Shaver Millwork is a third-generation family business that was founded in 1980 by Robert Shaver and his oldest son, Bob. Robert brought to the endeavor 40 years of woodworking experience. He started in woodworking as a teenager in his parents' garage, making custom kitchen cabinets. After serving in the Navy during World War II, Robert went to work for a large millwork company in Peoria, IL, that distributed Anderson windows and manufactured other items.

Robert worked his way up and became a top executive in charge of purchasing, but decided to leave the company and move to Florida in 1979. Shortly afterwards, Bob followed and the two started the business. Bob started out as his father's apprentice. Today, he runs the company, with help from three of his four sons, Jason, Mark and Clayton.

This is a "great room" in a beachfront house that was built "upside-down," according to Mark Shaver - the kitchen, dining, living and family rooms, as well as the master bedroom are upstairs. The architect emphasized natural lighting. Shaver Millwork provided all architecturally designed millwork, including stair parts, posts and beams, cabinets, door and window trim and wall paneling.

Since hurricane-impact-rated doors are such a specialty, Shaver Millwork decided to leave that manufacturing task to other suppliers. Instead, it has developed a relationship with another Florida company and outsources that part of its millwork packages. It also subs out its finishing and installation, putting its own focus on producing other doors, mouldings, cabinetry, fireplace mantels, stairs, windows, louvered products and specialty items.

In the same Vero Beach home, Shaver Millwork manufactured arch top mahogany French Doors, true divided, for the living room, as well as a coffered ceiling and custom fireplace mantel.

Shaver Millwork typically has millwork and casework contracts for 20 residential properties a year, filling in with other miscellaneous residential and commercial projects throughout the year. A full CAD drafting and design department supports the company's manufacturing process. Bob Shaver is in charge of this segment of the business, and he is the one who usually makes job site visits.

Clayton Shaver is in charge of the shop. The most significant and recent purchase of equipment brought in is a C.R. Onsrud 96C10 CNC router with MasterCam and TurboCad software. Mark Shaver programs the new router and says it has helped virtually every area of millwork production. Among the tasks relegated to the router are making knife-grinding templates, radius door and window casing templates, and cutting all
plywood for cabinet production.

Other shop equipment includes a Delta RS15 shaper, SCMI T130 tilting shaper, Casadei sliding table shaper, Holz-Her 1265S vertical panel saw, five-head moulder and knife grinder from Weinig, and an AEM two-head widebelt sander.

Shaver Millwork did extensive work in this Vero Beach, FL, home, including the kitchen and dining area with custom cabinets, doors, island, range hood and coffered ceiling.

Jason Shaver's responsibilities are in sales, estimating and project management. He believes that the company's strength is that it has the capability to manufacture a broad spectrum of custom products, as well as its close collaboration with the best construction professionals in the area.

Mark Shaver adds that Shaver Millwork is fortunate to be a multi-generational company and have a history of providing quality work. Since Bob Shaver has 15 grandchildren, it is likely that this tradition will continue into the future.