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Builder/Architect Magazine
Article - New York's Capital Region Edition
W D Williams
Construction, Inc. Opening the Door for a Masterpiece!
Photo by: Photographers &
Co.
This Plantation-style camp on Lake George was
originally built in the 1920s. Peter L. Gluck &
Partners, architects of ARCS Construction
Services, designed the renovation of this
multi-level home.
Photo by: Photographers &
Co. The
builder used original doors in the design of this
custom-built kitchen.
Photo by: Photographers &
Co. Off the master
suite is the elegantly appointed bath featuring marble floor
and slate countertop.
Photo by: Photographers &
Co. With a modest
addition on one side, a dramatic change was made to this
ranch-style home.
Photo by: Photographers &
Co. This
magnificent kitchen with granite countertop was designed and
built by Williams Construction.
Photo by: Photographers &
Co. Williams
Construction's cabinet shop built personalized his-and-hers
cherry cabinetry for this outstanding master bath.
Photo by: Photographers &
Co. A spectacular
full-length porch welcomes everyone from its Douglas fir
ceiling stained to match the mahogany floor.
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"Trifles make perfection, and perfection
is no trifle." This sentiment is attributed to Michelangelo,
yet the same could be said for W.D. Williams Construction,
Inc. when referring to their craftsmanship. Just as
Michelangelo created art through paint, sculpture,
architecture, and poetry, W.D. Williams Construction, Inc.
creates art in custom cabinetry and home renovation. And
while the work of Michelangelo is celebrated around the
world, and W.D. Williams is becoming famous in the nearby
surroundings of Lake George, to compare the two would be
inappropriate. Rather, the quote, simply put applies to W.D.
Williams in a timeless way-one that crosses all time
barriers when the task at hand comes down to quality and
care.
"Trifles," defined, in this case, as things of little value,
substance or importance, are precisely what brings the cabinetry and carpentry
work of W.D. Williams Construction, Inc. near "perfection." To others, trifles
may be simply as defined. But to this construction firm, it is the details,
which make all the difference.
Wayne and Michelle Williams are the owners of
W.D. Williams Construction, Inc. in Cleverdale on the shores of Lake
George. The Williams' are very proud of their cabinet shop, where
Wayne coordinates and designs the jobs, and two highly skilled
cabinetmakers and one meticulous painter create works of art for
their million dollar renovations. Their special niche is custom
cabinetry, home renovation, and remodeling.
And that, by the way, is no exaggeration. One
recent project, referred to as a "plantation-style camp," was
indeed, a million-dollar job. "The difficult part of this renovation
project," says Wayne, "was that the owner loved the house as it was,
but wanted a finished basement, attic, bedroom, bigger kitchen and
living room. This meant gutting the whole house and installing a new
foundation and roof system. The object was to provide all this yet
keep the old feeling and look of the original house. Working closely
with the architects of the project, all the cabinetry and trim was
carefully designed and custom-built by our company to be an exact
replica of the original house."
Because their cabinetry is custom-designed the
exact specifications for often unusually sized spaces, and to create
an artful statement in a room, these pieces of finely crafted art
are not run-of-the-mill, nor are they inexpensive. But they are
especially what the owners of large lake-shore homes are looking
for—something unique which also says "this is classic." Wayne says
of some of his customers, "money seems to be no object" when they
are considering major renovations. He cites an example of one such
project where he saw very little of the homeowners, who resided in
Florida, but a great deal of the architects, of New York City, who
were on the job site about 50 percent of the time.
By paying particular attention to the customer,
or those representing the customer, W. D. Williams Construction,
Inc. has the ability and skill to build cabinets of any size or
shape to fit any space. Wayne says painted cabinets seem to be very
popular currently, in pine, poplar, and birch ply woods. Cherry is a
favorite hardwood, along with mahogany. Many of Wayne's customers
enjoy participating in the design of their cabinetry.
As it is with a job well done, the word spreads
quickly when it comes to the Williams' reputation for outstanding
creations. Wayne says he's often approached for repeat work or
additional work by a former customer, attesting to the satisfaction
level. The company's reputation also leads to recommendations,
mostly by word of mouth.
Wayne's background in the industry has been
unique, as well. He earned his associate's degree in electrical
construction from HVCC in 1974 and, thereafter, worked for a builder
doing wiring jobs and carpentry work. He subsequently found that he
enjoyed the carpentry work more and more. Simultaneously, Wayne was
pursuing a fire-fighting career with the City of Schenectady,
retiring just several years ago after 20 years of service. Because
of the 24 hours work schedule (24 hours on/3 days off), Wayne had
time to turn his avocation into a vocation, and pursued his love of
carpentry as a remodeler and renovator.
He developed a reputation for outstanding
work. Michelle joined the business along the way and plays an active
role in the office. Michelle says she "turned our house into a
'living office' when we were getting started." Fifteen years ago,
the family, including their two boys, Eric and Jason, moved from
Schenectady to Cleverdale to be closer to their extended family and
nourish their love of boating.
Wayne's commute several times a week between
Schenectady and Lake George was no difficulty for someone who was
doing what he loved. However, the move was a challenge—Wayne had
already established a customer base in the Schenectady area, and, as
he says, "I had to start from the beginning." He was able to build a
name for himself by working with other contractors, which allowed
him to create his present business.
W.D. Williams Construction, Inc. then found its
own special niche in Lake George—renovation, remodeling, and
superior custom-crafted, built-in cabinetry. Wayne says that because
so much of the Lake George shoreline is already developed, and rules
and regulations apply to the properties, renovation is the most
popular route for new homeowners.
In addition to the custom cabinetry crafted in
their shop, the Williams crew has also created exquisite entry doors
and complementary benches suitable for placement near thresholds and
in vestibules or foyers. Wayne says his crew is meticulous in the
ways of "old craftsmanship," and the pride they take in their work
is reflected in the finished product. "We do our own framing and
painting because I feel we have more control, and it's easy to work
in with the carpentry," says Wayne when speaking of the renovation
portion of the business. "Our crew of eight to ten employees is very
comfortable for us, and has allowed us to perfect our innovations
and techniques. We try to do the work right the first time, and try
to do it correctly while we're doing it to make sure it's done
properly.
On average, W. D. Williams Construction, Inc.
does about two completed renovations per year. And while no job is
too small for the company, the majority of work runs between
$200,000 and $400,000. Once the job is under way, they work closely
with the customer or architect almost daily. "The lake presents some
unique challenges," says Wayne. Most of the homes they renovate have
private septic systems, some utilize synthetic materials, and many
still use lake water for drinking water once it's run through a
filtration system. "The biggest challenge of any renovation is that
there is no set of parameters to follow, which can drive the cost of
construction up," says Wayne. There are many hidden problems that
can crop up during construction, and the more you can anticipate
these problems, the better you will stay within the projected
budget."
With thoughts of the future to sustain the
company's growth, the Williams' are enjoying their present projects.
Michelle says, "We want to remember our roots," and says of Wayne,
"His real interest and desire is to make sure that things are always
done right." That sounds like a dedicated artisan—and the result is
a masterpiece! |
