Entrepreneur aims to restore rotted structures with new franchise

The model behind Preservan, an Oklahoma-based company debuting in Tampa Bay, is to repair, not replace, wooden parts of structures.


  • By Laura Lyon
  • | 5:00 a.m. January 15, 2025
  • | 2 Free Articles Remaining!
J.W. Ferguson is the owner and president of the first Preservan franchise in Tampa Bay.
J.W. Ferguson is the owner and president of the first Preservan franchise in Tampa Bay.
Photo by Mark Wemple
  • Tampa Bay-Lakeland
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In a part of the country where salt and moisture, two components that expedite the rotting of wood, are ever present in the air, those with a stake in residential homes and historical buildings have a new solution at their disposal. Preservan, an Oklahoma City-based wood rot repair company recently opened its first franchise in Tampa Bay. 

“We're firing on all cylinders here in Florida,” says franchise owner and president J.W. Ferguson.


Everything old is new again

Preservan was founded by Ty McBride in 2021 as an offshoot of a family business called Old Home Rescue, which focuses on whole home renovations. The company uses an epoxy resin product called Everesin to repair and restore, never replace, wooden parts of a structure such as doors, windows, columns and moldings. 

Think of it like a root canal for a piece of wood. The rotting part, or cavity, is cut completely out and filled with an epoxy resin that stabilizes the material. Once dry, the wood is patched with a similar matching resin, sanded down to match surrounding pieces and sealed with a UV protectant paint. 



The process itself takes about two days, one to cut the rot and pour the resin and the other to finalize the repair, but the length of each job varies based on how much repair is needed. A smaller end job typically runs around $500 and the average quote is approximately $1,500-$2,000. 

Repairing benefits both the consumer’s wallet and the structure itself, according to Preservan's website. It is more cost effective to repair than replace, especially given the rising costs of building materials. This rings especially true for window trim repair over replacing the entire window. 

It’s less burdensome on the structure as well, since large pieces aren’t having to be taken apart and put back together again with new ones. Keeping the structure intact helps maintain its integrity. 

Each repair comes with a 10-year warranty and the process is time-tested. The National Park Service has been incorporating a similar practice on its historical wooden structures for decades, as shown through at least one preservation brief on the NPS website. 

Additionally, for the eco-conscious customer, landfills are spared being overfilled by lumber gone to waste.


On the job

Ferguson came across Preservan via LinkedIn and his background makes him a near-perfect fit for the job. He previously worked as a woodshop manager at EMI Industries and in sales and account management roles for Arkema, a chemical manufacturing company. During his time with Arkema, he obtained his MBA from the University of Tampa. 

“I realized it was time for me to get out of the corporate side and move over to small business ownership,” Ferguson says.

In addition to his professional background, Ferguson counts himself among a unique tribe: a multigenerational Tampa native. His great-grandfather, Michael Montejo, worked in a cigar factory in Tampa while raising a son and three daughters, according to family lore. 

Ferguson grew up on Davis Island, a community built in the 1920s, and has memories of spending time with friends in their historic homes. These experiences, he says, shape his desire to preserve history.

“Hyde Park is still holding strong and growing up in the area, we would walk the streets of Hyde Park during Gasparilla and go to friends houses, the classic bungalows around the area,” he says. “I've always loved those, so I’m hoping that we can help people want to maintain instead of rebuild, as much as we can.”


Home growing

Ferguson is now counted among the throngs of contractors in the area. Aside from offering an alternative solution to wood rot, he is also focused on building client trust. 

“As far as trust goes, all we can do is give you [the customer] as much information as we can and give you that 10 year warranty. And if we did do something improperly, then we'll come back out and make it right,” he says. 

With the future of the business in front of him, Ferguson has plenty of targets and goals in mind. He and one employee are the current boots on the ground getting the books filled and jobs completed, with Ferguson hoping to expand the team by four contractors this year. The annual revenue goal for 2025 is $600,000. 

 

author

Laura Lyon

Laura Lyon is the Business Observer's editor for the Tampa Bay region, covering business news in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties. She has a journalism degree from American University in Washington, D.C. Prior to the Business Observer, she worked in many storytelling capacities as a photographer and writer for various publications and brands.

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