STILL ON THE TOOLS.

Who I Am

I've been doing this for 25 years. And I have a pretty broad scope of all construction aspects, of every era of home. From any era. Not just new construction — I understand old construction, going back to the 1920s or longer. I figure that gives me a strong advantage.

Majority of builders out there — construction company owners — aren't on the tools. I am. That doesn't mean I want to remain hands-on forever. But I have been, the whole time. To me, that's a huge advantage. It's an old-school approach. I feel it still works.

All my jobs have been word of mouth. Reputation. No advertising. Didn't really need to — the work was there. But now I want to be more structured, more ahead. So I stop freaking out and feeling nervous all the time.

What I Actually Know

Most builders out here might not come from any real building background. They worked on sites when they were younger, picked up a general understanding of how a house goes together, and figured that was enough.

The old-school approach — my approach — is to learn as many aspects of building as you can. Concrete. Framing. Electrical. Plumbing. Roofing. Siding. Windows. Be hands-on in all of it. Apply that to how you'd construct the home and sequence the work. That sequencing is probably my biggest separation.

Because I've touched so many different areas, I can read a house before I crack it open. There are signs and symptoms a house has. If you're a good doctor, you can go in there and figure out what's going on without looking too deep. I've seen enough homes — enough eras, enough building methods, enough recurring problems — that I can usually build the scenario before demolition starts.

Time is money. You have to think fast and pivot quick. That's a strong point I have.

What I Won't Do

I won't scrimp on structure. Non-negotiable.

I won't cover up a structural problem for the sake of aesthetics or timeline. If something needs reframing or engineering, it gets done — in compliance with code. Full stop.

I won't scrimp on building envelope. Your water protection has to be bulletproof. Envelope protects structure. Structure protects finishes. That order is not optional.

I won't take a job that's the wrong fit. I'd rather walk away before it starts than be three months in and have both parties miserable. Fire before hire. Deny than comply. I have no patience for the other approach.