Renovations

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. J. D. Gass brings a youthful
energy level as well as great skill in all aspects of carpentry to the project, and
Rick Ross is a multi-talented worker as well. All of our plumbing is handled by
Rod Smith, the single best plumber in these parts (though he is originally from
Michigan). “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 Bill Bishop,
owner of Stereo One, probably the last independent audio store left in our area.
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 current 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.