About
BJ Weiss Contracting has been based in Absarokee, Montana since 2021. It was started in 2010 on the Atlantic coast in West Creek, New Jersey as a residential construction company with a focus on general contracting and all phases of carpentry. This includes framing, new construction and additions, decks, renovations and remodeling, and interior and exterior finish work. We work in the capacity of both general and sub contractor, and this remains our core focus today.
Born and raised in Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania, I'm 2nd generation from European immigrants. I was blessed to have a father, who was a self employed machinist, that was a jack of all trades and a master of most. He always had my brother and I by his side, no matter what he was working on - whether he was building a house or rebuilding a lawn mower. He instilled an attention to detail and a mentality that has enabled me to embrace my business, trade, and skills with respect, integrity and passion. This is the foundation of my approach to my work and customers, and my life beyond.
I began formally as a construction laborer in 1998 at the age of 17, moved to NJ at 18 and started working with a framing crew on Long Beach Island and the surrounding areas. I was a lead carpenter in about a year. After a few years of framing, I took a job as a carpenter with a general contractor who built about 30 fully custom homes, along with renovations and additions, each year. After a little more than a year, I moved on and spent some time framing again.
I obtained a Class A CDL around 2004 and in addition to carpentry work, I began to periodically work in heavy construction. I learned about site work and became proficient in operating and moving heavy equipment, and trucking within the construction industry.
I began to find myself being hired on by other contractors who valued my competency, ability to learn quickly, and willingness to take on responsibility and be productive without any supervision. My skills and working understanding of home construction were given the opportunity to greatly expand, as I became more confident and successfully took on more diverse work and projects.
In 2010 I registered BJ Weiss Contracting, working as a sub contractor and a general contractor.
In 2012 Super Storm Sandy devastated the northeast coast. Heartbreaking as it was, work and opportunity w abundant. In addition to carpentry and renovations, I endeavored into residential site work, owning and operating my own equipment.
In 2013 I purchased a semi truck and began trucking aggregates for use in the residential and commercial construction industry, operating as a Federal Motor Carrier under my own authority. Trucking operations were wound down in 2016 and the truck was sold. I continued on doing carpentry and site work for myself.
In 2020 I had the unique opportunity to bring many of my skills together and work with a company doing house raising, house piling, structural repair, house/building moving, rigging, and demolition. Among other projects, I worked on raising about 10 houses during that time. It was quite the experience and education, further expanding my working understanding of residential construction.
Around 2018 my wife and I began to feel strongly that we wanted to move, and raise our young son out of the Northeast. We looked around the country, and a little outside of it, but when we came to Absarokee and the Stillwater Valley, we knew it was where we wanted to live, be part of the community, and raise our family - which now gratefully includes a happy and healthy boy born in 2023. Six months after first visiting Montana, we were moving our entire life across the country to a small home we purchased in town.
There's a quote I've heard that truly resonates - "I wasn't born here, but I came as fast as I could". Montana is a special place to me and my family, and I'm proud to now call it home. We've been blessed to have met and been welcomed by some truly wonderful people, many of whom have become like family.
I spent a little more than a year getting my bearings here, gratefully working with a local gentleman doing carpentry and handyman work. Though I immediately registered my business when we moved here, it wasn't until June 2022 that I went fully back on my own.
Since then, I've been fortunate to have met some other great contractors, and we've been working together on each other's projects.
Having a network of competent and reputable contractors who are willing and able to work together results in an overall level of professionalism and experience that is not easily matched. Furthermore, it enables quality work to be done within a more reasonable budget and time frame - which typically means a smoother and less stressful experience for the customer, as well as the contractor.
Thank you for your interest in BJ Weiss Contracting, and for potentially considering us for your residential construction needs.
Brian J. Weiss