Staub Window Restorations

Sam Staub

Founder/Owner.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Sam Staub has been restoring old houses in the area for about as long as he could hold a hammer. Steeped in decades of traditional building techniques blended with the knowledge of modern-day complications, he's set out to assemble the best team he could find in keeping New Orleans traditions alive and well.

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Meet the Team

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Jacob Foreman, MPS

Operations Manager

Jacob holds a Masters of Preservation Studies from Tulane University, where he studied architectural history, historic building materials, and the economics of the preservation field, including historic tax credit applications. His thesis research included mitigation and environmental planning for climate change impacts to historic communities in the New Orleans area. A lifelong Louisiana resident, Jacob's passion is the restoration of the unique historic built environment that can be found in the cities and small towns across South Louisiana. Through his academic studies and carpentry skills gained during his time at SWR, Jacob has assisted home owners, organizations, and communities across South Louisiana with the documentation of historic buildings and the repair and replacement of various architectural features.

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Tim Morgan

Millwork & Restoration Specialist, Project Manager

Tim was born in Columbia, Missouri, and spent a great deal of his early childhood moving to various places around the country. Eventually he and his family made their way to Baton Rouge where he developed a great appreciation for the culture and architecture of this unique state. Tim is a graduate of the LSU School of Art and Design, where he received his Bachelor’s in oil painting and traditional drafting techniques. Upon graduation he moved to the Crescent City to immerse himself in the constant energy and exchange of ideas that he had grown so fond of in his visits throughout the years. To continue working with his hands creatively and develop new skills he began working for Staub Window Restorations and has thrived in the challenges that the job provides him every day.

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Carey McGovern

Restoration Specialist & Project Manager

Carey was born and raised in Newburyport, Massachusetts and attended UMass Lowell where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Music/Comparative Arts. In 2014 she decided to pursue an old dream and moved down to the birthplace of jazz. Fascinated with the culture, history, and architecture of the area, she joined AmeriCorps and served two years with a local housing non-profit. There she worked on-site every day repairing homes for low-income, disabled, elderly, and veteran homeowners. While doing this work she learned a great deal about the building trades, New Orleans architecture, and working on historic building materials in the Louisiana climate. With her newly discovered passion for the field, Carey joined SWR in 2016 and fell in love with saving old windows. She is very proud to be a woman in the trades, and plans to continue to perfect the craft of historic window restoration.

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Adrian Seward, MSHP

Restoration Specialist

Originally from Pennsylvania, Adrian spent his college years in Massachusetts. His growing interest in preservation led him to complete a master’s degree in Preservation at the University of Pennsylvania. It was during that program that he began working with historic windows. In 2007, the search for a preservation job led him to New Orleans, where his work in Katrina recovery involved salvaging historic building elements, including windows. Adrian’s preservation career was put on hold for several years while he lived in Switzerland. He returned to New Orleans and started with Staub Window Restorations in 2017.

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German “Angel” Palomo

Carpenter

Originally from Honduras, Angel started working as a subcontractor for Sam Staub Enterprises, INC. in March 2013. He started working with Staub Window Restorations after SSE was closed. Angel aids the company in all types of projects from scraping and painting to carpentry and building construction. Angel currently lives on the Northshore with his wife and kids and helps run a barbershop located in Metairie.

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Max Hamlin

Millwork & Restoration Specialist

Max is originally from Oregon but has lived in New Orleans since 2011. He’s worked as a chemist, a baker, and butcher, but has been developing his carpentry and custom millwork skills at SWR for several years.

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Gary Buser

Carpenter

Born in Kansas, Gary moved to Metarie, LA in 3rd grade, then to Baton Rouge during his first year of high school when he met Sam. They have remained best of friends since. He began working with Sam upon his return from living in Virginia for 13 years where he learned carpentry “on the job” restoring his own home with the help of a skillful carpenter/friend. Prior to returning to Louisiana in 1999 Gary worked as an HVAC technician and is still called on to help in that capacity on certain projects. He enjoys his work and is proud to see the projects upon completion knowing that the restorations will hold up for many years to come. Gary currently lives in Metairie with his wife.

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Michael Quartano

Restoration Specialist & Project Manager

Born and raised in southeastern Louisiana, Michael spent years navigating the humanities in academia at LSU before moving to New Orleans, where he spent his time in the service industry. The pandemic allowed him to reevaluate his career, causing him to jump headfirst into woodworking with SWR. No longer reading and writing about history, he now gets to work on and restore the living history around him while also learning the trade. He looks forward to growing his already ample appreciation for architecture and craftsmanship and is dedicated to reviving and maintaining the spirit of New Orleans which can be found in almost every jamb of the city

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Brett Puisis

Restoration Specialist & Project Manager

Born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan, Brett worked alongside his father from a young age to help build his family’s home. This early introduction into the world of carpentry enabled him to appreciate the trades and work toward a future within them. His interests were furthered by years of working to restore historic motorcycles, which fostered a love for old machinery. Brett moved to New Orleans, Louisiana to build on these skills by jumping into the world of carpentry and preservation at SWR. He is excited to learn historic building techniques and give back to the lasting legacy of the city.

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Idaya Smith

Millwork & Restoration Specialist

Originally from Montego Bay, Jamaica, Idaya moved to the US at age 6 with his family. He started doing construction work with his dad at the age of 10, gaining an appreciation for carpentry from a young age. He is excited to continue to expand his knowledge on historic preservation while learning a unique craft.

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Helen Ptak

Restoration Specialist & Project Manager

Helen is from Wisconsin, where she worked as a cosmetologist for four years before discovering an interest in construction. This led her to study Construction & Remodeling at Madison Area Technical College. She then went on to work with the National Park Service in California, first as a historic restoration intern and then as an archaeological field technician. These experiences have given her an appreciation for history and a desire to preserve it for future generations. As a transplant to New Orleans, Helen is excited to be working in a city with rich architectural traditions!

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Lydia Staub

Helper

Lydia has been gracing us with her presence since 2017. She is a very important member of the team and provides comic relief, snuggles, grumbles and biscuits on a daily basis.

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Caleb Foreman

Restoration Specialist

Bio coming soon...

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Mariel Updegrove

Restoration Specialist

Bio coming soon...

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Miranda Miller

Restoration Specialist

Bio coming soon...

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Jorge Chavez

Carpenter

Jorge started working as a subcontractor for Sam Staub Enterprises, INC in January of 2012. When the company was officially closed in 2016, he started working with the Staub Window Restorations crew. While Jorge is officially a subcontractor he has grown to be a part of the Staub family and is an integral part of the SWR workforce. He works mostly on larger projects that include framing and fabrication but he is always willing to help out wherever needed. Jorge is originally from Honduras and now resides in Metairaie.

We strive for the highest quality in our products and our work.

Our Qualifications.

Our team is made up of SOI qualified architectural historians, experienced carpenters, builders, and artisans that, together, make our preservation vision come true.

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Our Passion

Helpful Resources

We are a team of restoration specialists dedicated to preserving the integrity of historic homes and buildings across Southern Louisiana.

Over the years the company has grown and developed changing from Sam Staub Carpentry, LLC. to Sam Staub Enterprises, INC. As the company started to commit more to historic restoration and slowly move away from commercial and modern renovations, the need for historic window restoration in Southern Louisiana became apparent.

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Join our crew

Throw your hat in the ring

We’re always looking for talented individuals to join us and lend their skills to making beautiful work. If you think you might have a home here, send us your resume.

    Let’s Work Together

    Let us know what you’re looking for in a restoration company. We’ll take a look and see if this could be the start of something beautiful.

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