Restore Construction Group Inc.: Miami-based specialty contractors

General contractors Norge Arnaiz and Juan Castro founded Restore Construction Group Inc. (Restore Construction) in 2006 and have been completing concrete restoration, painting and waterproofing projects across the southeastern United States since.

As a specialty contractor in the concrete restoration painting and waterproofing industry, Restore Construction serves as the primary general contractor to its clients and works directly with condominium and hospitality owners, hotel chains and commercial properties. The company also completes work on high-rise condominiums, parking garage decks, plaza decks and pool decks. The company targets condo boards and commercial property owners, finding most of its business through structural engineers, with 95 percent of bids stemming from engineering firms.

Restore Construction self-performs most project jobs, but looks to subcontractors to complete drywall, framing, railings and windows. “We try to pull from our local network of reliable subcontractors and suppliers,” Norge explains. “It’s important for us to maintain these relationships and work with the best people, because if not, it reflects poorly on us as a company.”

Building lasting relationships

With 23 years’ experience under his belt, Norge has worked in several markets of the contracting industry. He began working with his father, who was a plumbing contractor, when he was just 16 years old and branched off to start his own company in the residential market just a few years later. What started off as a small general contracting business for single-family homes blossomed into the $18 million specialized contracting business Norge and Juan run today.

Norge attributes the company’s success to the strong bond felt between its employees, as many of Restore Construction’s team members have been with the company since the beginning. “Our employees keep us going,” Norge says proudly. “Seeing our families flourish together is a motivator for us. We’re a family, its one for all and all for one. We help each other. If one has a need, we all have a need.”

As the company’s 10-year anniversary is approaching, Norge and Juan are very proud to be celebrating Restore Construction’s first decade in business. “Our team loves to get together, so in addition to our yearly picnic and Christmas party, maybe this year we’ll do something extra special,” he adds.

Serving the southeast

Headquarted just outside of Miami in West Park, Fla., Restore Construction’s team of 200 workers primarily serve the tri-county area of southern Florida, as well as a few out of state clients.

Restore Construction has recently completed several major projects in southern Florida, including a $2 million bonded renovation of Atlantis on Brickell, the 21-story iconic condominium building well-remembered for being featured in the opening credits of the 1980s hit TV show Miami Vice.

The staircase leading into the lobby at Atlantis on Brickell with the large red columns was also featured in the 1980s cult classic film Scarface. The company made major concrete repairs to the garage interior, painted the building and renovated the plaza deck, which included complete removal of planters, pavers and deck expansion joints waterproofing and replacing the deck paver system and planters along with a set of new tennis courts.

The company is also in the final stages of a $3.5 million restoration of the 29-story Turnberry Isles South Tower in Aventura, Fla., where its skilled workforce removed the existing pre-cast concrete railing, installed new glass railing and in the process did the concrete restoration and painting.

In addition to work on the mainland, Restore Construction has begun projects on Fisher Island, an exclusive island for the rich and famous located off the coast of Miami. The company has already signed several contracts there and estimates $10 million worth of work on the island when all projects are completed.

Continuing to grow

Like most businesses in the construction industry, Restore Construction felt the ill economic effects of the recession and reluctantly experienced layoffs 2008 and 2009. However, Restore Construction pushed through by maintaining strong relationships with clients and relying on the company’s wealth of industry experience. Due to perseverance, the company has rebounded and has continued to see an increase in volume each year since 2010.

In the future, the company hopes to build a branch office in San Diego where the team is completing a project for Kimpton Hotels, as well as an office on Florida’s west coast. “With so much work in South Florida, expansions to other parts of the state and country are taking a back seat,” Norge details. “We’re focusing our energy on what we have at hand rather than looking for leads elsewhere.”

As a major specialty contractor for the booming Florida market, Restore Construction Group Inc. is continuing to grow in numbers and sees no signs of slowing down.