About Us

Our Story

  • About Us

    Signature Construction & Design was founded in 1999 by Eric Holloway as an offshoot of Signature Furniture Services LLC, a full service commercial furniture installation, storage and moving company. Mark Benzel joined the firm in 2000 as the General Manager in charge of operations and Dan Holloway joined as a principal in 2001 in charge of sales and marketing.

  • Our Team

    Eric Holloway founded Signature Construction & Design in 1999 as an adjunct to Signature Furniture Services, a full service office furniture installation company specializing in the installation, reconfiguration, storage and moving of office furniture. Prior to owning Signature Furniture Services, Eric was the third generation owner of Holloway Bros Tools Inc, a wholesale distributor of supplies to construction and industry concentrating on the Mid-Atlantic States. That business was sold to MSC, in 1998. Eric attended Hamilton College in New York majoring in Economics and Texas A&M University in Texas majoring in Industrial Distribution. He lives in Westover Hills with his wife Monique and two children. He lives in an old house and enjoys the challenges that come with multiple renovation projects on his own house.

    Dan Holloway joined Signature Construction & Design as a partner in 2001 to focus on the sales and marketing aspects of the business. Dan had over 23 years of sales and marketing experience in the medical supplies field before retiring. Dan is married to Cynthia Hewitt and resides in Yorklyn, Delaware. Having undergone many construction projects including the custom building of his own home, Dan understands the frustrations a homeowner can experience during the construction process and considers himself the customer advocate throughout any construction project.

    Mark Benzel has been the General Manager of Signature Construction and Design since 2000. Mark has extensive experience in residential construction and management throughout Wilmington. In that capacity, Mark served as the on-site manager for many upscale residential renovation projects with ultimate responsibility for total customer fulfillment. Mark owned Benzel Renovations Inc. for a decade having started that business in 1989 and previous to that worked as a Nuclear Engineer. Mark is a Wilmington native having grown up in Wawaset Park and Westover Hills. He graduated from Tower Hill and Bucknell University (BS Engineering), and is married with three children.

    Andrea Roberts was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio and attended the Savannah College of Art and Design where she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree majoring in Interior Design. She has been with Signature Construction & Design since 2006 as a production assistant and designer. She works closely with clients on selections and details to ensure they are happy with their project from start to finish.

Approach

  • What We Do

    Signature Construction & Design specializes in renovations and additions that add value to unique homes. We rarely complete the same project in two different houses. While we frequently work on specialize in higher end homes, we are more concerned with unique projects that add value to the houses. The size of the project is not as much of a concern as the value imparted and thus we can just as easily add a closet as perform a whole house renovation.

  • How We Do It

    We employ 12 carpenters/craftsmen on staff who are trained in various facets of construction from rough to finish carpentry, masonry, drywall, painting, tile work, and hardscapes. In addition, we have long term relationships with a sub-contractor network of electricians, plumbers, roofers, HVAC technicians.

FAQ

  • Who is SC&D?

    Signature Construction & Design was founded in 1999 by Eric Holloway as an offshoot of Signature Furniture Services LLC, a full service commercial furniture installation, storage and moving company. Mark Benzel joined the firm in 2000 as the General Manager in charge of operations and Dan Holloway joined as a principal in 2001 in charge of sales and marketing.

  • What is the Specialization of SC&D?

    Signature Construction & Design specializes in renovations and additions that add value to unique homes. We rarely complete the same project in two different houses. While we frequently work on higher end homes, we are more concerned with unique projects that add value to the houses. The size of the project is not as much of a concern as the value imparted and thus we can just as easily add a closet as perform a whole house renovation.

  • In what geographic area do you work?

    Signature Construction & Design works primarily in New Castle County Delaware and Chester County, Pennsylvania. Many of Signature's projects are located along the Route 52 corridor, but any construction project within a reasonable distance could be a fit for SC&D.

  • Is any job too small for you?

    No, while we obviously like to concentrate on larger projects, we are always in need of small fill in projects to complete during down times on other projects and do not mind installing a new door or window when called upon.

  • How many projects can you run at one time?

    We typically have anywhere from 3 to 5 midsized ($50,000 to $200,000) projects under construction at one time and when we have a larger project $500,000 + we might only undertake 2 to 3 of the mid-sized projects during that time. We do not believe in juggling multiple projects with limited resources. Once we start a project, we do not leave it until it is complete and no punch list exists.

  • How do you differentiate yourselves from your competition?

    We believe we offer the sophistication of a larger company based upon our experience both in business and construction with the personal service of a small company. We foster a team approach to develop an integrated project design process that successfully addresses the client's needs. We have the capital to undertake large projects without creating undue stress to our organization and yet the owners of the company visit every project several times weekly and make a point of staying involved with every project. We are bonded with New Castle County and maintain all the necessary worker’s compensation insurances as required by law.

  • What tasks do you perform yourself versus using a subcontractor?

    We manage the entire project and typically perform all the carpentry tasks from demolition to final detailing, integrating various subcontracted tasks - such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing and flooring - along the way.

  • How do you address safety issues?

    We have been a member of the Delaware Safety Council since our inception in 1999. We routinely send our staff for safety training from defensive driving to first aid classes. In addition, biweekly, our supervisors hold a tailgate safety meeting to discuss maintaining a safe working environment concentrating on such topics as power tool safety, lifting techniques, personal safety protection in the form of gloves, eyewear, hearing protection… We qualify every year for the Delaware Workplace Safety Credit which is a program offered by the State of Delaware to lower worker’s compensation rates significantly if standards of safety are followed. Both job sites and our internal shop are toured and graded yearly as part of this program.

  • Do you have a process?

    Absolutely, the typical steps we perform once we receive a call concerning a project are: 1. Dan Holloway & Mark Benzel meet with a client in person and determine the nature of the project and try to understand the needs of the customer. 2. Based upon the information gathered at that meeting an architect might be invited to the process to help with the design or if a design is already in place, we will perform a preliminary budget analysis. The purpose of this step is for all parties to get a good idea of an approximate budget within 10-15%. 3. Dan & Mark will meet with the client to review the preliminary budget numbers, assuming design is completed. At this point a decision is made to move forward or to cease the process. 4. Should the determination be made to move forward, we will refine the preliminary budget into a final proposal including selection details and a detailed scope of work along with a contract based upon AIA guidelines. 5. The project is then added to the schedule and when the necessary manpower and product is available, the project commences.

  • Do you mind giving me another bid?

    It has been our experience that all parties are best served when a homeowner interviews multiple builders/contractors. When compatibility has been found, reference calls and construction site visits are in order to confirm the decision. Then the development of a plan can begin. The homeowner will benefit greatly by having a builder/contractor involved in the process from the very start of the design versus bidding on an already designed project.

  • Do you provide design services?

    Yes. On many of our projects, particularly kitchens and baths, we do all of the design work. On large projects we typically provide some concept and feasibility designs, and then partner with an architect (one we recommend, or one you already know) to produce the final detail designs and drawings. In either case, we always provide design input and guidance throughout the entire process, keeping client goals, construction practicality, and budget in mind.