A Day in the Life of This Builder

A Day in the Life of This Builder

by SweisKloss
Feb 6, 2020

What’s a typical day for Jeff? There is no typical day. That’s because every construction project phase and progression vary and are unique to each property. And when Jeff starts his day at 5:15 a.m., he knows his day will be full. “I have a mile-long list of what needs to get done each day to stay on schedule and keep things moving, all while making sure the quality of work is up to the SK level of standards,” says the Construction Partner of SweisKloss. After Jeff has gone for a run or a workout, walked Stella (the family’s sweet, blue Weimaraner dog), dropped his kids off at two different schools, he finishes off his smoothie and starts on a strong cup of coffee, ready to tackle the day. This is where routine fades and the workday begins. We’d like to share with you a little bit of a recent day he’s had. As Jeff drives to his first site, he checks in with Superintendent Wyatt and Project Managers Jessica and Amanda. They all give him an update about the sites he will be going to that day. The PMs discuss some vendor bids and tell him to contact an electrical subcontractor who has some questions. When he arrives at a Santa Monica property, he greets each subcontractor then gets right down to business, reviewing their work and pointing out adjustments. Plumbing will be going in soon and framing needs to be completed. Drawings are reviewed again to make sure measurements are perfect, and Jeff joins in on framing to guarantee the plumbers can start. He makes his way through emails and another round of calls, including a call to Designer Amanda C. in the office, before he heads to his next site—a renovation of a garage that is being converted into an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit). The subcontractors are moving at a quick pace to get dirt moved and ready for the concrete, but because one laborer is out, Jeff hops into the mini excavator and scoops, moves, and dumps dirt, as if he does this every day. A licensed contractor, he also knows how to operate a Bobcat and a Rammax compactor. “This kind of stuff is fun for me,” he says, as Abeer captures a photo of him in the “mini ex.” Two more site visits where Jeff answers client’s questions, clarifies plan details with subcontractors, and makes more calls as he heads out to pick up his son and daughter from their schools then to the office. He goes straight into two project meetings and discusses construction progress, concerns, and next steps with the Designers and Abeer. His day ends with dropping off his daughter at soccer practice and heading home to relax and refuel for the next day. Q&A with Jeff Q: What made you get into design + construct?
A: Maybe every builder says this, but when I was a kid, I liked taking things apart, seeing how they worked, then putting them back together. My mom was not too happy with all the pieces, but we came to an understanding that if I could make the device work again, it was fine. I also like that no two days are the same, and I get to be hands-on and be outdoors. Q: What is your most memorable project to date?
A: A Brentwood condo renovation. A great client and good internal team. We ran into some challenges but finished on time and on budget. I like the clean, contemporary design; it’s a place I would live. Q: What is it about SweisKloss, the construction side, that sets the firm apart from the rest?
A: We think about the smaller details, whether they are seen or not seen. Has everything been sealed properly? Is the craftsmanship at the highest possible quality? This is where Abeer and I really collaborate to make sure each project is meeting our standards and signature look. When this is accomplished, we know the client will be happy, and we will have exceeded their expectations. Q: What do you do for fun to balance all the hard work?
A: Running, backpacking, hiking and OC6 outrigger canoeing. A friend of mine is training for a marathon, and I’ve been running with him. We’ll see if I sign up for the marathon. If I can handle a SweisKloss day, a 26-mile race shouldn’t be too difficult.