Source: Rhino Times Greensboro

Making Everything Better

by Sandy Groover

December 13, 2012

For almost 20 years DLM Builders has not just been building and restoring homes, but helping make the community a better place by volunteering their time and expertise to work with the Boy Scouts and other community organizations.

On an afternoon last month, the large open space at DLM’s office/warehouse was filled with the buzz of happy voices from Cub Scout Pack 104 as they decorated their float for the Greensboro Holiday Parade. David Millsaps, the “D” in DLM Builders has been involved in Scouting for many years as an assistant troop leader and as a Scout master, helping boys learn outdoor skills, self-sufficiency and citizenship so that they can earn their First Class rank in their first year of Boy Scouts.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts in 2010, the Boy Scouts of America brought back one of the original 57 merit badges – the carpentry badge. To earn the badge, Scouts are required to learn and use basic carpentry skills that include such old-timey skills such as correctly using as a cross-cut saw, measuring with a ruler, using a chalk-line, properly using a hammer, joining of two pieces of wood with screws, and properly laying shingles on a roof. Scouts are required to make a simple piece of furniture for use in the home, and no power tools are allowed – everything has to be done by hand. The Millsaps' have been instrumental in helping numerous Scouts earn the badge by allowing them the use of their facility and teaching them the proper equipment handling techniques. Scouts who earn the badge, Millsaps' said, come away with a sense of history and a new awareness of what it takes to plan and execute a project without the aid of today’s high tech equipment.

Five Eagle Scout projects have been planned, designed, organized and built in DLM’s building space. The projects included such things as kiosks and picnic tables for locations around Greensboro.

Both David and Leslie Millsaps (she’s the “L” in DLM) are active in Preservation Greensboro, dedicated to saving and restoring Greensboro’s unique and architecturally significant places.

The Millsaps' pointed out that restoring historic homes is a special challenge, in that there are restrictions as to what can be done to the home. The exterior view must be maintained so that the home looks as it did when first built. Repairs include maintaining, protecting and repairing the home using as many original materials as possible.

Restoration of a historic home can also mean removing ones from other periods and reconstructing missing features that were present during the original period. Restoration is an exciting challenge that the Millsaps' enjoy.

David and Leslie will soon celebrate their 20th year in business. “If your home needs it, DLM does it,” is their motto, and as full-service remodelers they can replace a window or completely renovate a home.

Both David and Leslie have a number of earned designations that attest to their expertise. Both are certified green professionals, certified graduate remodelers and certified aging in place specialists. The graduate remodelers designation is especially significant, as it is awarded by the National Association of Home Builders to those who exemplify a high degree of integrity in business, superior technical competence and exceptional customer satisfaction.

DLM’s high degree of customer satisfaction is in part the result of emphasizing communication between the Millsaps' and the people whose homes they help renovate or restore.

Leslie said David’s ability to evaluate a homeowner’s ideas and see whether their vision is realistic and achievable is another key to their success. With his years of experience, he is often able to recognize problems that customers don’t even realize they have and then develop solutions that make the end result even better than the customer originally envisioned.

They truly enjoy remodeling homes for their customers, which may mean bringing an old kitchen into the 21st century with energy-efficient appliances and ergonomically designed work spaces, building a room addition, adding a new porch or refitting a home to accommodate the needs of older adults and those with special needs.

Both David and Leslie are certified specialists in designing and remodeling homes to accommodate the needs of older adults and special-needs persons. As the baby boomers age, both they and their aging parents are looking for ways to adapt their homes to their changing needs.

Aging in place applications aren’t just for older adults and special-needs persons, however. Universal design elements such as raised countertops, wider doorways and no-threshold shower doors are conveniences all people can appreciate no matter their age or ability.

Over their 20 years in business, the Millsaps' have developed a team of dependable, highly skilled tradespersons and suppliers that can make a remodeling project or renovation a relatively painless process for the homeowner.

During the planning stage of a project, the Millsaps' work with the customer to find ways that the customer can stay in their home while the work is being done. Because the team members know each other so well, coordination of a project goes smoothly and stress on the homeowner is greatly reduced.

If you’ve been thinking about a new kitchen or bath, adding a screened porch or making other modifications in your home, talk to DLM. They may be just the team for your project.

For additional information or photos of their work, visit www.dlmbuilders.com. Or learn more by callings (336) 275-9457.