Testimonials
Read what a few of our clients have to say about working with Western Builders of Sylva: _____________________________________________________________________________________________
I have had the pleasure of working with Roger Bartlett and Don Hensley with Western Builders of Sylva, Inc. as a General Contractor for the past 21 years and on several very nice large projects in Western North Carolina. Both Roger and Don pay close attention to quality and focus on good workmanship.
Their ability to maintain a project schedule, estimated construction costs, and working with the Architect-Engineer team and Owner as a team player demonstrates very good examples of their ability to strive a little further to deliver a quality project.
On a more personal level, Roger Bartlett as a project manager is a true professional and especially easy to get along with. He also has the unique ability to motivate his own crews and large subcontractors as well.
There are a small number of great General Contractors in Western North Carolina and I can honestly say that Western Builders of Sylva, Inc. is one of them. I recommend them for any project you may be considering.
Scott T. Donald, AIA
Padgett & Freeman Architects, P.A.
Asheville, North Carolina _____________________________________________________________________________________________
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Western Builders for almost 15 years. They have been the general contractor for most our work west of Asheville. The personal attention that both Don and Roger consistently give a project is not matched by any of their competition. They have handled tight budget/tight schedule projects such as a museum in Haywood County; they have furnished high quality woodwork in our Macon Bank projects; they have handled projects with complex tie-ins and site conditions such as Antioch Baptist in Iron Duff; they are the contractor of choice on a unique church design that we have on the boards for Cashiers. In short, as far as general contractors go, they are the class of the mountains.
Stuart Stepp, AIA, Architect
Flat Rock, North Carolina
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My architectural firm, Bowers, Ellis & Watson has been involved in many projects with Don & Roger over the years and we have always been satisfied with their performance and attitude. They have shown a willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty and as such I have no reservations about recommending them for any work you may have.
M. Michael Watson, AIA
Bowers, Ellis & Watson, P.A.
Asheville, North Carolina
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I have had the pleasure to work with Western Builders on many different projects over the last thirteen years. Those projects range from health care to religious to office to municipal facilities. No matter the project type, I am confident entering into the construction contract that they will provide my client with honesty, integrity, quality and responsiveness during the construction process. If a client receives a high quality product and feels that he/she has been treated fairly during the process, the project will be successful. Every project that we have completed with Western Builders meets this standard.
Western Builders’s excellence starts at the top with Don Hensley and Roger Bartlett, two outstanding leaders who understand how to run a successful organization. It doesn’t stop there, however. We have worked with six different Project Superintendents and each are on board with the quality standards expected and have the ability to move a project along. The office personnel are friendly, courteous and efficient. It always seems like a happy work environment when I visit their office and their job sites and that translates to pride in workmanship.
We are always pleased to have the opportunity to work with Western Builders. To us, they earn the highest marks possible for contractors in Western North Carolina.
William M. Dechant, AIA
Dechant Architecture, PA
Asheville, North Carolina _____________________________________________________________________________________________
I have worked with Roger Bartlett and Don Hensley at Western Builders for over ten years now doing educational facilities in Macon County and Western Carolina University as well as State work for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. I am pleased to say that my experience with them is that they are a professional and quality oriented company that takes pride in their work. It is always a pleasure doing business with them because they take their work seriously and care deeply about the end result. I look forward to each opportunity I am given to have them on my construction team.
Donny Luke, AIA
Architectural Design Studio, PA
Asheville, North Carolina _____________________________________________________________________________________________
In my twenty-two years of experience as an architect and project manager, I have not worked with a more professional and qualified contractor such as Western Builders. They are certainly team players who do the right thing even when no one is looking. Roger Bartlett continuously brought solutions to the table throughout the construction process which resulted in a truly successful project. Western Builders was always proactive, on time, on budget, and produced a high quality building. The owner and occupants are quite pleased with their LEED Gold building.
I highly recommend Western Builders for any project and look forward to working with them in the future.
Parke Pirkey
Architect/Project Manager
AECOM
Charlotte, North Carolina
Please regard this letter as a recommendation of the abilities of Western Builders of Sylva, Inc. to perform new construction and renovation projects. I have had direct knowledge of the capabilities of the Company Principals of Western Builders of Sylva, Mr. Roger Bartlett and Mr. Don Hensley, on projects for over twenty years.
Western Builders of Sylva performed a complicated renovation project on the campus of Western Carolina University for the Wellness Center Renovations of Reid Gymnasium. Other public works were:
• General Classroom Building – Fairview Elementary School
• Work Force Building – Smoky Mountain High School
• Gymnasium Renovation – Smoky Mountain High School
• Cafeteria Addition – Smoky Mountain High School
• Lobby and Guidance Renovations – Smoky Mountain High School
• D-Building Renovations – Smoky Mountain High School
• Roof Repairs – Smoky Mountain High School
On all these projects we experienced good workmanship by employees of the firm and good supervisory control of all subcontractors. Much of the General Contract work is self-performed by the firm’s employees. Extensive subcontracting in the fashion of construction management at risk is not their preferred method of project delivery.
We can recommend Western Builders of Sylva, Inc. as a well qualified General Contractor.
John E. Cort, AIA
Cort Architectural Group, P.A.
Asheville, North Carolina
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Our firm has had the pleasure of working with Western Builders on several projects for Swain County Schools. During the construction of these projects, they worked with the client and our firm as a true building team. Western Builders has always exhibited a high level of professionalism in our working relationship.
Peter Y. Alberice, AIA
Camille-Alberice Architects, PA
Asheville, North Carolina
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It has been our pleasure to have Western Builders as our contractor on numerous buildings throughout Western North Carolina over the past twenty years. They are both quality and cost conscious, frequently offering suggestions that not only save money but also result in a better product. More importantly, they stand behind their work and can be depended upon to correct the problems that sometimes arise after the building is occupied.
Mike Freeman
Padgett & Freeman Architects, PA
Asheville, North Carolina
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Western Carolina University has utilized Western Builders of Sylva numerous times over the years for small projects up to large ones. It has been an honor to work with a professional company that seeks to take care of its client. Some of the positive aspects of WBI we have experienced are quality of workmanship, willing to resolve issues that arise, minimize change orders and expedite the project in an efficient manner as much as possible. We have a great working relationship and a continued desire to do business together for years to come.
Wiley D. Harris, AIA
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, North Carolina
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I had the pleasure to work with Western Builders on the planning and construction of our new office building, the Jackson County Department of Social Services. My experience working with Roger Bartlett and his crew was very positive. I found them to be friendly, communicative, responsive, knowledgeable, straightforward, and professional. I would highly recommend Western Builders both for the experience in working with them and the high quality building one can expect as a result.
Robert B. Cochran, Director
Jackson County Department of Social Services
Sylva, North Carolina
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I have had the great pleasure to work with Western Builders on school projects over the past several years. They treat Jackson County Schools as a true partner in their efforts. The old adage they are as honest as the day is long applies to the owners and individuals at Western Builders. I believe the character traits which describe the individuals would be high integrity, responsibility, honesty, and fairness. Western Builders are overly concerned with client’s satisfaction and the quality of the product delivered. They are very conscientious to bring projects in within the time frame of construction. I have personally witnessed them spend a great deal of money and work inordinate hours to bring a project to a successful completion. In addition, Western Builders has been there for us years after the construction project is completed for any necessary follow up. As a community partner, Western Builders provides resources for local school extra curricular activities. I personally would not hesitate to recommend Western Builders for any future clients.
Steve C. Jones, Assistant Superintendent
Jackson County Public Schools
Sylva, North Carolina
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When a church reaches a point where it needs to build, it sets into
motion a whole series of decisions that must be made by the church and
the building committee: what are we going to build, what can we afford
to build, how will it tie into the existing physical plant, and how
will it disrupt our normal schedule? But the most important question
that must be answered is not what to build, but who will build it.
When we were considering building a new worship center and additional
office space, our search led us to Western Builders Inc.
Our building project was complicated because we were land-locked. We
needed to make maximum use of the existing property not only for the
future but while the building project was underway. Their flexibility
and creativity enabled them to adjust the plans and offer better
solutions whenever we ran into a snag. They created an amazing place
for our congregation to worship and for our staff to work. Their
workmanship speaks for itself and is second to none in the business.
Every building has character and so should the people who build it.
Cory, the construction supervisor, was among the best I’ve ever worked
with. He kept us informed and up to date on each and every phase of
the construction. The construction team was talented and courteous.
Whenever an emergency arose within our congregation, they worked
around our schedule. I can honestly say that I looked forward to
seeing them on the site each day and enjoyed getting to know them.
From top to bottom, Western Builders was an amazing group to work
with from start to finish.
If you are considering a building project of any size, I would highly
recommend Western Builders of Sylva. Our decision to use them
was by far the best decision we ever made during the whole process.
Reverend Steven T. Taylor
Antioch Baptist Church
Waynesville, North Carolina
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Working with the staff and owners of Western Builders was an enjoyable experience. Their staff was very knowledgeable and courteous in their work on our project. Each member of the team showed an interest to the project and worked to see that every aspect was top quality and met every expectation. They follow their projects long after the completion continuing to offer expert advice and work in any final requests.
Their work and team are the best and I would recommend Western Builders to anyone on their building adventures.
Alicia Parham, Director
Graham County Health Department
Robbinsville, North Carolina
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I have had the pleasure of working with Western Builders for the past 10 years. Their bids are with in the projected cost of projects. They do not depend on change orders for profit. They are prompt to return calls and make repairs. They employ well-trained courteous people.
Jim Hall, Director of Plant Operations
Swain County Schools
Bryson City, North Carolina
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I am so pleased to be able to brag on Western Builders. The job that they did for us at Canton Central United Methodist Church was phenomenal. I have been involved in four different building projects at churches, with three of them being over $1 million, and this has been the best experience I have had. Western Builders went way above and beyond our expectations both in quality of construction and quality of relationship. I know nothing about the business of being a contractor, but I do know about relating to people; and I can tell you that the success of their business has every bit as much to do with the fair and honest way they relate to people as it does the obvious quality of construction. From the owners, Roger and Don, to the Job Superintendent, Gary, to the workers and sub contractors; this experience has been great! They delivered on time and in budget. I would recommend, without any reservation, Western Builders to anyone looking at a project.
David Christy, Pastor
Central United Methodist Church
Canton, North Carolina
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My experience with Western Builders was great on the Duke Energy Franklin Office Project! We provided a move-in date in January 2006 of June 19, 2006 and it was met. I found that Western Builders’ professionalism, expertise, and attention to quality were the best I have experienced in my project management career. Builders like this make my job more enjoyable and easier to manage.
Kirk S. Baker, Senior Project Manager
Jones Lang LaSalle
Charlotte, North Carolina
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Prior to contracting with Western Builders in 2005 for the design/finance/construction of our new office building in Webster, NC, we were aware of the company’s stellar reputation for quality, on-budget and on-schedule construction. Based on this reputation and our reference checks, we forecast that we would likely enjoy a pleasant and favorable contractor-client relationship with Western Builders. Beginning with our initial communication with Roger Bartlett, Don Hensley and their crew, and continuing throughout our project, we came into direct contact with extraordinary levels of professionalism, responsiveness to client, perfection in workmanship and overall quality of construction. Our Board of Directors – the region’s 29 county commissioners, 16 mayors and 23 city/county managers — has offered highly positive feedback about our new office building, often describing it as “a showpiece.” Our accounting clerk, Laurie Hyatt says it best — “We are absolutely tickled.”
Bill Gibson, Executive Director
Southwestern Commission
Sylva, North Carolina
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When we decided to build a second building at The Chalet Inn we were in a bit of a quandary. We wanted to maintain a residential feel, be true to our Swiss German architectural trademark, and use hand notched beams. However, we were required to have a commercial contractor do the building. We were concerned because we did not want a “commercial” feel and weren’t sure whether a commercial contractor would be interested in doing a small scale project demanding such detail. We could not have been more pleased with our choice of Western Builders.
Don was generous with his time in discussing options, extremely accurate in his cost estimates and obtained fair bids from all the Subs. Roger’s management of the construction was exemplary in ensuring Sub-Contractors met their contractual obligations, quality standards and time lines so no portion of the building or contractor was delayed. Roger has an exceptional relationship with the area’s Building Inspectors and an ability to mitigate so that both the Owner and the Inspector felt they have gotten their way when those contentious issues that always arise over a regulatory standard and a builder’s desire.
Finally, Western Builders does not just have workers, they have Craftsmen who are proud of what they do and relish the challenge of detail and special touches that set their work aside from others.
Our appreciation to you, your staff, crew and all subcontractors – who all were so gracious, professional and competent and made Chalet Suites a landmark building.
George & Hanneke Ware
The Chalet Inn
Whittier, North Carolina
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