Foundation Specialties, Inc. - Springdale, AR

The Company’s historical footprints trace back to 1972 with the arrival from Iowa of Mr. Hank Gintonio. Hank began pouring and finishing cast-in-place concrete basements, concrete slabs, and even built a few homes in Fayetteville, AR prior to incorporating in 1975 as “Gintonio Concrete Construction, Inc.”

Hank’s son, Paul Gintonio, began work with his father’s company in 1975. As time progressed he began taking on steadily increasing responsibilities and added commercial projects to the company's workload mix. As Hank neared retirement in the late 80’s, he turned more and more construction operations responsibilities over to his son.

 During this time, Paul had noticed the prevalence of unstable clay soil conditions in the area. He soon started “Atlas Piers of Northwest Arkansas” as his own endeavor which he ran alongside his father’s construction company.  In 1989, Hank announced his retirement.

 As his father was preparing for retirement, Paul meanwhile was trying to develop his own small but promising business. It was at this time that Paul decided to incorporate his own business endeavor as “Gintonio Concrete Contractors, Inc. d.b.a. Atlas Piers of Northwest Arkansas”. He would continue to perform much of the same work as his father’s company but he would also perform work as an authorized dealer/contractor for the “Atlas Systems” lineup of specialty foundation repair products and services.

 By the fall of 1990 the management transition from Hank to Paul proved to be strenuous; Paul thus concluded that help was essential if the business was to grow. In late December 1990, Paul inquired of Jim Davis as to whether he might like to consider the possibility of participating in the business.

 In early 1991, Davis agreed to invest funding, equipment and operations management assistance in the corporation.  At the end of the year the company was renamed “Gintonio Foundation & Stabilization, Inc.” in order to better describe what the business actually did while retaining the name identity that spoke for its reputation. The company name was changed (and simplified) a final time, in 1996, when it became “Foundation Specialties, Inc.”

Throughout the early to mid 90's work was performed primarily for individual homeowners who learned of the company's capabilities through a modest Yellow Pages ad or by "word of mouth". Repair projects consisted almost entirely of underpinning perimeter footings of residential structures using the "Atlas Systems" Steel Resistance Pier. New Foundation Construction projects were almost entirely in the custom residential market which was generally sluggish in the early 90s. The customer base was about equally divided among owner/builders and a variety of small general contractors for whom services had previously been provided.

During this period a previously under appreciated resource was found to exist in "Atlas Systems, Inc." as a provider of products, tools and technical support services for foundation underpinning. Quick and competent service was only a phone call away when specialized applications for the Atlas Systems capabilities came along.  By the mid 90's it was obvious that Atlas Systems was establishing a decisive lead in development of technology in the foundation support products industry. Also, during this time, drainage remediation opportunities began to present themselves, and tools/equipment were developed accordingly.

In 1995, Atlas Systems introduced a product line that was especially well suited to the company's reputation and position within the new construction market.  As an alternative to the conventional drilled concrete caisson, which was the current choice for "deep foundations" on light commercial and custom residential applications, Atlas Systems introduced an all steel "Helical Pier" product line. This system offered substantial benefits in both the New Construction and Repair applications.  Tools and equipment were consequently purchased in 1995, and personnel were trained in the methods of installation.

During the mid thru late '90s both our sales and the Northwest Arkansas area grew quite rapidly. We began focusing harder on building a more structured management and operations team. Additional personnel were added to fill in the much needed voids.

In 2001 with Mr. Davis wishing to retire, it was decided that Foundation Specialties would implement a new benefit program. The company would become employee owned. Effective with the year 2001, the company adopted a new employee benefit plan called an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).  ESOPs are becoming an increasingly popular benefit for employees and employers alike and the company is currently excited about its future. (For more information on our ESOP follow this link "FSI - ESOP"). 

In 2002 we further developed our drainage remediation and waterproofing efforts by the addition of the Basement Systems line of products. Basement Systems offers and excellent interior basement waterproofing alternative to the common industry practice of exterior waterproofing. This alternative has proven to be reliable and significantly less costly to homeowners who have had problems with basement moisture control.

In 2003 we took our basement waterproofing efforts a step further by becoming installers of the Tremco Barrier Solutions products. We utilize Tremco products on New Construction Wall Waterproofing applicatons prior to backfilling the wall.

Currently (as of the beginning of 2006) Foundation Specialties, Inc. maintains a work force of approximately 50 employees. From its base of operations at 328 So. 40th Street in Springdale, Arkansas, it continues to provide foundation construction and repair services to area residents and businesses.

The company strives to maintain and build on a reputation that goes back to the early '70's. The corporate mission as adopted by management is:

To provide engineers, architects,  contractors and owners the latest proven technologies in reinforced concrete construction and foundation related repair services while exemplifying professionalism, excellence and service and encouraging maximum personal development for its employees.