Hello, my name is Lewis Smith the Proud owner of L.J. Smith Building Services Limited.

 L J Smith Building is a small limited company based in Faversham, Kent. The company was formed in April 2024 and from the beginning we've been getting good amounts of work with excellent reviews on Google businesses and Checkatrade. As a builder I have over 20 years of experience working as a bricklayer and general builder and our aim is to provide an excellent and stress-free service from start to finish. 

My story as a bricklayer/builder started when I left school, at first I wanted to be a chef but couldn't handle the heat in the kitchen then I was offered a course in bricklaying at Canterbury College and done a year there doing a starter/foundation course. Following that I went out looking for an apprenticeship but no local companies were taking on beginners. Then I got offered a labouring job working for the Burton Group for a few months then I got my breakthrough with G H Building Services, started as a labourer for a couple of weeks then started my apprenticeship.

Throughout the 19 years with G H Building I've learnt so many different skills, when ever there was no brickwork to be done, I be doing other trades work: patios, block paving, stud walls, insulating, plaster boarding, knock throughs, demolition, roofing.... the list goes on and on, most of the time I use to challenge myself by giving a skill ago, all good practice I suppose.

2018 I managed and built my first extension on my house, which gave me the confidence I needed to do privet work and after that work started to flow in. 

From 2018-2023 I was working every weekend, doing my private work and every so often I took time off from G H Building to go and do these jobs, my boss was very laid back about it as long as I gave him plenty of notice.

In April 2024 my boss collapsed at work from a aneurysm and was air ambulanced to a London hospital, later that month, I was told that he wasn't going to make it.

I had a few choices to make, whether to find another company to work for, to go out on site or start my own company?? I was already doing jobs for myself as a solo trader, so I decided to create my own company.

and as from April 2024 I formed the L J Smith Building company.

For nearly 20 years I've worked for G H Building Services along side Gary Handford. Gary was a character known by many in the Sittingbourne area, he was a kind hearted, hard working, very organised man and would help you out with anything.  We've been through some good times and bad times together and sometimes we didn't agree with each other but he was a good boss and a friend. I remember the first time I met him like it was yesterday, outside his house at Bapchild with my Dad and was talking about what skills I had and if I could read a tape measure properly (😆). He gave me a chance at the time when no one else would and I was truly grateful for it. I still feel that I could phone him up for a chat at any time, I do truly miss him. 

Rest in peace Gary Handford and thank you for the 19 years of work and skills that you have given me and I'm sure you would be proud of what a man I have become.