Masonry Magazine August 2007 Page. 17
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August 2007
Masonry 15
Ken Oatman is a third-generation bricklayer who cut his teeth in traditional commercial masonry in Texas. Seven years ago, after relocating to Pennsylvania, he switched his focus to historic renovations. Now, as the president of Oatman Masonry & Restoration in York, Pa., he repairs historic chimneys (which often deteriorate faster than the rest of the building) and retrofits buildings so they can be reused for new, commercial purposes.
"T've always loved old buildings, and I'm enthralled with brickwork, so I love the work," he said. "I like creating new functions for the buildings."
Although the buildings have detailed masonry features, Oatman said he hasn't had trouble matching the craftsmanship. "The problem is not matching the work," he said. "The problem is matching the materials."
Stephan Niewiadomski, vice president of National Restoration Systems in Rolling Meadows, Ill, which handles commercial renovation work on hotels and universities, among other projects, said he uses a handful of quarries around the country to find the best possible material matches for existing buildings.
The company's expertise in renovations enables it to find matching materials, Niewiadomski said. That expertise also comes in handy when bidding on renovation projects. "The more experience you have and the more unique projects you work on, the more knowledge you have to draw on," he said.
Since every job is so different, it's difficult to develop a hard and fast formula for determining a project's cost, Oatman said.
"We try to be creative and innovative to be cost-effective, and we do a good job," he said. His method seems to be working. Oatman said he gets 80 percent of the jobs he bids on, and he also has repeat clients.