This week we have the pleasure of featuring Tiffany and Jamie Francis, owners of Woodside Enterprises. “Jamie founded Woodside in 2006. At that time, the company was just Jamie, his tools, and his truck. He did everything, from sourcing the work to pricing the project, from picking up the materials to installing them himself. Because he started out on his own, Jamie is an expert in exterior finishing, from start to finish.”
“Nowadays, he prides himself on training his team members to be experts in their own right.” This is their story.
Doman: What is the history of your company?
Tiffany Francis: I officially joined Woodside in 2013. As a member of the team working diligently behind the scenes, I wear many hats to take care of your project. As Woodside’s lead administrator, human resources director, and project coordinator, one could say I play many essential roles. My background and extensive experience in residential, commercial, and industrial construction allows me to organize projects for maximum efficiency. I obtained the BC Builders License in 2016 and have plans to become a residential home builder.
In 15 years, Woodside has grown from a one-man crew to a multi-crew organization with work vans, an extensive array of equipment, and a specialized gutter machine. We are experts in exterior finishing and enjoy every aspect of it.
We take pride in the fact that even though Woodside has grown, it remains a family company. Every team member is valued, respected, and supported. We believe the only way to serve our customers with all that we have is to work and grow together as a team.
We know that we’re not just making buildings more beautiful through our exterior finishing work, we’re helping to create communities. To keep us focused on that extremely meaningful mission, we have carefully built our culture at Woodside. This culture guides us, supports us, and helps us to remember why we go to work each day.
FORCE is the acronym we use to describe this culture. It stands for:
F – Future & Family Focused
Our work is an investment into the well-being of families—our own, as well as the ones who will benefit from our projects. We’re focused on making the future as healthy and happy for these families as possible.
O – Opportunity for Growth & Advancement
Each team member at Woodside is capable of greatness. We encourage that by extending opportunities to learn, acquire new skills, and develop as people.
R – Respect & Resilience
It all starts with respect. Respect for one another, respect for clients, respect for ourselves. Respect makes us stronger, more resilient, and more effective as individuals and as a team.
C – Connection through Communication
Transparent, regular, clear, and respectful communication helps us to nurture great relationships between team members and with clients.
E – Excellence Always
No matter what, we will always deliver the best possible outcomes. We help create the most attractive, durable, and functional exteriors possible, and embrace excellence-oriented business practices at all times.
The FORCE that’s created from the combination of these values is helping us to establish a legacy for Woodside. Our culture involves our team members, our clients, and the communities our projects impact; we want our legacy to show that we cared passionately about all of these people. Above all else, this care makes us a FORCE to be reckoned with.
Woodside currently employs 15 staff members and 5 subcontract crews. The area that we service is the Fraser Valley including Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley and Hope. We specialize in everything exteriors that include the following:
- Exterior siding including decorative trims and details
- Vinyl decking
- Aluminum Gutters
- Aluminum railings
What services do you offer?
We work with developers, engineers, builders and consultants to ensure our projects receive exterior finishing of the highest standard. We do not offer design services but align ourselves with experts that lay out the project plans so we can execute them perfectly.
Can you tell us about one of your favourite projects and why?
Our favourite project to date include the two River’s Edge apartments that we completed side by side. This project has so many beautiful design features that came together so nicely. Woodside took care of the complete exterior of both buildings including the exterior siding, decorative knee braces, decorative trims, vinyl decking, engineered aluminum railings and aluminum gutters and downspouts. The siding consisted of:
- James Hardie lap siding
- James Hardie board & batten siding
- James Hardie straight edge shake panels
- James Hardie trims
- Woodtone prefinished pine soffits
- Decorative knee braces
Why do you work with . . .?
As exterior finishing experts we appreciate the quality and ease of installation of James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding and trim products. Fiber cement is a durable product that lasts and continues to keep its beauty over years. We always recommend the James Hardie ColorPlus siding as it has the baked-on finish and an incredible warranty for our clients. We have used other brands of fiber cement siding, but we always come back to James Hardie. It is the leader in exterior finishes.
What warranty do you offer on your work or the products?
We always tell our clients that we have been in business for 15 years. Not only have we been in the industry for a long time but we live where we work so we warranty all of our work for as long as needed. This is obviously barring any damage by others. For spec houses we always say there is a 1-year warranty on all of our exterior finishes and we will be there to stand behind our work.
How do you approach each project?
We can assist our clients in choosing the right exterior finish, whether it is siding, trim, shutters, decorative elements, aluminum railings, vinyl decking, or aluminum gutters. We will provide professional, respectful, and efficient installation services. And with free site consultations and estimates, and our commitment to helping our clients stay within budget, we ensure they can afford the best.
What trends do see in the future for your industry?
We see an upswing in non-combustible siding products. Vinyl siding is being used less and less due to the distance between new builds. With the BC Energy Step Code coming through we also see more projects specifying the use of exterior insulation and other energy-saving products. The more energy efficient your exterior is the more efficient the interior will run if you ask us!
Do you have a favourite building accessory product you like to use and what is it?
Proper tools and equipment. This isn’t one favourite accessory but we have learned that the quality of your tools and equipment relates 100% to the quality of your installation finish.
Is there a product you really want to try?
We have yet to install Nichiha Fiber Cement Siding and would love to. We would also love to work with CERACLAD as it is also another product we have yet to use on a project.
Do you have a product you use that you just can’t build without?
I guess we would say James Hardie products as they are the main product that we use on projects!
How do you find out about new products?
We align ourselves with quality trustworthy suppliers that always keep us informed on new products that are up and coming. We also attend local trade shows and events to educate ourselves to ensure we are aware of products that are up and coming.
Contractors often receive swag from manufacturers and suppliers. What’s your favourite swag?
We love getting swag that we can in turn give to our crews. Our company is built around the team members that make up Woodside and they work hard every day to keep the business healthy and happy so we love receiving swag that can get passed on to them.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
“Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle, or your middle to someone else’s end. Don’t compare the start of your second quarter of life to someone else’s third quarter.” – Tim Hiller
Though we didn’t receive this directly, it is a quote we always remind ourselves of. In business it is easy to compare your company to others, but this is not a way to success. We take pride on working on the company from the inside first each and every day.
What social media channels do you use?
Instagram: woodsideenterprisesinc
facebook: woodsideenterprises
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tiffany-francis
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Doman would like to thank Tiffany Francis for taking the time to share these projects and insights with us. In the meantime, stayed tuned for our next Contractor’s Corner. Follow us on social to find out when our next feature will be posted.
If you’re a contractor and want to be featured in an upcoming Contractor’s Corner blog post, message us and we’ll send you the details. If you’d like to share your photos of your latest project with us on Instagram, tag us @canwelbuildingmaterials with #canwelpros
