The Bergen County NJ Historic Preservation Advisory Board has honored the owner of 98 Ridge Road, Leo Nakashian, and his project manager and general contractor James Severino / JSeverino Construction L.L.C. for their work on a 1909 Arts & Crafts house located in the historic Ridge Road neighborhood in Rutherford.

The home owner contracted Severino Construction in 2012 and retained him as the General Contractor. With 34 years of construction experience, Severino mapped out a plan. Weather-worn cedar shingles were all replaced with the same exact style and reveal as the originals.

Severino general contractors disassembled, numbered, renewed and then reassembled numerous finishes. All of the exterior woodwork and trim including the massive Doric columns were completely stripped, inspected, repaired and repainted. The heavily ornamented front door was removed and stripped of paint and hardware and then revitalized with a clear protective coat to display the original wood.

One of the most impressive steps of the project was the structural restoration of the main staircase of the 102-year-old, two-and-half story cottage, designed in 1909 by Belmar architect Wallace G. Hooper. The staircase was totally removed, from the main floor to the third floor, and then carefully reinstalled.

We wanted to share with you some information about this important award we have been honored with, it is just an extra bonus for you to trust your home and /or construction projects to James and his crew.