With over 65 years of experience in custom residential and light commercial construction—and exceptional customer service—we’re proud to continue the tradition of craftsmanship that sets us apart from other builders. Today, we relive our history, values and memories as we celebrate Father’s Day.
In the early 1950s, Ray VandenHouten Sr. spent his time operating a chicken hatchery. When his chickens succumbed to disease, he and his brother-in-law, Mel Petinoit, used the empty buildings to start Van’s Lumber. Shortly after that Ray VandenHouten Jr. purchased the business. Now, Ray Jr., and his sons Eric, Craig, Kurt and Chris, continue to own and operate from the same property in Dyckesville where Ray Sr. raised chickens. “Most businesses today are now big corporate companies,” says Ray Jr. “We’re a locally owned company with years of experience—you just don’t see that anymore.”
Ray Jr.’s principles guide the company. “When we build a home, we sell the “whole package” and put careful thought into the products we offer. Our expert crew focuses on framing, siding, finishing and roofing, and have built strong relationships with others in the community. The subcontractors we use—such as Macco’s, CertainTeed and Trex—have similar core values and expertise as we do, providing quality and excellent work,” says Craig VandenHouten, current president of Van’s.
We’re not just an ordinary lumberyard. Owned and operated by two generations of the VandenHouten family, we are proud to have brought Van’s to where it is today and what we stand for in the construction industry.