Meyers Construction Co. Inc.

Fire, smoke, weather and water damage can happen to any facility at any given time and just when it looks as though the damage is irreparable, Meyers Construction Co. Inc. (Meyers) steps in to deliver emergency restoration services when they are needed most. Incorporated in 1957, Meyers is a full service general contractor, specializing in the appraisal and reconstruction of residential, commercial and industrial buildings throughout Maryland, southern Pennsylvania, northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area.

“Meyers was formed in 1957 by Helman Meyers as a family-owned operation and we’re still family owned,” shares Michael Shilling, president of Meyers. “From day one, Meyers started representing and working for insurance companies, doing fire restoration and rebuilding from all types of peril.”

Old-school know how

Over the course of 57 years, Meyers has built a reputation for quality workmanship, honesty and integrity and expertise that comes from old-school know how. “When we started out, there were only a handful of other companies in the industry because insurance companies require very detailed, room-by-room, item-by-item estimates,” explains Shilling. “But with the development of technology, overnight there was more and more competition because the system did everything for you.”

While technology is all well and good, Shilling says it’s taken the personal touch out of business. “Everything is electronic and half the time you don’t talk to an adjuster face to face,” he says. “Before these programs told you what to do, you had to sit down and talk with a supplier and mechanic to develop approach and price. I want my guys to have to think, to know how to run a job from start to finish and not just be a button pusher.”

Today, Meyers employs a 25-person team based in Pikesville, Md. “Fire does not discriminate and neither do we,” assures Shilling. “We rebuild all types of buildings after damage, offering complete professional contracting service.”

Meyers delivers 24-hour emergency service, boarding and protection, water extraction, temporary electrical and plumbing services and emergency equipment and crane service. The company also offers estimating and appraisals using the latest in unit pricing, from computerized formats to old-fashioned, detailed material and labor estimates. “We also have an in-house licensed structural engineer,” adds Shilling.

Keeping facilities up and running

In the most calamitous situations, Meyers steps in to keep production going and operations up and running. Following a large fire at the Hedwin Corporation (Hedwin), a Baltimore-based industrial container manufacturer, Meyers came to the rescue. “The fire happened in the center of Hedwin’s production area and it wiped out a 40-foot-by-60-foot section of structural steel roofing and residual damage,” recounts Shilling.

“We were called in to brace the steel and build temporary walls to keep the plant in operation,” continues Shilling. “Our crews removed the steel roof structure and put temporary tarps over the area to keep water out. We also built a water retention pond to control stormwater, because the area was susceptible to rain and thunderstorms through the summer months. Sure enough, one tropical storm hit and completely collapsed our temporary structure, but not a single drop of water got in the plant.”

Once the masonry rebuild was complete and the steel was back on the roof, Meyers proceeded with electrical and mechanical interior work and redecorating office areas. “In total the bulk of the work was from July through December,” shares Shilling. “But Hedwin didn’t have to shut down production at any point.”

From ongoing operation to tight timelines, Meyers delivers. “Rewinding, back to the mid-1980s, we put the roof structure over the stage of the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md. after a bad fire,” recounts Shilling. “The rebuild had to be complete for it to open for June concerts, one of which was the Grateful Dead. We were under a serious time crunch, but we delivered and it started a 25-year relationship with The Rouse Company.”

Meyers has been building relationships since the beginning, from clients to subcontractors. “We self-perform all carpentry work, rough finishes, drywall and plaster and acoustical mill work, but we rely on subcontractors for roofing, masonry, electrical and mechanical work,” explains Shilling. “We’ve established working relationships with lots of area subcontractors and while we’re not married to just one plumber or one electrician, because we have been around so long, I have several guys that we’ve been working with for 30-plus years.”

The same longevity goes for the majority of Meyers long-term employees. “We have many people who have been with us for 20 years or more,” reveals Shilling. “We’ve maintained the family-feel. My son, Hale Shilling, now vice president, is preparing to assume ownership.”

After 57 years, Meyers Construction Co., is still coming to the rescue, reversing the damage with old-school expertise that sets the industry standard.