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Scott Flynn, Flynner Homes
Scott Flynn
(208) 867-4587
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What is quality construction?

Main / Building Value into Boise Real Estate

Recently I had a reader ask how to judge quality construction - fantastic question!

Recently I had a reader ask how to judge quality construction – fantastic question! The basis of quality construction consists of three fundamental construction attributes: plumb, level and square. For example; are your walls plumb (perpendicular to the earth)? Is your foundation level (parallel to the earth)? And are your adjoining walls and window openings 90 degrees (square) to one another? I might sound simple, but not every foundation and framing crew can do it!

Quality construction is a combination of caring craftsmanship and exceptional materials, basically the passion in which superior materials are assembled. You can have the best installer in the Valley, but if he is forced to install a low-grade product, it will never look right.

Poor construction quality is easily spotted by the way one component of the home interacts with another. For example; does the reveal between your windows and the ceiling grow as you look from one side of the window to the other? Do grout lines in your tile vary in width? Does the piece of hardwood flooring against the wall shrink in width as you look down the wall? Does the reveal of your soffits vary as you look down an exterior wall? Is the bottom row of your exterior masonry suspended in air or does it rest on concrete? Again it might not be the material causing the issues, but the installer, or visa versa.

Overall, quality construction comes from the passion of the builder and the sub-contractors to want to build a quality home and from the desire to actually take the time to do so. Even though all builders claim to build a quality home many don’t know how!

To discuss how my company strides for quality construction call me direct at 208-867-4587 or visit us at www.flynnerhomes.com

Cheers,

Scott Flynn

Posted by Scott Flynn at 1/15/2008 2:53 PM

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Comments (9)

Re:What is quality construction?

If someone had a question about a home they are building or home they are considering, is their anyone who can look closely at the quality of a home and validate that it is a quality home in terms of plumb, level and saquare?

Posted by tlangford on 1/15/2008 3:28 PM

Re:What is quality construction?

I second that question

Posted by emdeplam on 1/16/2008 3:19 AM

Re:What is quality construction?

I do not know of any third party quality control services available. This is why building with a credible builder is so crucial.

Posted by Scott Flynn on 1/16/2008 9:06 AM

Re:What is quality construction?

Scott,

I am not to good with a plumb, level etc... Also I doubt anyone who recommends a builder that I know is either. I love your insight, but how do we use it. Is their a list of builders rated for their abilities with straight lines?

Posted by emdeplam on 1/16/2008 11:40 AM

Re:What is quality construction?

I have an idea, it is called a Credibility Score. It is a similiar concept to that of Ebay, in which builders and suppiers are rated by their clients! Several builders on this site are asking their clients to share the experience they had with the builder for others to read.
For the consumer this is great information and better than any advertising a company could produce. FYI the intent is to discern who consistently meets or exceeds client expectations. Every builder has had the tough client or job that had complications. When you are reading reviews don't overlook the negative comments or critical thoughts but realize these builders are putting their necks on the line by allowing their clients to review them for the public to read. Not every builder in town is open to review, let me assure you. THe point I am trying to make is that a company that consistenlty meets or exceeds its clients expectations should be able to build plum, level and square!Trey BuildingCredibility.com

Posted by tlangford on 1/16/2008 1:08 PM

Re:What is quality construction?

I think you guys have given me an idea for a new business! Although I should give Tad Duby at Onpoint a little plug here and say that in a way he already provides this service ( maybe I'll let him explain- lets see if he's listening and wants to weight in here?)
First, I want to say that I follow the postings on this website very closely and I appreciate the Knowledge that finds it way here. Some who post here have increased my awareness on many different levels. Many times I have thought to myself - Boy there is a lot I need to learn (E/P Ratio's, demographic data, economic data, psychometrics, Etc.) all things I am admmitedly weak in, but I am a quick study and thats why I'm here.
But here is a topic I think I am qualified to speak to- Plumb, Level, and Square! Many times along the way Ive said to myself - If only I could get by on my ability to produce quality construction!There are just so many other factors to being a Good Builder as all of the good builders know. We all have our strengths and our weaknesses. A very good builder friend of mine once told me something that he tells his clients that I have never forgotten. He said, "I tell my client there are three main components to this process, Speed, Quality, and Price- pick two." I feel there is a lot of wisdom in this.
Like all builders I have times when Im buried with work and times (like now) when Im not as busy. I have a crew of hourly employees that work for me (three of my employees have been working for me for over ten years) and do everything from excavation, foundation, framing, painting, siding, finish work, clean-up, Etc. you have to be diverse when you maintain a full time staff! Its also true that at times I have to many jobs to cover all tasks with my crew. I openly admitt that quality control becomes much more of a challenge when certain aspects of my building process have to be subcontracted out. This does not mean you have to have your own crew to achieve Plumb, Level, and Square. What I will say is that there are a limited amount of framing crews in the Treasure Valley who can achieve the level of quality that I demand. By the way- a savy builder in our current market condition would be able to locate one of these framers for his projects without paying to much, this is part of the upside to a down market- it's not all bad. That doesnt mean that a builder wouldnt also have any opportunity to save even more money and find a really desperate framer who is willing to do it for cheap (buyer beware). I probably should mention here - out of fairness, that an excavator can make it hard for a concrete guy to pour a plumb, level, and square foundation- making it hard for a framer to build a plumb, level and square house- making it hard for a finish carpenter to hang a plumb, level, and square door- you get my point.
What is my point? You the homeowner are responsible to make sure that your builder has the ability and the budget to provide you a home that is plumb, level, and square. Ask your builder who his subcontractors are for your specific project. Ask if he has another home under construction using the same subcontractors. Ask how long the subcontractors he's using have been working for him and how many projects they've done for him. Go see there work! Trust your instinct- even an untrained eye can walk into a house being framed and see sloppy construction and a messy jobsite with excessive waste.
I will also add that I like third party verification as an idea to manage quality. I think that the ideas of LEED built homes which requires third party verification of many of the key components, raises awareness by the builder and his team that "were being watched, lets do a good job". Its not just about being green, "GREEN" is a great buzzword but I actually like two of the other less mentioned LEED buzzwords better, Sustainability, and Durability. I'll give Tad at Onpoint another plug here and say that he see's alot of homes both being built as well as built, he could potentially be a good source of reference for who builds houses plumb, level, and square.
Lastly let me just say thanks Scott Flynn for this topic of discussion. Lets all work together to raise the bar. Bond Campbell

Posted by Anonymous on 1/16/2008 3:23 PM

Re:What is quality construction?

Three seamingly simple things (plumb, level and square) however SO overlooked! That says it much better than 2x4 vs 2x6 or aluminum vs vynl windows because even if the contractor uses the best available products, but assembles them poorly I would prefer to buy the home with FHA minimum materials done right! What good is blown in insulation with gaps or Low E windows that aren't sealed in the frame correctly?

Surprisingly, about the only time I have seen plumb bobs or squares used in the framing stage of a home is on homes that are being built with volunteer labor for Habitat for Humanity and yet people jump to conclusions and say "they build cheap homes, so not in my back yard"; however, stop by and look at their homes, they are typically built better (plumb, levle and square) than most any home in the valley even if they aren't typically 2,000 plus sq. ft. and have no granite countertops or cork floors, etc.! Probably because the people building these homes as volunteers have a passion for it and choose to do it right!

I agree with Bond Campbell, let's raise the bar!

Posted by Jim Paulson on 1/16/2008 5:02 PM

Re:What is quality construction?

Well I will weigh in, What Quality means to me is durrability. it is easy to talk about the asthetics of the home as quality and there are certainly quality tile, trim, carpet, painting etc. but why did we loose the fact that homes are supposed to be built to last a life ime. Why does Europe build homes with 50 and 100 year mortgages? they figured out a long time ago that buildings should last through generations. Most of todays homes will not last through the first owners kids graduation, not to mention not making it to lifetime. i am surprised when I talk to a builder about flashing a window, or drainage planes or the actual space behind stone and brick that should be present, weep holes, kicker flashing, home pressures, raised heel trusses, and the answer is but it cost extra! no S---!! Heres your sign!
I have been there selling homes trying to compete, so I understand, but if we really want to talk quality we will have to get behind the walls, behind the fancy granite, and tell the homeowner he can pay for a product that he can leave to his children, or he can buy the builder down the roads CHEAP disposoable home! I recently had a commercial client that told me the owner he was dealing with told him they did not care about the durrabiltiy, they intended to tear down the building in five years or so anyway! what a way to think, have we really become a disposable building industry! I don't think that most of us mean to be this way, it seams to be the way we have progressed. there are businesses that will help and insepect to help with this, ours is one, a good home inspector really!!!! helps. you will see more third party varification and inspections to come. Europe already requires it!!!
How about we read the dirrections first befoer we isntall something? I will be the first to admitt that I tend not to, but what problems we would elimante if only we read them first. I can't tell you how many time i set down with a kids toy and ended up with spare parts! I learn also! isn't this what sustainable building is all about? Wow what a good conversation, lets strive to do better. Energy star builders are out there making a better product, and I see more and more builders looking for better education all the time. So lets get down to some fo the problems-the CONSUMER- how about paying for what you want, stop trying to buy a house by the pound, and pay the builder to build you a HOME!! if someone wants to talk to you about sqft /$, WALK AWAY-tell them what you expect and pay for the product! have it inspected, and do your research. like you the consumer should not expect the builder to do everything correctly, neither should the builder just hire subs to isntall everything correctly. unfortuanetly we have come to a place that required someone cheCk. As Tony Zornik -A home buyers Insepection company states- you don't get what you expect-you get what you inpsect. He is right!

Posted by Anonymous on 1/16/2008 10:01 PM

Re:What is quality construction?

Wow ...great thread. Okay here would be my ideal (as a pretty ignorant buyer)

1. Rating site for builders. This would give a reason for builders to guard their brand. This would also help the home buyer to get a better return for a quality house when sold. The site COULD NOT be associated with or make money from anyone who makes money off the process- builders, RE, brokers...as they would be inclined to not piss off any builder with bad words. A true test would be if the bad valley builders got 0 stars and were flamed as much as they deserved!

2. Inspection and certification: Third party that could be hired to rate and certify the 'level' of construction

3. Warranty backed by a third party like a bank. The small guys would be punished because of the percieved risk of bankruptcy and thus low value of the warrenty.

Sadly, today the average buyer has little to go by, and the only parties that comment have a strong $ sell motivation. Until we see some independent ratings, dont expect buyers without 'expertise' to understand anything more than $/sqft.

Posted by emdeplam on 1/17/2008 3:08 AM

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