more than a century, the Bichot company, located in Mayenne, has been using its know-how to enhance the value of its built heritage. Through its high-end projects, the company participates in the restoration of historical monuments and character homes, but also designs contemporary carpentry made to measure for modern homes. Its know-how is recognized by the label Entreprise du Patrimoine vivant.

History. This story of men and the transmission of knowledge began in 1908 with Louis Bichot who created a wagon business in Atheist in the south of Mayenne. With a sawmill to cut the wood and machines then driven by transmission belts. With the development of post-war housing, his son, Albert Bichot, oriented the company towards carpentry in 1953. Then, Philippe Bichot, Albert's son, joined his father in 1978 after a tour of France with the Compagnons du Devoir and perpetuated the company then turned to woodworking in buildings. In the 1980s, Philippe Bichot expanded his workshops: the surface area reached 600 m² for a workforce of five employees. After having completed a tour of France with the Compagnons du Devoir and having practiced his profession for a year in New Zealand, his son, Jean-Marc Bichot took over the torch in 2008 and gave a new impetus to the company, which has experienced strong growth in recent years. This expansion led the company to relocate to Château-Gontier, 20 kilometres from Athée, and to build a new building (1,200 m² of workshop and 200 m² of offices) that is resolutely contemporary. It now has new tools at its disposal to optimize its production.

The products. Restoration, manufacture and installation of stylish joinery, interior and exterior, parquet floors, stairs, panelling, etc., each joinery is unique and created according to the rules of the art by companions trained in current and ancient techniques.

Employment. About twenty employees.