Frank Novak & Sons Inc.: More than Simply Painting

Frank Novak founded Frank Novak & Sons Inc. (FNS) in 1912, and the company continues to grow steadily 100 years later. Today FNS includes five divisions in order to serve the needs of institutional, public, industrial, OEM and commercial clients spanning the United States and beyond. The Cleveland-based company holds a strong commitment and connection to the local community, including those at additional satellite offices in Boston, Chicago, New York, Cincinnati and Washington, D.C.

“This is a family business, and we are very proud of that,” says Gayle Pinchot, president of FNS. “My sons and daughter all act as vice presidents.” And it certainly is a family business, as Gayle’s husband, Allen, has operated the FNS in every capacity over the years. “Allen has the experience you would expect from someone who has been involved with the company for over half a century,” explains Gayle. “We also have the next generation working here on special projects whenever they are available.”

The sense of family at FNS extends to the company’s clients as well. “We feel a special personal connection with our customers,” says Pam, Gayle and Allen’s daughter and one of the vice presidents at FNS. The company is both a customer- and family-oriented business, and it is evident that the team works hard to make customers part of the 100-year tradition.

A Fresh Coat

Painting remains a staple of the business after all these years, and the team is proud of the company’s motto: We paint the town. “This is our motto because we have done so many buildings in Cleveland,” explains Allen. FNS’ recent projects include the new Cleveland Medical Mart and Convention Center, as well as the Cleveland Museum of Art Renovation. The company’s previous projects include Great Lakes Science Center, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Browns stadium.

The FNS team’s capabilities and dedication to community have allowed the company to establish quite a reputation. FNS works with several paint types and the leading brands to bring customers a final product that is attractive and durable. “We use quality paints, wallpapers and chemical coatings,” says Brad, another one of FNS’ presidents. FNS offers a broad selection of interior coatings. The team of painters brings decades of experience and a sense of pride in work to every project.

The company’s flooring division, Flooring Specialties, offers a comparable level of expertise in refinishing and new installations of tile, wood, carpet and specialized sports flooring. The specialists have installed surfaces for many of the local colleges, high schools and other institutional clients. The company’s estimators, sales team, project managers and installers are equipped with the best knowledge, experience and equipment in the industry. FNS’ clients can expect brand name materials of the highest quality that are installed professionally to last for years to come.

High-tech Trends

The three newer divisions of FNS have added to the interior and exterior construction finishing services that the team provides, making the business a one-stop shop for most construction projects and Division 9 building methods alike. Also, the company recently began manufacturing acoustic wall and ceiling panels, which provide attractive structural coverings in addition to acting as excellent sound barriers. These unique qualities have proved the company’s acoustic wallcraft panels ideal for use in offices, hospitality business and anywhere else a client may seek tasteful décor and quiet spaces.

The company’s Barrisol USA division provides custom wall and ceiling solutions for clients who want interior spaces to make a big impact. Barrisol is a highly malleable ceiling material, and the established national dealer network employs technicians with the experience and know-how to install a variety of shapes, patterns and styles to fit the vision of a client. The material can be molded into waves, arches and geometric panels, creating surreal effects suitable for restaurants, casinos, hotels and more. LED backlighting and printing offers limitless creative options for architects and end-users looking to enhance and personalize each project.

FNS’s Molded Extruded Specialties division has allowed the team to pick up an immense assortment of projects, including constructing custom pieces of specialty rubber, polymer and metals for a variety of applications. The company’s creations have been used on several major construction projects, as the team strives to support the community, its dealers and partners wherever possible.

The division’s broad capabilities came into play in 2010 after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, where Molded Extruded Specialties expedited the fabrication of connecting pieces for booms that were used in cleanup efforts. “Our company designed, extruded, fabricated and delivered large quantities of these connectors to the Gulf in record time,” says Mark, another vice president of FNS, proudly.

Clients appreciate the hard work and dedication to a quality finished project the team lives by at FNS. Many of the company’s customers come back, and some continue to return for decades. The company has served generations of family businesses, and today Frank Novak & Sons Inc. continues a tradition of friendly, family service both locally and around the country.