Child Enterprises Inc.

Since 1974, Child Enterprises Inc. (CEI) has been a leader in the commercial masonry contracting industry. Serving Utah and the surrounding states, CEI has built a company with a foundation based on quality, integrity and craftsmanship.

When fifth generation mason Rick Child graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree in construction management in 1973, he decided that he was going to obtain a masonry license and start his own company. “My father was a union contractor at the time and in Utah the union was almost extinct at that point,” says Child. “I started a non-union company and once my father got done his foreman came to work for me.”

CEI specializes in all types of masonry work including commercial brick, block, terra cotta and stone. Much of the company’s focus is in the preservation and restoration of historic masonry buildings. “I really enjoy doing the restoration jobs,” says Child. “It gives you the opportunity to take your time and do some really high-quality work.” During the last 30 years of business, CEI has sought out the best products, methods and procedures to successfully restore historic brick, stone and terra cotta masonry.

A recognized portfolio

A large project CEI completed in 2008 was the restoration of the Utah state capitol building. The project was heavily involved in the restoration and preservation of the terra cotta and granite of the facility. Ultimately, the renovation of the building created a facility that is less vulnerable to seismic activity.

CEI is currently working to restore an old assembly hall in Provo, Utah which suffered extensive fire damage. The building is now undergoing a restoration process to become an LDS Temple. “We’ve been on this job for a little over a year,” Child explains. “It looks really good so far, you can’t even notice the difference between the new and old stonework.” Through restoration work, CEI has also been able to establish its own unique style of cladding.

CEI will also participate in joint ventures on new projects. In 2013, the company took advantage of an opportunity to showcase CEI’s efficiency when it teamed up with another local contractor to construct Granger High School, which at the time was the biggest high school in the state of Utah. “We had all the brick laid within a year,” says Child. “The job was so big that we had four grout pumps running at the same time. We had a few cranes and six forklifts as well. It was a really big job and we were really proud of the way it turned out.”

A favorite project of Child’s is a smaller job that took place in Panguitch, Utah. The project consisted of emulating an old courthouse. “It was the Garfield County Courthouse,” says Child. “It was this old building with a newer on attached to it. When the town decided they didn’t like the way the new one looked they decided to tear it down and build one that matched the old courthouse. When you look at the two buildings it’s really hard to tell which the new one is and which is old. That was a really fun job to do.” This project earned recognition for CEI. The company was awarded the Golden Trowel Award from the Utah Masonry Council and was highlighted by the Utah chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA).

Quality in all aspects of masonry

In the world of commercial masonry every contractor must have a competitive edge – something about the company which sets it apart from the competition. CEI possesses an advantage with its ability to self-perform every facet of masonic services required for a project. “We can do it all and we can do it well,” says Child. “The reason we get so many of the jobs we do is because we can get all the brick and stone work done efficiently but we can also do the cleaning and restoration to make everything look really good.”

The quality of work CEI provides as well as the customer recommendations has provided Child with a sense of accomplishment. The amount of growth the company has experienced is a testament to the customer satisfaction and relationships that CEI has established. From a sole proprietorship in 1974 to now employing 50 people, Child is proud to have maintained the integrity of the company. “Growth is important but what really matters is that we have grown in the right direction,” says Child.

CEI will continue to grow in the right direction. The sixth generation of masons in the Child family are currently involved in the family business. Child’s two sons Mike and Craig are employed full-time with the company and are planning to eventually take leadership of CEI one day.

As the company grows and continues into the future, Child Enterprises Inc. will continue to provide integrative solutions and build new relationships within the construction industry.