Houck Remodeling marks four decades of renewal
After serving in Vietnam, Ron Houck, Sr. quickly realized corporate life wasn’t for him. Seeking a new income, he moved into rental properties, which led him to discover a greater passion: remodeling. This side business grew into RH Services, which he launched in 1984.
Today, the company is known as Houck Remodeling and is led by his son, Ron Houck, Jr. Joining the company in 1991, the younger Houck has helped guide the company through the years, helping change its name and charting its course as a full-service residential remodeling firm. Now, with two of his own sons on staff, the business has entered its third generation.
“My father started the business back in 1984. It began as RH Services … We’ve maintained it ever since,” Houck Jr. says.
Over four decades, Houck Jr. and the company have developed a reputation for tackling the unique challenges that come with remodeling older homes. Unlike new construction, which begins with a clear set of plans, remodeling often reveals unexpected surprises behind walls and under floors. Houck Jr. says these challenges make the work especially fulfilling.
“Renovation is walking into a house and not knowing what you’ll find,” Houck Jr. says. “I like taking apart other people’s problems and putting them back together, new and better.”
Problems can range from outdated electrical work to reframing a kitchen, for modern appliances or salvaging architectural details like pocket doors. Houck says much of the work in Dayton involves homes that are decades old, sometimes located in historic districts, where maintaining character is just as important as making updates.
What makes the company stand out, though, is Houck’s determination to make sure that all jobs are run tightly, never starting until all materials are on hand. “People don’t hire me because I’m the cheapest. Most people hire us because of our service,” he says. “My guys know we’re guests in people’s homes.”
What’s more, Houck Jr. and the rest of his company pride themselves on their communication. “If I tell you we’ll be there Monday at 8:30 a,m., we’re there Monday at 8:30 a.m. … Homeowners receive updates a month, two weeks, and one week before a project begins,” Houck, Jr. says. “I’m normally accused of overcommunicating.”
It’s this dedication, according to the staff, that has made Houck one of the most recognizable home remodeling brands in the region. Beyond the workmanship, Houck Remodeling is easy to spot around Centerville and Dayton thanks to its camouflage-wrapped trucks, a decision that has become part of the company’s identity.
“You can pretty much buy anything I sell from someone else, but you can only get Houck at Houck Remodeling,” Houck Jr. says.
