Dale Sauer | Custom Home Builder | Montrose, CO
Making Colorado’s Highest Quality Homes Since 1990
Hello my name is Dale Sauer I was born here, in Montrose, Colorado. I began in the building trade, helping my brother remodel our father’s home in Montrose. I really enjoyed the work for some reason; I believe it was because every day and every job was different. I went to Anchorage, Alaska with my brother Dirk right out of high school. We stayed at another brothers (Dave’s) house. I began working for a wonderful construction company and had a boss who was nice enough to take me under his wing. I then decided to stay in Alaska for a year and three months. In that time a crew of five guys built forty seven homes, five of which were large custom homes. We worked hard and a lot of hours. As I look back it was a good way to learn. I got into finding the best and fastest way to get things done.
My boss taught me that the foundation is most important. He preached, “Flat and square makes life easy,” in construction terms at least. Still today I have not met a framing contractor as diligent as my boss in Alaska. Not taking anything away from some of my other bosses along the way. He could line out four guys in fifteen minutes for the whole day if each one listened well. We started a subdivision along with seven other framing contractors. After two months we were the only crew still framing. Of twenty eight homes we built nineteen and had to finish and fix four.
I moved back to Colorado in 1987 and started working for contractors around the area. I moved my way up the ladder very quickly learning fine craftsmanship. After working for some of the top construction companies on some amazing homes in Telluride and awesome homes around the western slope I found myself sub contracting my services. I started my own business in 1990. I landed my first big Job from a great home owner that I had worked on his projects in the past and liked my craftsmanship. Along the way I have done or learned most types of building; energy housing like, solar, hydro electric, hydronic heat, straw, adobe brick, tires and earth ships. I have built Log homes from kits and a lot of different log homes from scratch. I have built real timber frame homes and some of my own versions using logs. I also love to build normal frame homes.
I have completed every step of building a home; from first shovel of dirt to handing the client their key. I like to learn something new on every job. I have found myself to be very hands on builder. I can draw plans, Recommend a draftsperson or architect or even build from a napkin. I have had owners be there for every step or meet once at the beginning and once at the end. I had an owner tell me one day. “If you can find a contractor to do two of the three parts well you are doing great.” “I asked, what do you mean?” The owner said,
“That it is hard to find someone that builds quality with speed or quality and cost effective or cost effective with speed.”
I have always strived to do all three. Quality is always first because I can control quality. Speed is second and I have invested a lot of time and money in tools that help complete the job faster and better. I own a boom truck which helps so much on the lifting and scaffolding; a backhoe that does the excavation and utilities for the project. I also own a track loader that has a great variety of attachments to help with the job. I also own a full size dump truck with a trailer to move all of the equipment and materials. I own a excavation company. The third, cost comes from being very organized and watching all expenses with the project. Speed helps the cost, time is money. I believe it is the quality that still keeps me in business. I now believe there is a fourth and fifth item that should be on that list; that would be Honesty and Integrity. They are one of the most important factors in a great contractor.
Do not think that I only do high end jobs. The project that I am currently working on right now is a shop/ barn. I have found a way to build great out buildings for less money than most pre manufactured steel or company buildings. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give me a call at (970) 209-0717.
Thank you, and have a great day!
