If spring and early summer are wedding season, it seems the fall is anniversary season. At least it is around Lakeway.

The Lakeway Municipal Utility District (you know the MUD, with the big golf ball water tower) is celebrating 30 years of serving this community. The Village of the Hills also is marking a big one – 20 years since the Hills became an officially incorporated village. Even the Hill Country Galleria is getting in the anniversary action; it’s been 10 years since the Galleria’s grand opening.

We, too, are celebrating.  It was 16 years ago this fall that we began building homes under the JKD Builder brand. It was 2001, just after 9/11 and admittedly not the best time to be opening a business, as we were cautioned. But we had cemented our love of this community long before and knew this is where we wanted to live, raise our family and grow a business.

In reality, though, our roots in the Lake Travis community go back a lot further than that – all the way back to 1983, when as a young couple, we built our first home off Clara Van Drive. We had fallen in love with Lake Travis during college weekends camping and boating with family. Our first “big” purchase after graduating, in fact, was a brand-spanking new 15-ft. ski boat for what were a few thousand precious dollars to two young newlyweds. Weekends on the lake, we’d dream about someday living here and, with hard work and luck and more hard work, we made that dream come true within a few years.

Back then, there was one elementary school, no local hospitals or […]

This past year, we worked on two side-by-side amazing custom homes in the Hills of Lakeway. If you’ve looked for new quality construction in the Hills – especially with views and minimal slope – you know the options are limited. So when we spotted two buildable lots on Wingreen Loop, with little topography and gorgeous Hill Country views, we knew they were special.  We worked hard to be sure the architecture and floor plans would ideally suit each lot, take advantage of the views and maximize privacy.

We loved having our Hills neighbors stop by along the way to follow our progress as we went from breaking ground to handing the keys to their new owners and latest addition to the JKD Builder family – whom we count as great friends. How many builders can say that they truly are friends with their clients? We love our clients!

Since we completed these homes, we’ve had lots of folks ask about the interiors, so … (drum roll), get ready for the big reveal of the first of the two. Here’s the virtual tour we recently shot. Isn’t it a beauty?

We’ll give our second homeowners a few more weeks to get settled in and then we’ll share their big reveal, too.

If you are looking for quality construction by a builder whose clients trust, respect AND consider a friend, talk with us. Better yet, talk with our clients.

“Don’t do-it-yourself” lists from Popular Mechanics to The Huffington Post agree on one thing – roof repair is better left to the experts!

“Besides the fact that working on top of a roof is very risky because one could easily lose their footing and slip, it can also be detrimental to your home’s structure if you don’t know the proper way to install or repair roofing,” notes the Huffington Post in its top 10 No-DIY list.

Instead, leave the roof to a roofing construction expert.

But how do you choose the right contractor? Before you trust your roofing repair project to someone else, check out the following:

1. Talk to references. Choose a construction expert who has multiple satisfied clients in your area, with similar types of construction. How satisfied are they with the work quality? Timeliness? Service?
2. Observe their work-in-progress. Drive by the contractor’s projects underway; note the job site cleanliness. Talk to the homeowners.
3. Ask for credentials. Is the contractor bonded? Insured? Experienced in working with Lakeway codes and permitting processes? Be sure the contractor carries both workers’ compensation and liability insurance. Without an experienced, insured and bonded construction expert, you risk liability claims if injuries occur on your property and permitting delays that can be costly.
4. Know what’s being installed. Will the company tear off and haul off the old roof, or will shingles be installed over existing roofing? Are vents included in the bid – and how many? Is the product the same, or better, quality than what you currently have? Some contractors will cut corners like these as a way to give you a low price – but you’ll pay the cost ultimately. Look closely at proposals, ask questions, and be sure you are comparing apples to apples.
5. Understand […]