SLAB-2-SHINGLES
Real Projects. Real Craftsmanship.
Slab-2-Shingles: is the signature portfolio of AJ Deerey’s construction project management legacy in Naples, Florida. It’s where quality meets clarity—documenting every stage of high-end residential builds, remodels, and custom contractor work. This isn’t a gallery—it’s a behind-the-scenes blueprint of how a real builder works: transparently, efficiently, and with obsessive attention to detail.
Our Building Philosophy: Client-First: Communication is a tool, not a courtesy, On-Site Integrity: No shortcuts, no surprises, Design-Driven: We listen to architects, engineers, and dreams—then make them real, Detail-Obsessed: If it’s not right, it’s not done.
Building Dreams, One Project at a Time
For over 25 years, my life has revolved around transforming raw materials into structures that stand as testaments to human ingenuity. As a licensed engineer and the founder of Slab to Shingles, I’ve dedicated my career to bridging the gap between architectural vision and tangible reality. From commercial skyscrapers to cozy family homes, every project carries a story—one of collaboration, innovation, and relentless pursuit of excellence. This is my journey, a narrative of grit, growth, and the unwavering belief that quality construction shapes communities for generations.
Education and Early Inspirations:
My passion for construction began long before I set foot on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. Growing up in a family of tradesmen, I marveled at how blueprints evolved into homes and how meticulous planning could turn empty lots into thriving spaces. At EKU, my Construction Management degree became the bedrock of my career. Courses in project planning, safety protocols, and budgeting weren’t just academic exercises—they were lessons in responsibility. One professor’s words still resonate: “A builder’s legacy isn’t measured in square footage, but in the lives impacted by their work.” This philosophy guided me as I graduated and plunged into the field, eager to apply theory to practice.
The Early Years: Grit, Grind, and Growth:
My career began humbly as a project coordinator for a mid-sized firm. Days were spent reviewing permits, coordinating subcontractors, and ensuring OSHA compliance. But it was my promotion to site supervisor that taught me the most. Leading a team through a hurricane-delayed municipal project in 2003 was a baptism by fire. With deadlines looming, I learned to adapt—rescheduling crews, sourcing alternative materials, and maintaining morale. We delivered the project two weeks early, earning our first industry accolade.These early experiences instilled a critical lesson: Leadership isn’t about authority; it’s about empowering others to excel.
Commercial Construction: Scaling New Heights:
By the late 2000s, I was steering multi-million-dollar commercial projects. One standout was the 2015 Rivertown Retail Complex—a $12M development featuring 20 storefronts and a parking structure. The challenge? A buried creek beneath the site threatened foundation stability. Collaborating with geotechnical engineers, we redesigned the foundation using deep piers and waterproofing membranes, turning a potential disaster into a case study for adaptive problem-solving.Commercial projects taught me the art of balance: aligning architectural creativity with budgetary constraints, all while navigating zoning laws and stakeholder expectations. Each success reinforced that meticulous planning and transparent communication are non-negotiables.
Residential Mastery: Crafting Homes, Building Trust
If commercial work is about scale, residential construction is about soul. In 2018, a client approached Slab to Shingles with a dream: a net-zero energy home nestled in Appalachia’s rolling hills. The project demanded cutting-edge insulation, solar integration, and locally sourced timber. The result? A LEED Platinum-certified masterpiece that reduced the family’s energy costs by 90%. But beyond specs, residential work hinges on trust. I’ve sat at kitchen tables, listening to families describe their vision for a forever home. These moments remind me that we’re not just building houses—we’re creating backdrops for life’s milestones.
Utility Infrastructure: The Invisible Backbone:
Utility projects may lack the glamour of high-rises, but they’re the lifelines of modern society. In 2022, Slab to Shingles partnered with a regional energy provider to overhaul a 50-mile waterline network. The catch? The aging pipes ran beneath a protected wetland. Using trenchless technology, we minimized environmental disruption, completing the project 30% under budget.Such projects demand surgical precision. From coordinating with EPA officials to deploying GPS-guided excavators, every decision impacts public safety and ecological preservation.
Philosophy: Embracing Innovation and Sustainability:
The construction industry evolves rapidly. Early in my career, 3D modeling was a novelty; today, Slab to Shingles uses AI-driven tools for real-time risk assessment. We’ve integrated drones for site surveys and BIM software to detect clashes before ground is broken.Sustainability is equally paramount. Our “Green Slab” initiative promotes recycled concrete aggregates and rainwater harvesting systems. In 2024, we retrofitted a 1980s office building with smart HVAC systems, slashing its carbon footprint by 40%. For me, innovation isn’t optional—it’s a duty to future generations.
Mentorship: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Builders
In 2020, I launched the Shingles Scholarship Fund, offering tuition grants to aspiring construction managers from underserved communities. Mentoring young professionals is my greatest joy. One protégé, Maria Gonzalez, now leads her own sustainable housing startup. “Art taught me that leadership means lifting others,” she recently shared.I also guest-lecture at EKU, urging students to embrace lifelong learning. The industry’s future hinges on their ability to merge tradition with technology.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Slab to Shingles:
As we approach 2026, Slab to Shingles is venturing into modular construction, aiming to reduce housing shortages through prefabricated, eco-friendly units. We’re also exploring partnerships with smart-city developers to integrate IoT-enabled infrastructure.Personally, I’m drafting a guidebook, “From Slab to Shingles: Lessons from a Builder’s Journey,” to share hard-won insights with the next generation.
The Venetian Modern |
Naples, FL
Scope:Full custom home – 4,200 sq. ft. Timeline: 9 months | Completed: 2023
Highlights: Seamless indoor/outdoor transitions. Impact glass + coastal hurricane standards. Integrated smart home system.
This one started with a sketch and ended with a smart-ready oasis.
Golden Gate Remodel | Naples, FL
Scope: Major interior renovation. Timeline: 6 weeks | Completed: 2022
Challenges: Legacy plumbing + outdated electrical. Load-bearing wall redesign. Live-in renovation with phased work.
This family stayed on-site through the process. Every phase had to be clean, clear, and fast. It was a challenge—and we nailed it.
The Calm After Helene: A City in Ruins, A Community in Motion
When Hurricane Helene’s 145-mph winds finally relented on July 14, 2024, Fort Myers’ streets lay choked with splintered memories—a child’s waterlogged teddy bear tangled in power lines, a wedding photo wedged in a mangrove trunk. But amid the debris, my team and I saw something else: a chance to rewrite Florida’s disaster playbook. In 30 days, with 50 volunteers and a mountain of donated materials, we resurrected 15 homes from Helene’s wreckage. Not temporary shelters, but fortified dwellings ready for the next storm. This wasn’t charity; it was a proof of concept. As I told my crew on Day One: “We’re not just rebuilding houses. We’re building a blueprint for survival.”
The Spark: Why Fort Myers Couldn’t Wait
The call came at 3:17 AM on July 16 from Disaster Rebuilders USA. “Lee County’s FEMA trailers are stuck in Alabama,” said CEO Marisol Vega. “Families are sleeping in Dollar General parking lots. Can you mobilize?” I’d seen this before—the glacial pace of federal aid, the well-intentioned but disjointed volunteer efforts. But Helene’s toll was different: 85% of damaged homes lacked flood insurance in a county where median incomes lag 18% behind state averages. These weren’t just houses; they were generational anchors. My grandfather’s words echoed: “When the levy breaks, you don’t wait for engineers—you grab sandbags and start stacking.
The Deerey Disaster Doctrine: SpeedMeets Science
We operated on three non-negotiables:
1. 72-Hour Mobilization:
• Activated Slab to Shingles’ pre-trained volunteer network (vetted via 2023’s Hurricane Ian response).
• Partnered with Airbnb’s Open Homes Program to house displaced families during construction.
2. Flood-Fighting Materials:
• Foundations: PermaColumn piers with 25% more uplift resistance than FEMA standards.
• Walls: Georgia-Pacific’s DensGlass Gold sheathing, hydrophobic and mold-resistant.
• Roofs: GAF’s Timberline HDZ shingles, rated for 130 mph winds—applied with 6 nails per shingle, not the standard 4.
3. Flood-Fighting Materials:
• Worked with Lee County to implement “Helene Fast Track” approvals using AI damage assessments from Cape Analytics.
• Prefab components built offsite under “repair-by-right” ordinances to skirt zoning delays.
We treated permits like a triage list,” said county planner Derek Cho. “Art’s team submitted drone maps with heat signatures showing inhabited structures. Priorities wrote themselves.
Supply Chain Sorcery: Turning Scarcityinto Abundance
The $250K materials haul from Florida Building Materials Coalition was a masterclass in crisis logistics:
1. Just-in-Time Delivery:
• Partnered with Airbnb’s Open Homes Program to house displaced families during construction.
• Partnered with Airbnb’s Open Homes Program to house displaced families during construction.
2. Barter Brilliance:
• Traded 10,000 volunteer hours for 50% off impact windows from PGT Innovations.
• Swapped social media promotion for 5,000 linear feet of flood-resistant TrimBoard.
Art turned LinkedIn into a supply chain weapon,” marveled coalition director Luis Torres. “His post about needing nails got us 400 lbs from a Miami high-rise demo crew.
The Human Impact: Stories from the Storm
For María Rivera, a single mom of three, homeownership was her “American dream”—until Helene reduced her 1960s bungalow to a concrete pad. Our rebuild gave her more than walls:
• Elevated Design: Raised living space 3 feet above base flood elevation.
• Solar-Ready: Pre-wired for panels to offset FPL’s rising rates.
My kids thought magic wasn’t real,” María said at her key ceremony. “Now they believe in engineers.
Fort Myers Mayor Alicia Ramos initially doubted our timeline. “I warned Art: ‘Even Superman needs sleep.’” But when we delivered her cousin’s home 11 days early—with ADA-compliant ramps for his MS—she became our fiercest advocate.
What’s Next: Scaling the “Deerey Model”
1. Disaster SWAT Teams:
• Pre-positioned supply caches in 10 Gulf Coast counties.
• VR training sims for rapid permit navigation.
2. Policy Push:
• Lobbying for state tax credits using flood-proofing materials.
• “Good Samaritan” laws protecting volunteer engineers from liability.
Helene was our test run,” I told the crew at our wrap party. “Next storm, we’ll rebuild 150 homes in 15 days.
Let’s Build Together
Construction is more than a career—it’s a calling. Every beam raised, every pipe laid, and every handshake with a satisfied client fuels my purpose. At Slab to Shingles, we don’t just construct buildings; we engineer legacies.
Whether you’re a client with a vision, a tradesman seeking mentorship, or a colleague ready to collaborate, I invite you to join me in shaping a world that’s safe, sustainable, and inspired.
Contact Art J. Deerey at Slab to Shingles to discuss your next project or connect via LinkedIn for industry insights.
Mail
Facebook
LinkedIn
X