Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucas Ferreira.
Lucas , we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hello guys.
Well, my name is Lucas Ferreira, I live in Newton NJ for about 12 years now. I’m originally from Brazil and I came to the USA when I was 17 years old. My mother abandoned my sister and I to come to the US. While in brasil, I lived with aunts, uncles and grandparents. I’m not sure if it is necessary to go into all of my troubles while in Brazil, but all I will say is that I did not have it easy. After my mother was residing in the US for quite some time, she wanted to bring my sister to live with her. However, my sister disliked my mother quite a bit and chose not to come. Since my sister did not want to come, she asked if I would like to come instead. I was just a kid, very immature and I really did not know what was the correct answer. However, growing up without a mother, I really wanted to know how it would be to have my mom again. So, I did tell her that I wanted to come. She promised the world, and assured me that here would be a lot better than Brazil.
I will never forget the day I arrived in the US. I remember like it was yesterday going into a trailer style apartment. I did not even have a bedroom for myself, and I slept on the floor for a few weeks before my mother and stepdad got me one. All I remember was thinking what the hell I’m doing here. This is better? I really wanted to go back! Despite my hard upbringings in Brazil, I was a very popular kid in school with lots of friends. I have always been a pretty funny guy. “I Always used comedy to hide my deep concerns, problems and fears”. Anyways, I really wanted to go back. I didn’t speak one word of English, I had no friends and my living situation wasn’t so great. Despite all, I decided to stay because deep down I wanted to reconnect with my mom, I wanted a “mothers” love. Something that I came to find out it wasn’t there anymore. Not sure if ever was….
During my first month here, I quickly realized that if I was going to have anything I would need to go to work. My first job here while 17 yrs old was cleaning a Burger King restaurant bathroom and washing the greasy fryers. I did that for a while until High school started. I Arrive in the US beginning of April 2002 and school stared in September. During this time, I worked at burger King and managed to learn English. When school started, I had a horrible experience that made me want to leave and never more come back. I was terrified, new school, new people, new teachers etc.… Everything was very different than back home, and I was having a really difficult time with it all. While sitting in the class room waiting for the math teacher to arrive, I was extremely nervous since I always hated math. I turned around and kindly asked a kid who was behind me. I said: Hi my mane is Lucas and this is my first day here. I have been in the US for a about 5 months. I’m still learning English. If I don’t under something, could you please help me? His answer was: Why don’t you go back to your F** country! I was terrified. I got up left the class and walked home.
I remember being quite upset with my mom and asking her why did she bring me here. Up to now I just about hated everything and missed home greatly.
I felt extremely alone with no where to run. No one to ask for help.
As I’m sitting here now typing this stuff and digging deep to try to share with you some of my experiences, I’m finding very hard to put it all down.
Please feel free to call me if you would like to discuss more but I will say this.
It was not all bad. My stepfather, God rests his soul, was a big part of who I’m today. He was the best mechanic I know and an excellent carpenter. His family has and is still a big part of my life. Especially today that my mother has gone back to Brazil and I don’t have any family here. I put myself trough school acquiring a business and administration degree and a restoration carpenter diploma. Both schools I worked while going to it and was able to pay for everything. Today I have a beautiful family, my beautiful wife Fabiane Ferreira and my two kids Sarah and Samuel Ferreira. I would give my life for my family. I’m also the very proud owner of Ferreira’s Restoration LLC.
I truly believe that God has a plan for all of us. It is hard to understand sometimes why things happens or why God allows it happen. But everything happens for a reason. Today I can surely say that I’m extremely strong and resilient. There is nothing that fazes me anymore. My mom may not have been the best mom out there, she sure has made some big mistakes, but I have to thank her. With out all that has happened, I would not be who I’m today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, it has not been smooth. Opening a business is never easy. When I first opened the business, my main concern was if I would be able to pay my bills and where would the money come from. Four years in, those concerns were the least of my problems. I found out that when you do good work, there will always be work. The biggest challenge is dealing with employees.
This past year has also been an extremely difficult year. In January of 2025, I lost my work truck in a fire. Unfortunately, my truck caught fire with over 20 thousand dollars’ worth of tools in it.
My father passed away this past December too. Although I did not have a good relationship with my father, his passing has caused a number of mixed feelings I had bolted up inside to mess me up. Since he passed away in Brazil, was not even able to go to the funeral. I’m still having a hard time with this.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ferreira’s Restoration LLC?
Founded by Lucas Ferreira, our company draws on years of experience in restoring historic homes and wooden structures, with specialized expertise in window and door restoration. As a dedicated painting company, we offer expert interior and exterior painting services, delivering beautiful, enduring finishes.
Lucas’s passion for his craft includes replicating fine furniture and preserving intricate woodwork, setting Ferreira’s Restoration LLC apart as a home restoration company you can trust. This passion for restoration and painting is evident in every project, guaranteeing meticulous attention and superior results for every client we serve.
Between 2007 and 2013, Lucas served as a Facilities Assistant at Greenwood Garden in Short Hills, New Jersey. This historic estate was in a period of transition to become a public garden, and Lucas was entrusted with restoring cottage windows, garage doors, and decorative garden trellises. Working in such a significant setting deepened his passion for woodworking and cultivated his interest in preservation and restoration projects. This experience was the catalyst that drove Lucas to pursue advanced training in carpentry.
In 2013, Lucas was accepted into the Preservation Carpentry program at Boston’s renowned North Bennett Street School, earning his diploma in 2015. The comprehensive curriculum at NBSS provided exposure to invaluable restoration techniques, and it remains a professional network and source of continual inspiration. Lucas’s time at NBSS also enabled him to collaborate with other dedicated restoration professionals, further enhancing the quality of service Ferreira’s Restoration LLC provides today.
While studying at NBSS, Lucas gained practical experience as a part-time painter. Learning from seasoned professionals with decades in the industry, he mastered the best practices and tricks of the trade. This hands-on experience revealed a deep enthusiasm for the painting profession, allowing Lucas to become highly proficient in both residential and commercial building painting.
Although he devoted over a decade to preservation carpentry and painting as a part-time pursuit, Lucas officially established Ferreira’s Restoration LLC in 2022. His commitment to historic property restoration, heritage home renovation, and commercial painting services now benefits clients seeking care for older homes, landmarks, and buildings with significant historic value. In addition, Lucas currently collaborates with Barton Ross, AIA, AICP, LEED AP Historic Architect, from Barton Ross & Partners LLC, a renowned, award-winning consulting firm based in Livingston, NJ.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I’m sure much like other business owners, I would love to be able to recreate my passion for woodwork and preservation for historic homes in my employees. I want them to learn and appreciate it more than I do. I really want to grow and have many Ferreira’s Restoration vans out in the field. Homes back then were built 100 times better than any home today, my goal is to preserve and restore all that we possibly can. Saving these beautiful homes and preserving the amazing history that many of these homes bring is my goal.
Pricing:
- none
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ferreirasrestoration.com
