Smith Brothers Hardwood Flooring, established in 1946, has by all accounts been very successful throughout its years of operation. Troy Smith Jr., its owner, is adamant that the key to this success is the business’s dedication to its clients and to the craftsmanship that is invested in each individual project under contract.
Smith expresses a great passion for what he does, and emphasizes the value in forming long-lasting relationships with his customers, often spanning decades. “I meet some of the grandkids who acknowledge that we did work for their fathers, or senior members of the family when they were kids,” Smith says with a smile. “And not only do we feel a certain closeness with the customer, but we feel a certain closeness with the work that we’re doing, knowing we are working on a property previously worked on by Smith Brothers employees.”
Smith Jr. started working full time with his father around the same time his uncle died in 1974. Since then, he has seen the business grow and flourish once they pivoted toward focusing primarily on residential jobs. He was pleased when his son Troy Smith III joined him in operating the business.
“We have had the opportunity to work in quite a few of historical areas, on the historical buildings,” Smith says. “I say to people, when we are working at these homes it is truly a privilege to work there.”
The business occasionally strays from the residential focus when the right jobs arise. One such project was to completely dismantle and restore the historical chapel at Hampton University, originally built by its students. The job, Smith explains, was in progress for five years before actual work could begin. “We completely remilled all of the wood in that chapel and reused it. Now that was a true challenge.” He also explains how some of the wood was in such poor condition, it needed to be completely replaced. It was with extreme care they sourced replacement wood that had been processed within only a few years of the original wood in the chapel. “The wood was heart pine which means it comes out of the center of the tree. For a tree to produce that, it would have to be at least 250 years old,” Smith says.
In addition to owning and operating Smith Brothers, Smith Jr. has also been an active member of a long list of committees. He has served on the boards of the Peninsula Home Builders Association, Newport News Department of Planning, Newport News Industrial Development/ Economic Development Authority and Peninsula Sports Club. “All the boards are about service,” Smith says. “The Peninsula Sports Club awards scholarships to local student athletes. In turn, it is hoped the recipient will give back to the community.”
Smith attends yearly conventions and seminars for wood craftsmanship through the National Wood Flooring Association, of which he has been a part for 31 years. He speaks very positively about these conventions and expresses admiration for the developments he has seen in the industry over the years. “At a convention, you’re looking at everything from artistic basketball courts to ones with such detail it’s almost unimaginable. It’s on an international scale,” he says.
Troy Smith Jr. has an enduring passion for his business, and a sense of duty to his community. His dedicated commitment to his trade, and to maintaining a now 80-year-old business, is clearly evident. He is proud to have followed in his father’s and uncle’s footsteps in building a lasting legacy for himself and his family.
The family legacy ensures that Smith Brothers Hardwood Flooring is a reliable source for quality craftsmanship. The family is always evolving with the times, but has also remained steadfast in their trade, never straying from hardwood flooring.
“We’re staying close to the heart,” Smith Jr. says with a smile. “Wood has been good to us all this time.”
TO THE POINT:
Smith Brothers Enterprises, Inc.
Address: 1703- 27th St., Newport News, VA 23607
Contact: Troy Smith Jr., owner
Phone: 757-380-6919
Website: smithbrosent.com
