Nestled in the heart of Greenbrier, Ark., Oaks Brothers Inc. has built a formidable reputation in exterior plastering and related construction specialties. Founded in 1994 by Greg Oaks’ father and uncle, the company has grown into a powerhouse subcontractor offering a wide range of services, including sprayed and intumescent fireproofing, acoustical plaster, acoustical sprayed insulation, veneer and Venetian plaster, manufactured stone, thin brick, and more.

Now celebrating 30 years in business, Greg Oaks, the company’s president, reflects on the journey that has made Oaks Brothers a leader in the industry. “My father is a lather by trade. I grew up with him taking me to work when I was around 10 years old. I fell in love with the business at an early age and knew that was what I wanted to do.”

Expansion and Growth

Since taking ownership in 2004 with his first cousin, Russell Oaks, Greg has overseen remarkable growth. Originally serving Arkansas, the company has expanded its operations across 17 states in the Southeast. Their ability to adapt to market shifts has kept them on a steady trajectory.

“The markets we serve remain strong. There are pockets of slowdown, but we focus on areas with higher demand,” Greg shares. With a workforce that fluctuates between 150 and 200 employees depending on the season, Oaks Brothers remains resilient and competitive.

The company specializes in large-scale projects, including casinos, higher education facilities, sporting arenas, hospitals, condominiums, and multifamily apartments. One standout project is Salt Aire, a multifamily apartment complex in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. The development features six buildings ranging from four to five stories, along with a clubhouse, parking garages, and various support structures.

Oaks Brothers installed a 3/4-inch stucco system over metal lath, finished with a Dryvit acrylic product. The architect, Bold Line Design LLC, and general contractor, Apartment Construction Specialist LLC, collaborated to bring this project to life.

Industry Leadership and Strengths

A member of AWCI, the National Fireproofing Contractors Association and the American Subcontractors Association, Oaks Brothers prides itself on attention to detail, aggressive scheduling, and strong client communication.

“We have a large company feel in terms of handling schedules and production but we maintain a small company feel when it comes to communication,” Greg says. “Our ability to retain great talent has been our greatest achievement.”

The company’s future is bright, with an expansion into Memphis, Tenn., in 2023 and plans to open an office in Orlando, Fla., in 2025. This growth aligns with their long-term vision of broadening their service areas while maintaining high-quality craftsmanship.

Beyond the Business

Beyond his role at Oaks Brothers, Greg Oaks has a deep appreciation for history, travel, and family. His dream destination? Dubrovnik, Croatia. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time at the lake or running his gun store, Pickles Gap Weapons Shack in Conway, Ark.

As for his greatest influences, he credits the Bible as his guiding force in life.

From humble beginnings to a thriving enterprise, Oaks Brothers continues to set the bar high in the exterior plastering industry. With a commitment to quality, growth, and strong relationships, the company is poised for continued success in the years to come.

Project Profile: Salt Aire

General Contractor: Apartment Construction Specialist LLC.
 Architect: BLD Architecture, Jacksonville, Fla.
 Owner: 30A Lofts LLC, Madison, Miss.

The project consisted of six-story apartments, a clubhouse, eight separate garages, mailroom, two bike kiosks, and miscellaneous items such as dumpsters, signs, etc. Oaks Brothers completed more than 163,000 square feet of stucco. The scope of work also included caulking and some site work CMU. The trade contractor used the following manufacturers for the project: Plastic Components was used for all the plastic trim components; Dryvit on the acrylic finish that was applied over the scratch and brown coat, which was provided by QUIKRETE.

The metal lath was provided by Niles Building Materials. The felt was from Henry (Jumbo Tex). Martin Borchert out of North Little Rock, Ark., supplied OBI with all the materials for the project. Oaks Bros. didn’t have too many challenges that were out of the ordinary scope on this project. The job went very smoothly, says Oaks. The subcontractor also enjoyed getting to work with the GC and architect on this project. “We are hoping to be involved in the next phase of the project which will be retail stores on the North side of the project,” says Oaks.

“Working through a single source with a number of different manufacturers that have multiple plants around the United States allowed us to pull the same products from these different plants,” says Oaks. “This allowed us to never have any delays in production and focus more on the task at hand, getting the job done.

“Throughout the job, with the assistance of Plastic Components and QUIKRETE, we were able to pull products from multiple locations that helped in the overall speed of the project.”