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COMPETENCE

Many builders lay claim to mastery of construction.

What they rarely discuss is mastery of context.

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Rc_4920_Porch.jpg

Most professions

have ways of recognizing superior achievements, whether by advanced degrees, certifications, or awards. But in our sector of the building industry—unique residential and niche commercial projects—few definitive credentials exist. Builders proclaim their competence without independent verification, and many are driven by making sales, rather than achieving excellent outcomes. They jump into the job, and even if competent at construction, often find themselves in over their heads, because they fail to grasp how intricate the societal context has become for building anything and everything.

In just the past eight years, we’ve seen an exponential jump in the number of intersecting regulations, codes, and technological requirements related to environmental protection, health and safety, design, and engineering, with myriad players involved in coordination and approval processes. Those issues are compounded by the need to make informed, strategic choices with regard to budget, finance, feasibility and market appropriateness. The fallout from a failure to manage all of these moving parts can be dangerously detrimental to customers, triggering a cascade of unforeseen hassles with inspections, associations, and regulatory institutions; lost time and money; and in some cases, serious legal concerns.

To our mind, responding appropriately to the fast-evolving contextual framework is of paramount importance. We have the strategic skill set—the professional competencies—to navigate multiple complex variables, from administrative and governance to design, engineering, and construction. Routinely, we win complex variances, deal with twisted topography, comply with challenging codes, overcome resistance, and finesse ruffled feathers. The entire process involves intensive analysis and preplanning, the ability to ride herd on conflicting requirements and details, as well as reacting to challenges in real time. The work that results is aesthetic, comfortable, consonant with the surroundings, and free of aftershocks. But since no credentials exist for such building services capabilities, we won’t ask you to take our word for it. Instead, here are examples.

 

© 2025  MasterWerks LLC, Edina, MN

MasterWerks LLC is a trade and assumed name of The Replacement Housing Services Consortium, a Minnesota LLC.

​Minnesota Residential Building Contractor License Number BC643121

Shrewd Guidance • Smart Construction • Superb Outcomes

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