For many, a winter storm means remote work and long days in bed. For workers at Rhode Island Restoration Inc., those can be some of the busiest days of the year.
Just last February, when Rhode Island saw record-setting, below-freezing temperatures, the company answered more than 200 emergency calls from Rhode Island residents who had broken pipes in their homes.
“That Sunday was crazy, nonstop calls,” said Shawn McAssey, president of Rhode Island Restoration. “We try and be out there within an hour or two to make sure everything is stabilized, and no secondary damage occurs.”
Fixing broken pipes is only one of the many services offered by the North Providence-based company. A damage restoration company, it offers emergency and nonemergency repair and renovation services for both residential and commercial spaces. Their services cover damage caused by fire, water, mold, smoke, storms, and more. Lately, the company has been expanding to do more renovation work, but 75% of its jobs still involve emergency repair.
Founded in 2002, the company has remained family-owned and locally focused, despite expanding in recent years to employ about 60 people. This local focus is a big part of the company’s mission, said McAssey, who joined as president in 2016.
“We’re focusing on Rhode Island, we want to be the local choice for everyone,” McAssey said. “We’re not just a big-box store; we’re not the Walmart of the restoration industry. We’re focused on Rhode Island. We’re here for Rhode Island.”
This focus has allowed the company to leverage its local roots to attract new clients. Business grew over the years, mostly due to word-of-mouth and referral. Then, in the last few years, it really boomed.
“It was about hiring the right people,” McAssey said. “The main reason for growth is definitely just spreading the word and having a great team that does a great job. When you do that, people are going to recommend you.”
The 60-person team is made up of a variety of specialists, including carpenters, painters and technicians, that can handle cases from clean-up all the way to reconstruction. The company will also occasionally rely on subcontractors, depending on the clients’ needs.
On average, Rhode Island Restoration gets about 40 to 50 new jobs each week. Their emergency services are offered 24/7, with employees answering calls at all hours of the day. Projects vary in size and scope, from small mold-related repairs to large reconstructions. House fires, for example, tend to lead to long-term projects that can last up to two years.
“It’s never easy to sustain a loss to your home,” McAssey said. “So, we try to make it as smooth as possible for homeowners.”
The bulk of the work – about 80% – rotates around residential buildings, with a smaller percentage of commercial projects, but McAssey said the company is trying to work more with state-run projects and school systems. It’s only one of the areas where Rhode Island Restoration is hoping to expand.
“A lot of our work is in central and northern Rhode Island,” McAssey said. “We want to reach out to southern Rhode Island a little more and possibly open up another branch in Warwick, Narragansett, Newport or somewhere around there.”
PRESIDENT: Shawn McAssey
TYPE OF BUSINESS: Damage restoration company
LOCATION: 1135 Charles St., North Providence
EMPLOYEES: 60
YEAR FOUNDED: 2002
ANNUAL SALES: WND