Creative outdoor living concepts help this company thrive

Thanks to the economy, business for The Renovators is booming.

This may sound strange coming from a construction and remodeling company, but for this Mount Pleasant business, it’s an example of a business diversifying to meet customer demand.

Two years ago, the company’s three partners started Outdoor Concepts by The Renovators to focus on the growing outdoor living market. This year, the Home Design Trends Survey, conducted by the American Institute of Architects, showed an increase in homeowners’ requests for outdoor living space—60 percent versus 56 percent in 2010. “Customers were clearly interested, so we added this division,” says Chris Hicks, a partner in The Renovators, who manages the Outdoor Concepts division.

Outdoor Concepts by The Renovators will take on any hardscaping or outdoor living project, from adding pavers to installing a full outdoor kitchen with fireplace and seating area. Thanks to Charleston’s mild climate and residents’ desire to spend time outside, adding an outdoor living division made a lot of sense. “It’s such a part of the lifestyle here,” says Mike Johns, head of the company’s commercial division. “It’s an obvious market.”

Outdoor fireplaces, pizza ovens, fire pits and places for an oyster roast are high on the list of outdoor must-haves. Pavers are maintaining their level of popularity as well, and, accordingly, The Renovators specializes in natural bluestone, a kind of sandstone often quarried in Pennsylvania and New York.

These elements were part of an extensive outdoor living project the team recently completed on a 14,000-square-foot Charleston style plantation on Johns Island. The job was just as grand as the house itself. It included a 14-foot-tall fireplace made of hand-chiseled stone and a table made of cypress on a slab of bluestone. The table, weighing 900 pounds, was built on site. The Renovators also added a deck around an infinity-edge pool as well as an outdoor kitchen complete with gas grill, sink, warmer and a Big Green Egg ceramic cooker. The project, which took three months, demonstrated the kind of comprehensive project The Renovators can complete when it comes to bringing indoor comforts outside.

But not all projects involve fire pits and pools. The Renovators tackle entire house renovations as well as smaller projects. They may do a $200,000 addition one day and simple drywall replacement the next. Sunrooms and screened porches are also popular. “Anything you need done to your home, we can do,” says Shannon Davidson, manager of day-to-day construction work.

Complete home renovations are more common nowadays. Homeowners are forgoing the idea of new construction or trying to make a move in a weak housing market.

Davidson says homeowners are opting for full-home makeovers rather than just adding a porch or redoing a single bathroom. They are doing these renovations plus updating moldings, flooring and paint, he says. It’s typically an entire house update, so that three, four or five years down the road they will be ready to sell—or stay in their homes for the long haul.

But this company’s success is also attributable to excellent customer service. The Renovators offers in-home consultations, including a free estimate in 72 hours or less, along with a free conceptual design with an in-house designer. Many of their customers become friends, visiting with them and even going to Hicks’ house for dinner. When you’re renovating someone’s house you basically become part of their family, Hicks says. You see people in their pajamas or putting their kids to bed. They call in the middle of the night when the wind blew something loose and the roof is leaking.

Hicks says faith and prayers are part of the company’s business plan too. The team participates in twice-weekly Bible studies and tries to stay focused on what they do best, not what the competition is up to. “You don’t worry about how tall your neighbor’s grass is, you pay attention to your own,” Hicks says.

The combination of focus and faith coupled with the partners’ management and marketing skills have proven to be a successful formula for The Renovators. The company is growing and plans to open a showroom in Mount Pleasant in the coming months.

The Renovators
843 345-3214
www.TheRenovatorsSC.com