What do you get when you combine an expert craftsman, visual artist and self proclaimed tree hugger?
You get something truly unique and inspiring that combines nature, functionality and art.
Meet Ron Roell, a craftsman and owner of Wood Tops and Tables, 11749 Avon Belden Road in Grafton.
Walking into the spartan shop, one is greeted by this incredible smell of various cut and sawn woods, which line the walls and some standing 20 feet high.
Where form meets function, Roell is able to take the beautiful, and in some cases live edged wood, and turn them into something truly breathtaking.
Or, do largely nothing at all, depending on the client need.
Behind a plastic curtain separating showroom from work area, the craftsman was busy constructing a wine bar countertop for one client and an inlay mirror for another.
And while the name implies countertops and tables, Roell makes art, wall hangings, unique shelving, windowsills and furniture.
He does work for both residential and commercial settings, and each piece is truly one of a kind.
Relocating to Grafton
A transplant to Grafton via Cincinnati, Roell began his career as a master craftsman, carpenter and home remodeler.
His work was frequently featured in not only Greater Cincinnati media outlets but also in national magazines.
A few years ago, Roell moved to the area permanently after meeting his now wife, Linda.
He recalled that the pair would take turns driving from Cleveland to Cincinnati and vice-versa for years, but the commute started to become a little tedious.
“And one day Linda asked me if I’d consider moving to the Cleveland area, and honestly, I’d never really considered it,” Roell smiled. “It wasn’t something I thought I would ever do.
“But we brought such good energy to one another; it felt like a good move. So, I packed up, shut down my business and came up here. I really didn’t know anyone, I had no friends or family here, and now, no more business.
“And honestly, I had worked in that business since I was 13 years old, and I was a little burned out. I was in my 40s and the days of 60-hour work weeks and the toll on my body as a contractor was getting a little stale.
“It was time for a change. It was a welcome change, and I just love being here. It was a fresh start mentally and physically, and I’ve gotten to know so many wonderful, positive people here. I honestly feel much more alive.”
And working with live edge slabs seemed to come naturally for the artist.
Roell said he sort of fell into the job when a business colleague asked him if he could use or do anything with several trees.
Many contractors would dump mature trees at this tree yard, because to them, the trees were debris that had to be cleared away.
Roell, however, said he saw a potentially rewarding new career.
So, he purchased a saw and a milling machine to cut the trees into manageable slabs.
The saw could cut up to seven-inch thick slabs and handle 20-foot lengths in a single pass.
From that raw slab, the artist and craftsman came out, planing, drying, sanding, shaping and working the wood.
From walnut and beech, to maple and olive, Roell’s shop has just about every species one could imagine.
“And they’re all just waiting to share that energy that is stored up in the wood with the world,” he said. “Theirs is sort of a philosophy when it comes to trees; they absorb toxins in the air and ground, and release life-giving things into the atmosphere.
“They absorb energy and give out that energy, and there is energy in every piece I create.”
And the pieces are designed to last for generations with proper care, Roell said.
Simply clean with mild soap and water, don’t put fingernail polish remover (acetone) near it, and don’t use it as a cutting board, he said.
The finish on the wood is determined by the intended use and preference of the customer, but Roell explains that common finishes are polyurethane, resin, lacquer, oil, wax or a combination thereof.
The special polyurethane finish is designed to dent and not scratch, he said.
It completely prevents any moisture penetration so water is never an issue.
Roell added that the cost is comparable to granite or marble, and he’s happy to provide a quote for any project.
Typically, work is finished in just a few weeks, depending upon the exact nature of the project, he said.
More information can be found at www.woodtopsandtables.com or by calling 440-771-1112.
