About G.C. Zarnas: History

Founded in 1948 by former NFL Chicago Bear and National College Football Hall of Fame inductee Gust C. Zarnas, G.C. Zarnas & Co., Inc. was awarded the company’s first contract from the second largest producer of steel in the United States and one of the largest shipbuilding companies in the world.

For nearly two decades, G. C. Zarnas provided structural steel, high- temperature and architectural coatings to all of the steel mill’s domestic operations including some of the country’s largest blast furnaces, stacks, process vessels, storage tanks, in addition to protecting other structures highly susceptible to corrosion. 

Beginning in the 1970's, G.C. Zarnas started pursuing other industrial markets, and this effort continues to this day. Our firm has established an excellent reputation serving industries such as power generation, petro-chemical and chemical. Several nationwide power generation and refineries routinely outsource coating application services to G.C. Zarnas.

During the 1980’s, DuPont chose G.C. Zarnas to provide hygiene and architectural coatings to its various plant sites.  Over the years, DuPont has presented G.C. Zarnas with a number of outstanding performance and safety awards.

Shortly thereafter, G.C. Zarnas was chosen to apply hygiene systems to the facilities of global manufacturers and distributors of pharmaceuticals like Merck, Hoffman La-Roche and Wyeth-Ayerst.

In response to an increasing demand for professionally trained special coating applicators, G.C. Zarnas expanded its business to include fireproofing, waterproofing and hazardous materials abatement services. 

G.C. Zarnas has always prided itself in meeting tight completion schedules on major projects that have been shut down for repairs. Substainal revenues may be lost when these facilities are not in operation. Recently, G.C. Zarnas was able to meet a very challenging deadline providing cleaning and painting services on one of the largest blast furnaces in North America.

To complement our clients’ field painting activities, G.C. Zarnas offers shop-applied coatings.  G.C. Zarnas operates its shop coatings facility in Baltimore, MD, located off Interstate 695 with a direct connection to Norfolk Southern Railroad, covering 21,500 miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia.

In 2000, G.C. Zarnas grew its commercial division to provide decorative, wall covering and restoration services to athletic stadiums, business and industry, healthcare, hospitality, higher education institutions, major amusement parks and resorts.

Most recently, G.C. Zarnas was awarded the fireproofing, paint and wall coverings package for the University of Virginia's (UVA) John Paul Jones Arena, Virginia's largest and most state-of-the-art basketball arena.

Today, G.C. Zarnas’ high-quality and safe application methods are offered for maintenance programs and new construction projects of up to $10 million per package. 

G.C. Zarnas is privately owned and third generation operated with Gust’s son, Stephen C. Zarnas, at the helm.

With offices strategically located throughout the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Gulf Coast, Mid West, and Southeast, we easily support our nationwide clientele and their multi-location facilities.

G.C. Zarnas is a recognized leader in the industry and our safety record speaks for itself – an Experience Modification Rate of 0.68 for the past two years.

When you choose G.C. Zarnas, you receive over 100 combined years of experience, value, unsurpassed level of customer service, extremely safe personnel and working conditions, and just as important…

Highly knowledgeable contractors who help you achieve your goals to make the best decisions that protect and maintain your investments.