Yogi Berra famously said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”
Throughout high school and upon graduating from James Madison University (JMU) in 2003, Scott Ashe worked with his father, building homes in the Hampton Roads area. However, in 2008, when the bottom fell out of the economy and the housing market, Ashe realized he was going to have to adapt to the changing landscape. To adjust to this new economy—and the fact that banks weren’t lending money for the construction of new homes—many builders moved on to remodeling.
“I realized that remodeling was going to be a crowded space, and I noticed a need for a business that could help people deal with damage due to water, fire, mold, lead and asbestos, Ashe says. “So, I went back to school to get restoration certification from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).”
Ashe used this new certification, in combination with his business management degree from JMU and his years of home construction experience, to start Extreme Restoration Inc. He opened for business in 2010 and since that time has dealt with the cleanup of everything from typical water damage as a result of bursting pipes to homes ravaged by fire, to clandestine drug labs and everything in between. He has also taken the business out of state several times to help deal with the devastation wrought by Atlantic hurricanes. “In 2017 we traveled to Florida to help with the cleanup efforts around hurricane Irma,” Ashe says. “You often have to be there for the client at the most fragile time. You have to ensure the client’s confidence that you can get the job done right and in a timely manner.”
Although Ashe has worked out of state, he contends that working in the Hampton Roads area is what he truly enjoys. “What I like about working in this area is the diversity of its people and the diversity of the types of business,” he says. “Government entities such as NASA, the different military bases and homeowners combine to provide an interesting spectrum to the work that we do.”
On top of being certified in restoration, Extreme Restoration Inc. is also a Class A contractor. “We come into a home that has been damaged by fire, for instance, we clean what can be cleaned, we demo what needs to be demoed and we put it all back together. When people realize that they might have to vacate their house for a period of time while the work is being done, they may decide that it’s the perfect time to do the addition they have contemplated for years. As a Class A contractor, we’re obviously there to provide that service as well,” Ashe says.
If Ashe could communicate anything to home or business owners when disaster strikes, it would be that they have options in how they choose to handle the problem. “The insurance companies might make recommendations, but ultimately it is the property owner who makes the decision on the scope of the work. People should feel comfortable and confident with whom they engage, and they can only do that by researching and making their own choice.” Dealing with a damaged property is never fun, but it doesn’t have to be scary.
Ashe enjoys going to the gym, boating and spending time with his wife Catie, who is the CPA for Extreme Restoration. They are a dynamic team who have two young children and have built a beautiful family and successful business together.
TO THE POINT:
Extreme Restoration Inc.
Address: 809 City Center Blvd., Newport News, VA 23606
Contact: Scott Ashe, president/owner
Phone: 757-369-4840
Website: www.extremerestorationva.com
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