Even though the Prycon team are all experienced professionals, this isn’t an industry where you can ever stand still,” says Steve Pryce. “The industry is constantly changing. If you are not learning, then you are falling behind.”
Steve and his brother Matt are owners of Prycon Custom Building and Renovations, a company they founded in 1994. Over the years they have found that one of the best ways to keep advancing their craft is to encourage their team members to learn from and teach each other.
“One organized forum for discussing and learning about industry changes is through our weekly project meetings,” says Matt. “We might focus on new materials, the latest developments in building science, best practices in on-site communications, or ways to enhance client communications.”
The range of topics is endless. But all of it is about taking a collaborative approach to building: sharing knowledge and allowing each individual to benefit from the knowledge of the others, a form of training that never stops.
Critical skillsThe Prycon team consists of 20 direct employees, with a wide range of skills. There are licensed carpenters and other hands-on skilled tradespeople, of course, but also people who specialize in on-site logistics, managing supply chains, designing, navigating the complex process of permits and much more.
“Every one of them has skills that are critical to making each build a success,” says Matt. “They are passionate and care deeply about the homes we are building.”
There are three Project Managers, each of them working on different projects. “The homes and renovations they are working on may be at very different stages of construction, but they still meet regularly with each other to share knowledge,” says Steve.
The Construction Manager is an invaluable resource for the Project Managers, someone who is involved with every project, giving supervisory insight.
The Estimator is a critical part of the Prycon team. “Custom home building is as individual as our clients,” says Matt, “which means no two budgets are the same. Estimating a project is where the client’s wish list becomes a reality.”
Of course, that’s just part of the teamwork that goes into crafting exceptional custom homes and renovations, something that Prycon has been renowned for.
The support from the Operations, Finance and Administration departments are not often seen by the client, however, they are a vital part of the team and the glue which binds everything together.
“A lot of our customers have no idea how many people are involved in building their home,” says Steve. “There can be dozens of skilled professionals on the site at various parts of the process. Part of our job is to ensure that every one of them is at the top of their craft and has every opportunity to excel at their work.”
Unparalleled approachIn nearly 30 years of building some of the finest homes in Barrie, Simcoe, and surrounding areas, the Prycon team has developed an unparalleled approach to new custom home construction and renovation.
Every home they build is unique – there is no such thing as a standard “Prycon home.” Matt and the design team work with the clients to develop a home that reflects the homeowner, not the company that made it.
At the same time, Matt, Steve, and their team have developed an approach to construction that is highly repeatable – an approach that benefits the clients by cutting waste and eliminating unnecessary expenses.
“Every home, no matter how large or small, has a budget,” says Steve. “It’s vital that we respect that.”
With dozens of people and truckloads of material in every home, there is an incredible number of ways to save – or waste – money. Something as simple as timing material delivery can make a difference: if materials are delayed, expensive skilled tradespeople can be left standing idle; deliver it too soon and it can be in the way and need to be moved around the site by those same skilled tradespeople.
“That may just be a couple of person hours, which might not sound like much on a multi-month construction project,” says Steve, “but multiply that by dozens of similar decisions and the costs can quickly add up.”
By training and empowering the team, Matt and Steve are able to bring skilled minds to bear on every aspect of a construction project, turning it into a truly collaborative experience. “From design to financing, from the project managers to the guys swinging hammers, every single member of our team is always looking for ways to do their job better, and to share that knowledge with the rest of the team,” says Matt.
“It’s a passionate approach, and it brings unparalleled results.”
TEXT A. WAGNER-CHAZALON | PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
