About Us

Our owner, Lou West has been in the rebuilding and restoring business for most of his adult life. First, as a young man in Vermont, he found, rebuilt and restored old, discarded furniture. He brought the antiques back to life while building a reputation as one of the best in the business. He is a licensed contractor, Master Builder, and Master Plumber. These days, he’s using his expertise by working with partners, such as, Greg and Joy Jackson of Staunton, VA, bringing life back to the Newtown section of Staunton, VA. Many of the restored buildings downtown is the result of their love for the historic feel and look of period construction. Both Greg and Joy have a tremendous passion for those old houses and love to see them restored to their original beauty.

Southern Pride Custom Builders and Lou West have a mission: His devotion to his trade has spilled over onto the men and women of the Mission. Some of Lou’s crews are the Homeless, the Poor and the Needy. Many have had a challenging life due to unhealthy decisions and behavior patterns and most have come to Lou with few skills. He teaches them, guides them, and supervises them on the work site so they can mature in Christ and become productive and skilled laborers.

 Lou is involved with Destiny Family Center in Stuarts Draft, VA. His goal and mission is to minister to and transform the lives of the poor and homeless much in the same way he has always been able to transform furniture and buildings. He states: "My job in life is to rebuild, and I am now working to rebuild the lives of dispossessed and outcast men and women so they can lead a happy, productive and acceptable lives." He does that through his restoration business, Southern Pride Custom Builders.

In 2007, Southern Pride Custom Builders began to distribute Paradigm Metal and Bennington Copper Shingles. Restorers of old buildings across the nation now have the option to roof their homes with beautiful and long lasting shingles that evoke the past. Lou’s prayer is that his shingle business will supply him with the means to launch his dream: working full time restoring and rebuilding the lives of the men and women. He envisions them as the Masterpieces they are in Christ.