Renovations

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My firm, Mark Zweig, Inc., acquires and rebuilds old houses top-to-bottom in the historic areas of downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas. We only work for ourselves on projects that we own. We do extensive rehabs—often with additions—typically involving all new interiors, exteriors, and systems to bring these houses up to date in terms of beauty, functionality, and energy efficiency.

Frequently, we add on space or outbuildings, but always try to keep the street level façade appropriate for the neighborhood context it fits into. We like natural materials of cedar shingles, cedar clapboards, oil-base painted wood trim, wooden windows and doors, antique brick and native fieldstone. I design every aspect of the house from trim details to color selections and in some cases, even the furniture. I find the process incredibly gratifying!

Our work would not be possible without the accomplished team of craftsman that I have assembled here. Lead carpenter, Jack Kidd, has an amazing knowledge of all things building-related (and a lot of things not so building related!) He is a true renaissance man if there ever were such a thing. Doug Kidd, Jack's son, and Shaun Ketzler are skilled carpenters and general handymen as well. Danny Barnett has also joined the team as a solid carpenter. They all love what they do and do great work! All of our plumbing is handled by Mike Carfagno and Rod Smith. “Bob the Builder” Van Kirk does all the electrical and site work and has helped me immensely learn the subtleties of doing business in these parts. Miguel Contreras handles all of our painting and drywall—he and his people are the best. My carpet and tile comes from Tom January Floors and all of our vintage tile baths and kitchens are laid by Josh Pair—whom we fondly refer to as “a God of tiling.” Home audio and electronics are handled by Ron Gaylord who does an expert job on every projects.

We also have hardwood flooring experts, irrigation experts, landscaping experts, and more on our team. We enjoy an excellent relationship with the City of Fayetteville Building Safety Department and the City of Fayetteville Planning Department. It is a pleasure to work here!

Doing these houses is the most gratifying thing I have ever done. I have always enjoyed the process of bringing things back to life. I built a new house in 1982. But then started doing rehabs in 1983 with a minor redo of newer but neglected two-story Colonial house in Germantown, Tennessee, then with a 1950s-era brick and frame ranch in Arlington, Texas, that needed quite a bit more work. From there on, I renovated each house we lived in including an 1870 Victorian worker’s cottage in downtown Natick, Massachusetts, to a total makeover of an architect-designed 1960 ranch house on Great Rock Road in Sherborn, Massachusetts, and the complete redesign of a forlorn 5000+ square-foot post and beam, shingled, craftsman-style home in Dover, Massachusetts. Our previous home was the largest I have done to live in. It is a cool, 3600 square-foot stone cottage-style house at 59 East Prospect in Fayetteville, Arkansas, that we have expanded into a 5300+ square foot retreat.

Each house we renovate is unique and a large public art project of sorts. In 2008, Mark Zweig, Inc. received an award from the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce for Best Restorations.

Watch a movie of many of my renovations.