What's in name?
Our Story
Long before quitting their corporate jobs to go full time on Gorilla Hands, Mark and Olan worked together flipping houses in the evenings and weekends. During that time, they discovered the joy of working with their hands and doing physical labor that transformed spaces. They loved learning the process of transforming a run down property with potential into a show-stopper, worthy of families and individuals to call home.
During the early days, when they were learning the ropes of construction work, they found themselves at times questioning the quality of their work and hitting their thumbs with hammers, turning their hands rough and beaten. One of those long nights, Olan turned to Mark laughing, and jokingly said, "this work looks like it was done by Gorilla Hands!" And from then on, they refer to their company as Gorilla Hands. But make no mistake, Mark and Olan have come a long way and are meticulous when it comes to their work. They are obsessed with delivering a quality product, while finding ways of keeping the work cost effective.
Mark and Olan truly enjoy exterior/interior painting, fence building, home renovations and bring a lot of humor and fun into their work. They have gained a loyal clientele because of their integrity, hard work, and craftsmanship. They put their heart into every project ensuring that the work exceeds their client's expectations.
Based in Tacoma, they also serve Puyallup, Gig Harbor, and other Puget Sound cities.
Mark Horace
After graduating from Washington State University with a degree in Business, Mark spent the first few years of his career in hotel sales and management. During those years, he also dabbled in real estate as a loan officer and started acquiring his first rental properties. He worked with Olan on house flip projects and rental properties for the past 10 years, honing his construction skills and learning about permits, requirements, and the process and costs of home renovations.
Mark quit his corporate job in 2021 and began his landscape company, and in 2022 he obtained his Real Estate and Contractor's license. Finally in 2023, Mark and Olan followed their dream of becoming full time contractors and began another flip which they transformed.
They now service clients by providing exterior/interior painting, fence building, and home renovations in Puyallup, Tacoma, Gig Harbor and other Puget Sound cities.
Olan Carlson
After graduating from Washington State University with a degree in Hospitality and Business, Olan worked for years as a program/project manager for Apple, Amazon, and Walmart. Olan brings knowledge and discipline when working in construction projects. Working for big name brands allowed him to learn important skills: however, Olan dreamed of trading his desk job for an opportunity to build his own business.
During his years in corporate America, Olan worked with Mark on side projects that brought him a lot of satisfaction. He enjoyed seeing the transformation of their work. Olan is also the guy behind the Gorilla Hands name.
In 2023, Olan took the leap and left his high pressure job and joined Mark in their quest to become full time contractors.
They now service clients by providing exterior/interior painting, fence building, and home renovations in Puyallup, Tacoma, Gig Harbor and other Puget Sound cities.
About Us
Interior Services
Home renovations include sheetrocking, LVP flooring, millwork, vanity installations, exterior/interior painting, cabinets, and the list goes on. We provide interior services that you can enjoy while relaxing in your spaces.
Exterior Services
Exterior/interior painting , fence building, pressure washing, window installations, roof cleanups and yard cleanups are a few of the home renovations we can provide to spruce up your home.