Victoria's Mitchelton Winery called on Britton Timbers to come up with some innovative solutions for flooring as it firstly renovated its bar and wine tasting area, and then its restaurant.

Mitchelton Winery owner Gerry Ryan is a well-known and very successful businessman with interests in horse-racing, caravan and camper production through Jayco, Global Creatures (see ‘Walking with Dinosaurs’) and bicycle racing – he is the major sponsor of the Jayco Herald Sun Bike Tour and the Green Edge riders. So when the call came through Tate Constructions, Britton Timber’s Paul Cauchi literally ‘got on his bike’ to meet on site to suggest some creative solutions.

American White Oak and engineered French Oak in wide boards were chosen for framing and flooring around the bar and wine tasting area. Stained to a rich chocolate, the timber has drawn rave reviews from Mitchelton patrons. In the restaurant section of the winery, part of the haste for Paul was in solving a last-minute sliding door challenge – in time for the arrival of riders completing the Bike Tour of Victoria.

Britton Timbers’ extensive stocks of American White Oak again came to the rescue. American White Oak flooring was used for the sliding door in-fills to match the lime-wash theme of the refurbished restaurant. Timba Windows weighed-in to complete the project all in record time.

Britton Timbers Paul Cauchi said the builder, architect and owner were understandably delighted with the quick and architecturally sound solution.

"We probably hold the largest stocks of American White Oak in Australia, so were particularly pleased to be able to quickly help out a client with whom we have worked for many years."