How I Went From A Teenage Brick Mason
To A Professional Siding Extraordinaire
Not Every Kid Dreams Of Being An Exterior Remodeler…
But 10-Year-Old Chad Did. And He Wasn’t Kidding.
Do you remember third-grade career day? Every student stands up confidently in front of the class and says what they want to be. Some yell, “When I grow up, I want to be a firefighter!” Or, “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor!”
Well, 10-year-old Chad had a different vision than the rest of his classmates. He didn’t dream of firetrucks or stethoscopes. Instead, Chad had one goal – to work in exterior remodeling.… in any way he could.
As you might’ve figured out by now, I’m Chad. That boy was me. And today, I’m the proud owner of Superior Exterior Systems. Though I might not be 10 anymore, I still have the same passion for exterior remodeling that I did back then.
Pre-1998: Full-Time Brick Mason, Part-Time House Flipper
Due to my love of exterior remodeling, when I graduated high school, I did what 10-year-old me dreamed about. I became a full-time brick mason. And when I wasn’t building beautiful brick structures? I was using my passion to flip homes. You know, typical teenager stuff.
My goal? Become the best brick mason and house flipper in the Pacific Northwest. Truth be told, I was happy and would’ve gladly continued on that journey.
But, as life went on, another opportunity arose that I simply couldn’t pass up.
1998 – 2010: Mastering The Art Of How NOT To Remodel
I loved brick masonry and flipping homes (still do!) and certainly learned a lot throughout the years doing it.
But then, in 1998, I was presented with a wonderful opportunity. It was a job with a material supply company – ABC Supply Company. My new role? Train contractors on how to properly install the company’s exterior remodeling systems (mainly siding).
During the 12 years in this role, I worked with 300+ contractors. I provided training on installation best practices and introduced them to upcoming product launches. I saw mistake after mistake… after mistake. And the worst part? Most contractors didn’t care – they were fine with “good enough.” But I wasn’t.
All the while, my entrepreneurial spirit (and that of my wife Michelle) grew more and more by the day, until September 24th, 2014. That’s the day we decided to take a leap of faith and manage our own company.
2010 – 2015: The (Tough) Early Years Of Superior Exterior Systems
If we’ve learned one thing throughout our journey, it’s this: startups often fail. So, we decided to take ownership of an already established company – Superior Exterior Systems.
Now, we wish we could say that everything was smooth sailing right after we took over. That we nailed it and chose the PERFECT company. That there were no surprises or setbacks… but (unfortunately) there were.
The biggest issue? How the previous owner was treating his workforce:
- The labor rates were too low for our taste
- The workers weren’t treated as a part of the company
Maybe that worked for the previous owner, but NOT for us. So, we changed things drastically. We made our employees partners, not just “workers.” They now have a say in what goes on, and they’re compensated well for their quality work.
More than that, our employees have NEVER missed a check.
2015 – Present Day: Kicking Superior Exterior Systems Into Gear
The additional labor costs were a conscious investment—we chose to raise wages to support our team, even though it impacted our bottom line in the short term. But our team has rewarded us tenfold by doing a great job on remodel after remodel. They’re invaluable to us and crucial to our company’s success.
And the best part of all? We’re family-owned. We’re a husband (Chad), wife (Michelle), and son (Noah) team that loves working alongside one another each and every day.
Now, we’re not perfect and still improving every day.
But the one thing we can promise you is that you’ll get a company that puts you first… above ourselves, and above our profits. We’ll deliver quality results at fair and affordable prices. And we’ll stand behind our work for LIFE.
Meet Our Superior Exterior Systems Team
When we say we’re small and family-owned, we mean it. Along with our trusted installation crews who have worked with us for years, here are the five key members of our team that you may meet during your project.
Schedule Your Free Consultation Today
Is it time to upgrade your home’s exterior in the Portland Metro or Southwest Washington Area? Whether you need to upgrade your siding, roofing, windows, doors, gutters, decks, or exterior insulation, Superior Exterior Systems has you covered. Call us today for more information and to schedule your free consultation.
