Many people build and many builders are accredited with being a “good builder”. But what does that actually mean? What makes a builder “good?” Is it the paint job that looks really nice? Is it the light fixture that captures your attention? Is it the countertop selection? Is it the cool woodworking? In our opinion, professional painting, nice fixtures, and cool features are all important aspects that really enhance a home. However, they are not what determines if a home is built well.

Did you know that being a builder or general contractor, on paper, is quite easy?  Our home state does not require any training, coursework, classes, or testing. Builders do not take classes or pass tests to receive a building license. To be a builder, an individual needs to have Insurance and a small bond which can be obtained in a single afternoon. That’s it. So how do you know that a builder knows how to build well? 

Booras Builders believes that in order to be good at something, there is a need for intellectual knowledge, technical skill, trained experience, and a plan to follow. Though it isn’t required, Booras Builders has engineers. Though it isn’t required, Booras Builders performs technical internal training on every aspect of construction. Though it isn’t required, Booras Builders provides field training to both inexperienced and experienced workers to learn a system we stand behind. Booras Builders cares about its employees having a thorough understanding of every aspect of construction whether it be the structure, thermal envelope, the internal systems, finishes, fixtures, or being up to date on cutting edge technologies. Booras Builders brings a science-based approach to construction and seeks to build at the highest level.

In Booras Builders’ opinion, a good builder can answer the following:

• Was the compressive strength of the concrete footings verified to ensure it came up to strength?

• Was the steel reinforcing sized properly for the weight of the structure, the bearing capacity of the subgrade, and the lateral pressure of your soil type?

• Was the copper wiring sized for voltage drop at its length of run?

• Was a Manual J study performed on the house for proper mechanical ventilation needs?

• Were plumbing drains verified for proper pitch?

• Were all exterior wall penetrations sealed tight against moisture and air?

• Did insulation fully fit behind all potential dead spaces in your building envelope?

• How much deflection will take place in the floor framing and ceiling framing?

• Are structural beams sized for Bending, Shear, and Deflection?

These items are not part of building inspections.  There is no formal process for verifying any of these answers in residential construction in our state.  In our opinion, a good builder should be able to answer all of these questions and more.

Booras Builders cares about building well.  As a custom builder, we are not just building to code standards; when you think about it, that means building to the absolute minimum requirement allowed.  We don’t want your ceiling to sag ¾” because the ceiling framing code load rating allowed for it.  We don’t want your floor to excessively deflect and lead to issues down the road if you change to tile flooring because the building code’s load rating for floor framing doesn’t require a builder to account for it.

We care about building well and though the artistic elements of building are very important and enhance the enjoyment within a house, building well is ultimately a science.