In 2007, Jenny Biddle and her husband Francis made the bold decision to start their own home improvement company with nothing but a truck, a Home Depot credit card, grand dreams and complete faith in each other. Fifteen years, many jobs and one impressive new showroom later, the gamble has paid off.

Today, F&J Builders has evolved into one of the most successful contracting businesses in Delaware, offering everything from kitchen and bathroom remodels to additions and outdoor living spaces. They also have a separate DBA, F&J Roofing & Siding, making them experts in exterior projects, including roofing, siding and the installation of windows and doors.

“Francis can build a house from the ground up,” Jenny says. “He has so much experience and it allows the customers to trust us. He’s been through everything and he guides our teams in the right direction. It also helps customers think outside the box. That’s why our motto is, ‘We Listen Better, Plan Better, Build Better.’ We take in what the homeowners want, we give them advice and then we move forward with the ideas.”

While Francis and Jenny used to work from their kitchen table and had employees shuffling in and out of their house all day, they’ve since opened a showroom in Wilmington. In addition to the office space, it gives customers an opportunity to see decking and railing materials, roofing and siding displays and much more up close. “It helps to actually touch it and see it face to face rather than picking it out of a book,” she says.

Homeowners are encouraged to visit the showroom to get ideas for their next project and meet with the team, where they are sure to find an approachable, down-to-earth staff they can envision working with. While there, customers can personalize every aspect of their home’s exterior, maximizing curb appeal with every element. F&J Roofing & Siding carries the leading manufacturers in the industry, including James Hardie fiber cement siding, known for its durability and visual appeal.

The company has risen to Preferred Contractor Status with James Hardie products, the highest level awarded to any contractor, achieved by demonstrating high standards, a proven track record of quality results and a history of satisfied customers. “With the projects that we completed last year, they went to each one of the sites and did an inspection of the product and how it was installed,” she says. “Everything was installed perfectly, exactly as it should be, and was able to be 100% warrantied. Because of those assessments, that put us at the Preferred tier.”

The craftsmanship doesn’t stop at exterior improvements. F&J has been called upon for interior remodeling and additions, and is even a member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). Their designer, Antoinette Nunez, is a Certified Designer with the NKBA—infact, she was recognized as one of the top NKBA “Thirty Under 30” designers in the country.  

Even if F&J is on site for an interior project, Jenny says they will provide a checkup on the home’s exterior as well. “While we’re there, we help assess the exterior, roofing, siding and windows so it can all be done at once. That way it’s done and their house is safe and secure for the next 30 years.”

Jenny and Francis, the proud parents of three daughters, exemplify the term “family business,” and are pleased to provide reliable home improvement services to other families in the region.

“Francis and I are great partners,” Jenny says. “Our employees are also a big part of our lives and we consider them family. We really could not do any of this without them.”

“We have remained humble since starting our business,” Jenny says. “It’s hard to please every single person but we learn from any mistake that is made and our goal is to make everyone a satisfied customer.”

F&J Builders, LLC
DBA F&J Roofing and Siding, LLC
4325 Kirkwood Highway | Wilmington, Del.
(302) 384-2545
FJRoofingAndSiding.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 22, Issue 4 (January/February 2022). 
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