May 22, 2026
Welcome to the 15th issue of our newsletter.
What a busy month! We have a lot of updates for you. We’re also testing out a new mailing system for the email newsletter that connects to this web version. As always, if you have a project that you would like to feature in the next issue or know someone that would be interested in receiving our monthly newsletter, let us know.
Ravenna Gemignani
Editor in Chief
Media Consultant
Project Spotlight
This month we worked on an apartment complex for Chelsea Builders in Dunellen, NJ. The building has three floors and each apartment has a lot of natural lighting in the kitchen area.
Builder Spotlight
We’ve been working with Chelsea Builders for 15 years and they are a family business just like us. Maria Amorim has been with the company since 1989 and leads all operations from start to finish as the project manager. Her sons, Mike and John, own Chelsea Builders. Additionally, they work as engineers and estimators at Heavy Highway. Meanwhile, her husband Armando Amorim is the company president at A-Tech Concrete. The whole Amorim family is involved in the construction industry and builds many of the lovely duplex homes you see in New Jersey! We’re so proud to work alongside Chelsea Builders and are grateful to be a part of their story.
Employee Spotlight
Eddie is one of the subcontractors at Louis & Sons and has been with us for 15 years. He installs sheetrock and leads a team of two men. Some of his favorite projects that he has worked on here are the townhouses at Middletown Walk and a series of homes in Lincroft. His son, Bryan also works at Louis & Sons on the support team. When Eddie isn’t working, he loves spending time with his family and visiting Los Angeles. We are so happy to have Eddie on our team.
Employee News
On April 23rd, Javier brought his son, Javier, to work! He learned all the tools of the trade and even practiced some spackling. A future Louis & Sons touch-up guy in the making!
News
Construction Prices Rise 2.2% in March, Led by Energy Costs
Associated Builders and Contractors reported that residential construction costs have risen 2.2% from February to March according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonresidential projects rose 2.3% that month. Since 2025, overall construction costs are up 4.8% while nonresidential prices are up 5.4%. Energy prices were mixed in March. Natural gas and unprocessed energy material prices decreased, but crude petroleum prices increased over 20%, causing higher construction costs.
Source: forconstructionpros.com
News
New Jersey is Building Homes at the Fastest Rate in Decades
According to a new study by Rutgers University, New Jersey has built about 36,596 new homes per year on average from 2020 through 2024. This is higher than the annual average in the state within the past 30 years. A majority of these homes are located within Hudson, Ocean, and Bergen counties. Hudson saw an annual average of 5,777 homes within this time frame while Ocean added 3,923 homes and Bergen added 3,648 homes. Rutgers stated that during the pandemic, a large number of people from Brooklyn and Manhattan wanted to move out of their small apartments and into a larger home, causing a major boom in construction in New Jersey.
Source: nj.com
Mike’s Message
Happy spring everyone!
I hope everyone got a chance to get away this winter or have plans for the summer. My brother Bob just came back from a well-deserved vacation. He took the Viking cruise to Italy and had a great experience. As you know, both of us rarely take time off other than extended long weekends here and there. It’s almost as much work to prepare for a vacation than to actually stay home. I went last year to Italy to see family and it was an experience my wife and girls will never forget. It truly was worth it. Although I had to fill in for Bob while he was out, it was a great opportunity to meet or see again some of his clients. I hope I did ok and want to thank everyone for putting up with me. They certainly treated me a lot better than we used to treat substitute teachers back in school. So thanks for that one. Thanks for your patience.
It really was great to put a face to all the names I’ve seen on payroll sheets and deposit tickets over the years. Bob did the same for me and I appreciate it. It’s funny how we work. Bob will have his loyal clients and I have mine. We pretty much evenly split up new clients. We have our favorites on labor but also make sure all our guys are working for either me or my brother. The office crew handles both our jobs. Sometimes we might even be working on houses right next to each other and not even know it. But at the end of the day, it all goes into one big pot.
I just want to express my gratitude for Bob’s clients as well as my own. We truly wouldn’t be here over 26 years if it weren’t for you.
Sometimes it’s tough working with family, especially your own twin brother. But our father taught us right from the beginning that business comes first, then you can settle your differences at the dinner table. After 40+ years working together, I think we figured it out.
I would also like to take the time to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude for all the service members who paid the ultimate price for our freedom and their loved ones who also had to suffer inconsolable losses so we could be free. A blessed Memorial Day to all, we salute you.
And to all our active and retired service members, Godspeed and God Bless. We hold you in our hearts and prayers.
Wishing everyone a successful, safe, and profitable summer ahead and still take time to have fun.
Michael Gemignani
President
Cartoon
Caroline’s Corner – Words of Wisdom
Anyone who has met or talked to our Office Manager will know that she is the most positive, optimistic and wonderful person you will ever meet. She often has quotes and stories that get us through our tension-filled days. Here is a quote that she would like to share:
Much Love and Happiness to all the Fabulous Moms – Hope Mother’s Day was wonderful
Quotes
| “Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” ― Anonymous “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” ― Joseph Campbell, Novelist “Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt, Activist and former First Lady of the United States |
Louis & Sons Drywall, Inc. 