Carpenter starts union homebuilder business

A sluggish construction market has turned Carpenter Zak Silva into a union homebuilder. The 30-year-old member of Carpenters Local 1388 started ZNK Homes, LLC in June 2008, after he was laid off as a superintendent for LCG Pence Construction.

“The idea is to build back the residential market,” said Silva, who joined the Carpenters Union as an apprentice 13 years ago. “Right now, there is no union market share. If we bring back residential market share, that inherently builds market share on the commercial side.”

Silva hired two seasoned journeymen — Bob Gerstlauer, a 22-year member of Carpenters Local 247, and Gary Harrington, a longtime member of Local 1065, plus first-year apprentice Tyler Mincemoyer, a member of Local 1388.

Silva admits the timing was bad for homebuilding. But he has kept his crew busy primarily doing home remodels and small commercial jobs.

In June, he landed his first home from the ground up. It’s a 2,400 square foot, four-story house in Northeast Portland off Burnside Street.

“This is the first home — other than my own — that I’ve worked on in 25 years,” said Gerstlauer, who had been out of work for seven months before going to work for ZNK.

“Most of the nonunion sector build the same as I do,” Silva said. “They just pay their employees less and put more in their pocket.”

Silva entered the Carpenters apprenticeship out of the Job Corps. He initially was a member, treasurer, and delegate of Local 2130 before it merged with Local 1388. He worked as a journeymen Carpenter, foreman, and general foreman for several large general contractors before taking on the role of superintendent.

“Home owners have all of the same needs and desires of a high rise client and deserve the same service,” Silva said.

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