Huntington Station Contractor Expanding With A Love For The Job
/By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
John Joyce, owner of John J. Contracting in Huntington Station, has never seen his love for the craft fade, continuing to stay heavily involved in his business 20 years later.
When you walk into his office on the second floor of a 3,500-square-foot building in Huntington Station, John Joyce points out a sign that hangs on the wall. It reads:
“Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
Joyce, owner of John J. Contracting, may then dive deep into a story regarding his childhood.
He said, “When I was younger, I always liked building. And, if you enjoy what you do, it’s fun.”
Joyce continued, “I always said I wanted something that runs on its own, but I’ll never let that happen because I love doing what I do and I’m always so involved.”
Joyce, 40, of Huntington Station, graduated from Walt Whitman High School in 1994, attending Wilson Tech in East Northport during his final two years. He then moved on to Farmingdale State College, from which he earned an associate’s degree in architectural drawing.
He’s a full-service general contractor, meaning he is very hands-on. He typically accompanies his clients to stores in order to pick out accessories for the homes that he’s either built or remodeled. And he’s sure to make the time to visit every site his company takes on.
Joyce has done just that since founding the business in 1996 in Huntington Station. He officially moved into the 140 W Pulaski Road building seven years ago.
The business has grown ever since its founding, now operating with two project managers, an estimator, kitchen designer, secretary and 15-20 workers in the field. It offers custom building of homes; extensions; deck, patio and masonry work; as well as commercial work.
For instance, in 2015, the company was contracted to build a fire house for the Huntington Manor Fire Department, which Joyce has volunteered with as a firefighter for 12 years.
In terms of design, Joyce said homeowners tastes have changed in the 20 years since he founded his business. Homes are now desired to be contemporary or postmodern, moving away from colonial looks. This has required Joyce to stay on his toes.
“I’m constantly revolving myself around the new trend,” he said, adding that he educates himself by reading magazines or surfing architecture website Houzz. “A lot of my new construction now tends to generate towards the younger generation in sales.”
Popular indoor trends include dark floors, light colors, heavy molding as far as contemporary square stock, and Carrara marbles on kitchen countertops.
John J. Contracting keeps up with all of these trends while managing 10-12 jobs at a time. Joyce said the company sticks to their timelines, and can complete an average 2,500-square-foot home in five to six months; bigger homes, around 4,000-5,000 square feet, are typically finished in eight months to a year.
To keep up with an ever-growing line of work, Joyce said the company plans to open a second location at 151 Larkfield Road in East Northport at the end of the summer.
“Everyone knows me in this area and I wanted to get into another part of Huntington and spread the name,” Joyce said.
He added, “I’ve come a long way I didn’t step into this company from a father or a family member. I started this all on my own. I always wanted to take my company to that level. And, to be there and look back and see the achievements that we did, I think it’s a great thing.”
