About Us - G.R. Burgess, INC.

The Burgess family has been immersed in craftsmanship and building since childhood. Our grandfather was a millwright, a trim carpenter, and was in the corps of engineers in WWII. He would tell us and show us how they made spiral chutes out of wood for flour mills in Kansas or how they hung and installed 8 doors a day for new houses in Denver. The foreman would run a nickel around the door to check the gap. If it was wrong, you did it over. It was all done precisely, one at a time, with hand tools. He taught us to appreciate a job well done.

Gentry started his career in carpentry and building at age 10 with 4-H classes, built his first house at age 17 and has been a builder and remodeler ever since, from 1983-1988 in Twin Falls, Idaho and from 1988 to present in Kirkland, Washington.

Elaine received a fine arts degree from the University of Wyoming. (The other UW!) She teaches after school art classes and volunteers as art docent at the childrens school. Her training in art serves the company well in cabinet and furniture design as well as interior design selections.

The following are some of the values we try to instill in our company and employees and that we look for in vendors and subcontractors:

Make yourself useful, valuable.
Stand behind your work.
Have a high degree of respect for a customers property and family.
Be a problem solver.
Consider the end product in questions of design and quality.
Pursue efficiency, be aware of how you are spending your time.
Be reliable, conscientious, and accountable.
Listen to what the customer wants.
Be clear and prompt in your communication.
Be versatile, do what needs to be done.
Be trustworthy with money, save, pay bills on time.
Keep your person, vehicle, jobsite, and equipment clean.
Work safely and consider the safety of others.
Focus on the job while you are on the job.
Be punctual, be punctual, be punctual.
Be thoughtful in your choice of language, attire, and radio station.
Stay on the task until it is done.
Take an interest in your work and continually educate yourself.

Thoughts on Building:

"When you're working for a man, always give him a little bit more than what he's paying for" George R. Burgess, Sr.
Skilled labor is what makes any material thing valuable.
"There are three components to any job: speed, quality and price. You can choose any two." Andrew Dietzel
Expedience always takes precedence over safety, until somebody gets hurt.
"Money is only saved in planning, money is only spent in execution" James Terry Johnson
Plan before you take action, mistakes are the most expensive addition to any project
The most beautiful design, the most amazing technology, the most appealing price, all become meaningless if what you have purchased doesn't do what you want it to do.
Wood is timeless.
You cannot compensate for poor craftsmanship with expensive materials.
The best architect is first an artist, the best contractor is first a craftsman.
Grandpa always told us, "Boys, if something is worth doing, it's worth doing right."

Quotable Quotes From Colorful Characters:

"They're good kids as far as kids run, but who likes runny kids?" G. Roger Burgess (our dad) in about 1975

"I'm going to write your name down here in all capitals. Most small businessmen I know are undercapitalized." John Watenpaugh, lumber salesman

"That there is and things boys, I guess we'll just wait." Samuel Baird, my grandmothers first employer in about 1930, upon discovering the womenfolk had neglected to prepare potatoes for the noon meal.

"Many are cold, but few are frozen." Hugh Frohbieter, my father-in-law and lifelong Wyoming resident.

G.R. BURGESS, CO.

10052 136th Ave NE
Kirkland, Washington 98033

Phone: 206-898-2525
Fax: 425-803-3875
E-mail: gentry@grburgess.com

Last Updated on Wednesday, January 23, 2008
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