Quality finishes highlighted for making a difference in homebuilding

Complaints about shoddy finishes have become a frequent outcry from owners of newly purchased units in the island’s expanding real estate sector.
For local architect and engineer Dwight Forrester, there is no acceptable excuse for developers to cut corners.
“Whenever I see jobs [homes] that are not properly finished, I get very irritated. A developer should really put out his utmost best to give value for money,” observed Forrester, who has been building homes for almost two decades.
He was among the participants attending a Contractors Academy workshop hosted by Berger Paints at its Spanish Town Road headquarters last week.
“I pay attention to finishes,” said Forrester in a post-event interview. That was the primary reason he cleared his schedule to register for the workshop, which focused on the protective applications of Berger’s Trowel On and Rust Pro products.
Justifying his attendance, he said, “People [contractors on building projects] come and do work for you, but you need to know the preparation involved in the work before they do it.”
Forrester said the technical insights into the correct application techniques and wall finishes were particularly enlightening.
“A shoemaker, for instance, can fix a shoe for you, and you might not understand how he approaches his work. So, being present at workshops like these to get a grasp on the intricacies behind how a job is done well is instructive and useful for me,” shared Forrester.
The veteran architect has been a team member on construction projects for Gore Developments and, most recently, was a key figure in the buildout of The Dulwich, a St Andrew gated residential community comprising 24 studio and four two-bedroom apartments.
SIGNIFICANT TAKEAWAY
He shared that one of the day’s most significant takeaways was learning the most appropriate time to apply Trowel On.
“Even if the wall was built yesterday, the surface has to be power washed and primed before the product is put on. Going forward, I will most definitely be incorporating those processes into my routines,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, fellow attendee Kemar Fender, a project manager at Painters and Sandblasters, said he made time for the event as his company expands its customer base.
“About 80 per cent of our clients are industrial-based and includes Caribbean Cement Company and Petrojam Limited,” Fender disclosed of the bulk of those who retain his company for waterproof blasting of metal and concrete surfaces, as well as equipment rentals.
Now expanding into decorative finishes to serve the rapidly growing residential homeowner market, he said, “We are venturing more into that space and actively looking for partners in the housing developments. We are definitely trying to push on that side.”
To that end, he said the growing popularity of Trowel On in local construction projects made the workshop well worth attending.
“We already use Rust Pro a lot with our industrial clients, but as we are expanding on the residential side, and will need to use more decorative paints, it’s one of main reasons I am here today to get more knowledge on Trowel On so we can have more recommendations to our clients.”
The enthusiastic turnout delighted Berger Paints Technical Manager Alton McCalla.
“It’s great seeing how responsive and invested the participants were in the presentations and active demonstrations we did on both the products,” he assessed of the instructional event, which also included members of the sales, marketing and technical departments.
Highlighting shifting consumer trends, McCalla revealed a substantial increase in homeowners opting for textured wall finishes instead of standard paint.
“Back in the day, people just thought of flat paint or oil paint ... and they would use it on anything. Now they are realising they can use other types of paint too.”
Fifteen Contractors Academy participants received certificates at the close of the Berger workshop, marking the successful sharing of knowledge.