Rob's Philosophy

“That is good from far, but far from good.”

This is an expression that rolls quickly off Rob’s tongue as condemnation of work that does not meet his standards. Rob has very high standards. He holds these standards for himself and for all the people who work for him. Rob believes in doing things right, creating Muskoka cottages and boathouses that will fulfill the dreams of his clients now and will endure for the next hundred years.

This is an example of complex stairs and railings designed to incorporate new construction with the existing structure.

You can understand why, when you realize that Rob’s buildings are like his children. He maintains contact with most of his past clients, constantly involving himself with the ongoing care and maintenance of the cottages and boathouses that he has built for them.

One of his clients told me that she was surprised at how disappointed Rob was when she sold the cottage that he had built for her. She realized later that it meant that he would no longer be involved with the cottage and boathouse, as he would not know the new owners. He likes to see that “his children” are well taken care of, and this cottage was being sold out of his care.

Rob encourages you to ask about service after construction when you call references.

"Quality, Not Size or Cost, is What Matters"

This does not mean, however, that he only works on costly projects.

It is not the size or cost of the project that interests Rob: it is the quality of the project that matters to him. He has built small cottages, little single storey single slip boathouses, gazebos, wood sheds and all manner of small inexpensive structures, but, these structures all had good design, beautiful detail and high quality workmanship, making them a delight to the eye and a source of pride for Rob. He cannot stand to create a cottage or boathouse that does not represent his work in a positive way.

Myriad skills and specialized knowledge is required to construct complex and beautiful roof design.

Accurate Estimates

Rob provides an estimate of cost and works carefully to come in at that price. Because people make so many changes during the construction process, it can sometimes seem tricky to reconcile the original estimate with the final bill. You must remember to add the cost of both labour and materials of all requested changes or additions to the original estimate. The weather is also a factor that must be considered when creating cost estimates. For instance crib dock repair done on the ice is less expensive than dock construction done in the summer.

Rob suggests that when you call for references, to ask about his clients his estimates, as he stands behind his quotes.

Rob actively engages with his clients to discuss ways to keep the cost of construction down. He has recommended architects who do not “turn a roof or add a gable every ten feet, making it cost a fortune to build”, and he supports clients searching out alternative materials and finding their own deals, if that is possible for them in their schedule. He also knows a variety of tricks to get “the look” for less money.

"Quality Construction takes professional knowledge & experience,
combined with excellent problem solving ability"

Rob has had the opportunity to work with a variety of excellent architects and to build a wide variety of styles of cottages and boathouses. Through this work, he has learned how to build solidly and how to trim according to the style and period of the architectural design.

As new technology has come along, Rob has had the opportunity to build for people who wanted to use it in their structures, and so has been able to get in on the ground floor of learning how to build using current methods and materials. One Architect has said that Rob is one of the builders he would recommend to clients who do not have the time or experience to spend a lot of time overseeing their building project. Rob has enough experience and “know-how” that the Architect knows the job will be done right, right down to every detail.

Construction using innovative design or new technology takes both a solid back ground of experience and the ability to solve problems. Rob excels in both areas. His clients frequently comment on the depth of imagination he has when solving problems and how he is energized, not defeated, by challenges.

A typical 12 month project at its early stages

When you are interviewing builders, ask to see cottages that demonstrate their
knowledge and experience in building with new technology and innovative ideas. Check their references for the ease with which they handle the challenges that occur in a large building project.

Be easy to live with
 
Building takes a long time if it is going to be done right. Creating a structure that is beautiful and will last for over a hundred years cannot be done in a hurry. For a cottage that is over 2500 square feet to be constructed, you have to count on a year, especially if there is blasting or major site preparation to be done, or if it is a traditional design with lots of handcrafted interior and exterior trim details.

This means that you will be having a very close relationship with the builder that you choose for a long period of time. Make sure it is someone who you can have a positive relationship with.

Putting out large amounts of money each month and making decisions about roofing, cladding, kitchen cabinetry, hardware, and hundreds of other details each week is both thrilling and stressful. Make sure you choose a builder who can support you through the stress of building and is a good problem solver. When checking references, Rob suggests that you ask about his problem solving ability.

One woman had a builder who did not like to have her on the construction site and had difficulty respecting her opinions and ideas. He was reluctant to change things if she realized that something would have been better if it had been done a different way. The year it took to build seemed like much longer in that relationship!

Rob suggests that, when calling for references, be sure to ask about his relationship with both his male and female clients, and his ability to respect and work together with both the clients and the architect, interior designers, or other professionals his clients have contracted.

Provide Value Added Service

Although the cottage design is the responsibility of the architect not the builder, it is beneficial that there be a sharing of expertise, especially when the working drawing are being finalized, and the fit and finishes are being decided upon. Clients have found Rob to be very helpful and to bring excellent ideas to the table in the final meetings with the Architect.
During construction he is helpful to his clients in decisions regarding details by mocking up several samples of trim to assist in decision making. A picture is worth a thousand words, and it is comforting to actually see things like the window trim samples on the window before you okay the final design.

The importance of shadowing in high end design and construction cannot be over stated. It is the depth and texture created by trim complexity that creates shadow. A builder must understand how to create shadow in building details whether the design is complex Victorian multi-layered trim or the more spare details that an Arts and Crafts or Asian influenced design demands.

Rob also supports his clients by suggesting places where they can purchase certain hard to find fixtures or where items can be purchased for less. He also takes his clients out to see other cottages during the construction process to help them finalize decisions on details by seeing those details in the context of a finished product.

Robert Borne understands the differing needs of clients and molds his service to the specific needs of each client. Reading his references will reinforce his success in this area.