News

Custom Home Magazine and the National Association of Home Builders has awarded Gus Rubio of Gabriel Builders the 2009 Pacesetter Award for Management. This is a national award given to 8 building professionals throughout the country for their commitment to constant reassessment and improvement of their businesses at every level.

Click Here to read the profile featured in Custom Home Magazine

A Million Miles from Nowhere

The living area is accented by cathedral ceilings. exposed beams,
a granite fireplace and rustic fixtures, furniture and accessories.

Nearly every child, at one time in his or her life, has been instructed to never "judge a book by its cover." Aesop even warned in his fables written in 6th century B.C. that "appearances often are deceiving." Not exactly the characterization one would apply to an individual's home. That is, of course, unless you are referring to the lake house of Jim and Mary Wilson of Atlanta.

The kitchen sink, imported from France, helps to accentuate the overall European feel of the kitchen.

From the front, this lake house appears to be a quaint cottage, housing barely 1,200-1,500 square feet. Cedar shakes, a granite walkway and stairs and copper accents add to the cottage feel. But, if you wander down to the lakeshore and look back, you'll soon realize you've been duped! This unique 7,000-square-foot, four bedroom lake house is the epitome of deceptive appearances. "When you see it from the water, it sprawls," says homeowner Jim Wilson.

Approximately four years ago, the Wilson family decided they needed a weekend getaway, a retreat that was "a million miles away" from the world. There were two requirements for this getaway: it had to be remote and near water. Lake Lanier, located just minutes outside of Atlanta, was too crowded, too commercial, too Atlanta. So, they began their search in the Sunday edition of the Atlanta Constitution. There, hidden among the other listings, was a one-line ad for lots on a lake they'd never heard of - Lake Keowee.

"We got on the Internet, typed in Lakekeowee.com and fell in love with what we saw," says Wilson. "We literally stumbled upon it." From there, they began to stumble into one lucky break after another.

Only one visit to Lake Keowee was required to convince the Wilson's that they had discovered their remote weekend getaway. They purchased two neighboring lots and began the arduous search for the perfect home design, which they found in a Southern Living Idea House. Stephen Fuller, Inc., an Atlanta-based architectural firm, designed the model, located in the Cuscowilla Golf Community on Lake Oconee. Impressed with the unique boat-shaped design, the Wilsons purchased the plans and hired Stephen Fuller to modify them to fit their needs.

In the original house plans, the Keeping Room was a screened porch. At the suggestion of the Rubio's, the room was enclosed, and a granite fireplace and large windows that allow a clear view of Lake Keowee were added.

It was through their architect that they stumbled again, this time into Gus and Belinda Rubio. This husband-wife team owns Gabriel Builders, a small, but highly reputable company. Evidence of the Rubio's expertise in custom-built homes runs throughout the Lake Keowee area. One such home is that of nearby neighbor Tom Glavine. The Rubios came highly recommended, and Wilson says they couldn't have made a better choice.

"They spent our money like it was theirs and built a quality home," he adds. "We came out of this project with a wonderful new home and two new friends."

Gabriel Builders, Wilson states, paid great attention to detail and made numerous suggestions throughout the construction of their home. The best suggestion, he adds, was the addition of the Keeping Room, located just off the kitchen. A screened porch in the original plans, Rubio suggested widening the hallway, adding a double archway and enclosing the porch. The result is a warm and inviting room with a beautiful view of Lake Keowee.

The Wilson's kitchen invites visitors to congregate around the large island for drinks and casual conversation. The kitchen is filled with natural wood cabinetry, heart of pine floors and granite countertops, not to mention the oversized European accents.

In fact, a view of the lake is an integral part of the house's design. Clearly visible from every room in the house is the shimmering blue water of Lake Keowee. "The water was a big attraction to us," he says. "The lake is more peaceful than the ocean. And, the house is so well insulated, you can't even hear boat traffic. Our house in Atlanta is not as well built as this one."

Another asset of the home, says Wilson, is the open floor plan. The dining and living areas are combined, creating a casual atmosphere for dining and entertaining. Wilson makes special note of the absence of formal rooms, which assists in creating an atmosphere he describes as "calm and relaxing."

A warm, rustic approach to the interior design accentuates that sense of peace. Highlighting the main floor are vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, custom-made cabinetry, heart of pine floors and rustic light fixtures by Georgia Lighting. The furniture and accessories, provided by Pineapple House Interior Design and Decorating in Atlanta, invite visitors to kick back, relax and enjoy the view.

The casual living theme continues in the home's lower level, which houses two guest bedrooms, a second smaller kitchen and den. From here, the Wilsons can wander out onto the patio that features a water garden complete with koi. Or, if they are so inclined, they can continue down the hill to the boat dock and pier. Completing the "sprawl" on the back of the house is a screened porch that features a stone fireplace perfect for those winter weekend visits.

"The house has become an incredible retreat from the pains of the city," says Wilson. A semi-retired software developer, Wilson, his wife and their 8-year-old daughter enjoy the back-to-nature activities offered in the area. "We enjoy hiking and water sports. My daughter enjoys adding to her nature collection. When we're here, we're not looking for continuous activity."

After three years of occupancy, the Wilsons are just as happy today with their retreat. So much so, Wilson says they've considered making it their primary residence when their daughter finishes school. "From our perspective, it's darn near perfect." And, from all appearances, there's no deception in that. GM

From the boat dock, visitors get an overall view of the "sprawl" that is the Wilson's lakehouse.

Chris & Tom Glavine's Little Slice of Heaven

Just outside the master bedroom is a sitting room perfect for gazing out across the lake during those rainy summer afternoons.

It all began with Tom Glavine's childhood memories of Lake Winnapasaki, New Hampshire. Pleasant memories of peaceful summer days spent at the lake. Cape Cod style homes nestled against the shores of a glistening lake and families sharing good times and laughter in a peaceful, natural setting. These are the memories that he and his wife, Chris, wanted to recreate for their four children, ranging in age from two to eight.

When longtime friends Jay and Linda Howell invited the Glavines to their new home in the Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, the Glavines knew immediately they had discovered their own little slice of heaven. The rustic beauty of the area, coupled with a warm, friendly community, convinced the Glavines that they had found the site for their lakeside retreat.

The great room is highlighted by heart pine floors, trim made of poplar and gas-burning sconces on either side of the stone fireplace. Natural light pours in through large dormers, offering visitors a feeling of being out in the great outdoors.

In early 2001, the couple met with Jim Anthony of the Cliffs Communities. He set up an interview with Gabriel Builders, owned by Gus Rubio. As Tom and Gus walked the Glavine's new lot, Tom shared his dreams and visions with Rubio, who offered some ideas of his own. Rubio's ideas reflected exactly what the Glavines were seeking and a relationship was born. "Our relationship with Gus and Belinda Rubio went from builder and homeowner to friends," says Tom.

In November 2001, after approving Atlanta architect Stephen Fuller's design, the Glavines broke ground and began a journey towards constructing the lakeside home they had dreamed of for many years. This Cape Cod style, 5,000 square foot home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The master bath and bedroom are located on the second floor, along with the main kitchen, a combination dining and great room and the family's laundry room. The first floor houses the remaining bedrooms and bathrooms as well as a guest kitchen.

In addition to a beautiful view of the lake, the Glavines can enjoy summer evenings by the water garden.

"You could move this house to Martha's Vineyard and it would look as though it was designed specifically for that area," says Rubio. Nearly all the construction and supplies were provided by local vendors. The only major exception to this was the cedar shakes, which were brought in from Canada.

Due to Tom's rigorous road schedule, Chris assumed primary responsibility of working with the the Rubios. According to Rubio, they were in constant contact with Mrs. Glavine by phone, email and personal visits. The finished project, a spacious home with a spectacular view of the lake, is firmly established on a foundation of friendship.

On the second floor of the Glavine's home is the master bedroom, which offers a view of the lake.

Chris laughes when asked about the interior design of their new home. "We were flying by the seat of our pants!" The Glavines knew only that they wanted to reflect the natural beauty of the land, lake and mountains surrounding their home. So, she turned to a close friend from Atlanta, Marlene Brannon. The original plans were to paint the walls of the second floor great room and Tom's office. "Marlene has such a good eye. She suggested staining them [the walls] to further bring out the rustic feel of the home," According to Chris, the interior continues to change at the hands of Marlene, with new pieces appearing as if by magic.

Today, the Glavines say the warm feel of the home beckons them to visit frequently. Now that baseball season is officially over, they find they are retreating to the Cliffs nearly every other weekend. The couple agree there are two places in the home that are quickly becoming their favorite. Chris notes
the comfort and beautiful view from the master bedroom suite on the second floor as her favorite spot. "We spend most of our time there when we are here," she says.

The Glavines goal in interior design was to bring the wonder of nature indoors. This has been accomplished with items like this antler candelabra, which reflects the wild outdoors with style and beauty.

Tom quickly points out the porches, one on each floor of the home, as his favorite spot. Each porch includes a large, wood burning masonry fireplace, which offers a wonderful place for the Glavines to visit with friends and family. "We enjoy relaxing on the porch, looking out over the lake. There isn’t a lot of boat traffic, especially this time of year. It’s such a nice change from Atlanta. We look forward to being here often.” Tom first discovered this architectural trend of outdoor fireplaces during visits to California and Arizona. “It’s a big thing out there. It combines the best features of indoor and outdoor living in one spot.”

The outdoor fireplaces are two of five fireplaces. The other three are located in the master bedroom, den and great room. Intricate rock work, heart pine floors, custom-made cabinets and staghorn chandeliers further enhance the mountain cabin feel of the home.

Rubio, whose company focuses on building only two or three homes a year, points out several features of particular interest in the Glavine home. Every door is custom made with unique, hand-made hinges. He also mentions the exercise room above the garage, which was built specifically for Tom.

Regardless of the season, entertaining on the porch is always an option with two wood burning fireplaces. Visitors can sit by the fire and enjoy the spectacular view of Lake Keowee.

One other notable item that Rubio proudly points out are the structural columns located both inside and outside the home. “One interesting thing most people don't notice is that these columns line up perfectly on both floors, which is extremely complicated to accomplish. You have to be exact in your numbers."

Of personal interest to Rubio is the back of the home, which is highlighted by interesting angles and slopes in the construction, beautiful landscaping and patios shaped like baseballs. "It's [the back of the home] the prettiest I've ever done or seen. It's what everyone wants to photograph, but it's nearly impossible unless you want to bring a 40-foot ladder and shoot photographs from the treetops."

Now that the home is complete, the Glavines say they are completely happy with the final result. It offers them a place to retreat from the rigors of the road and that Atlanta traffic. "The most traffic we experience up here is the occasional construction vehicle,” laughs Tom.

The master bath, located on the second floor, offers a view of the lake from the garden tub.

But it’s more than a place for the Glavines to hang their hat for a few days. They can always look forward to a quiet dinner with the Rubios or a horseback riding excursion at the home of Jay and Linda Howell.

Or, if they prefer a day at the lake, they look no further than their own backyard. With construction complete, the Glavine family is beginning to build something else, their own cache of lakeside memories. Memories they are sharing with their four children. “The children love it here. They can ride their bikes without fear of being run over,” says Chris Glavine. "We are all in tears when it comes time to return to Atlanta."

The front and back of the Glavine's home are highlighted by stone arches and sharp angles, making it the most photographed part of the home.

For Gabriel Builders, "Less is More"
in the Quest for Quality

Architect Stephen Fuller of Atlanta designed this shingled Cape Cod-style "cottage" in the Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards for Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine and his wife Chris. Photo © by Stephen Stinson Photography.

Gus Rubio of Gabriel Builders has adopted a minimalist strategy toward home building that is reaping rewards for his family and his business.

The Rubio’s commitment to excellence has never been more critical than on the million-dollar projects he now builds. “At this level, clients have done their research, and they know what they want.”

From a height of 20 - 30 homes a year in the late 1980s, Rubio now concentrates on only two or three very high-end projects at any one time. He's building less these days but enjoying more, and says, "The bottom line looks better than ever."

An 18-year veteran of the Greenville home building market, Rubio established a solid reputation with projects in Chanticleer, Thornblade and Kilgore Plantation-some of the Upstate's most prestigious neighborhoods.

Recently, he's moved up the road to build luxurious vacation and retirement homes in The Cliffs communities and the other upscale neighborhoods on Lake Keowee.

"I really hadn't planned to go this far," he says, but with great projects he just can't turn down, he'll be focused on these lakeside settings for some time to come.

Contrasting wood finishes give the great room a rustic, yet sophisticated feel. All the interior trim is custom poplar, including the tongue-and-groove ceiling boards. Floors are heart pine and the sconces over the natural stone fireplace are real gas-burning lights. Photo © by Stephen Stinson Photography.

"The beauty of this area is just incredible," says Rubio, describing the hour-plus drive to these lakeside jobs as "awesome."

Scaling back has also proved to be one of the best personal decisions Rubio has made. "There is a downside when you have to turn away some prospective clients and your signs are not as numerous or as visible as they once were," he says, but with the pros outnumbering the cons in this vote, Gus Rubio has found satisfaction in putting quality over quantity.

Building Houses, Making Friends

Fewer projects means more personal attention, an issue that’s near and dear to Rubio and his clients.

There was a time when Gabriel Builders employed an office manager, purchasing agent and several project supervisors. Now clients know they will have Gus’ personal attention to their dream homes. He is on the site every day, and it’s not unusual to be invited back for visits after the job is done.

Custom wood cabinets and floors, granite countertops and a staghorn chandelier are just some of the natural materials that make this a comfy and inviting kitchen. Photo © by Stephen Stinson Photography.

Dinners with the Tom Glavine family are confirmation that Rubio’s hands-on approach is appreciated. The Atlanta Braves pitcher and two-time Cy Young Award winner selected Rubio to build his vacation home at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards.

There was a time when Gabriel Builders employed an office manager, purchasing agent and several project supervisors. Now clients know they will have Gus' personal attention to their dream homes.

The house, designed by Atlanta architect Stephen Fuller, features a quaint Cape Cod exterior, reminiscent of Glavine’s Massachusetts home state, and the latest in electronic systems for security, climate control and surround sound entertainment.

Rubio says the Glavines were involved in every facet of the project. During the 15 months of construction, he was in almost daily contact with Chris Glavine, e-mailing her progress photos and consulting on details.

Wood-burning masonry fireplaces on both levels turn the two lakeside porches into year-round retreats. There are three more fireplaces inside in the great room, den and master bedroom. Photo © by Stephen Stinson Photography.

The 5,000-square-foot house is rich in with detail. Intricate molding, extensive rock arches and terraces, and a variety of surface finishes – including hardwood floors, granite countertops and hand-painted wallpaper-presented an enjoyable challenge to Rubio and his crews.

“The level of detail is incredible,” says Rubio. “The blueprint for a house like this will typically have 40 or more pages or floor plans and elevations.”

The Glavines are obviously pleased with the house and the man they now consider a friend.

“Some of my peers said I get too close to my clients, but I don’t see that as a fault,” says Rubio. “I get to build beautiful homes for some wonderful people, and developing close relationships is one of the rewards.”

Living the American Dream

Rubio’s entry into the home building industry was made in small steps over several years.

He had worked construction during summer vacations from college, but after graduating from Furman University with a business degree, he launched his career as a supervisor and quality control manager with Cryovac in Simpsonville. He bought and remodeled several rental properties on the side.

Gus named his construction business Gabriel Builders after his first-born son. By 1987, he was ready to leave the corporate world and take the building business full-time, a move he has never regretted.

Taking risks, stepping out on faith was behavior he saw modeled when his family immigrated to the United States from Cuba.

His father, an attorney who had attended law school with Fidel Castro, moved the entire family to Miami when Gus was five years old.

For Rubio’s father, the move meant reestablishing a career, but he chose to build a new one. After graduate school at the University of Georgia, the elder Rubio secured a faculty position teaching Spanish at Furman and relocated the family to Greenville.
Gus entered first grade knowing not one word of English, but soon achieved the American dream in his new hometown. He was a stand-out basketball player at Berea High School, where he met his wife, Belinda. The couple married the day after they graduated from Furman.

They now have three children: Gabe, a Clemson student, Lauren and Nicholas.

The Gabriel Difference

Gus Rubio has used his experience as a corporate quality control manager to bring a "culture of quality" to Gabriel Builders.

Some "behind the wall" details that set his homes apart:

Interior walls insulated for sound, especially between baths, laundry rooms and adjacent living areas.

Cast-iron plumbing drops reduce noise.

Exterior trim back-primed and painted before installation to discourage wood rot.

HVAC systems use high-efficiency filters, sealed with an elastomastic for energy efficiency.

All windows and doors have head and sill flashing and back-caulking to ensure that water never enters the wall system.

On interior paint, nail holes are wood-filled (not-puttied) and painted at least three times with fine sanding between.

Oil-based paint applied to all trim.

Keeping Your Eye on the Ball
In every phase of his business, Gus Rubio has focused on two primary objectives: building quality homes and doing whatever it takes to create satisfied clients.

His corporate background has helped him achieve both goals, bringing a “culture of quality” to his small business that extends to the team of craftsmen and subcontractors he employs.

That commitment to excellence has never been more critical than on the million-dollar projects he now builds.

All-natural materials include white cedar heartwood shingles and real stacked stone in the arches and chimneys. The stone and brick patio is designed in a baseball pattern. Photo © by Stephen Stinson Photography.

“At this level, clients have done their research, and they know what they want,” says Rubio. “They have honored us by entrusting us to build the finest home available, and our goal is to surpass their expectations.”

Rubio points to many “behind the wall” practices that people don’t necessarily see but have a lasting impact on the overall quality of a project. He mentions things like back-priming exterior trim and painting each siding shingle before installation as examples of going the extra mile (see sidebar).

“We don’t just offer a one-year written warranty,” he says. “If three to five years down the road something is discovered that was done wrong in the construction process, we fix it.”

Thinking Long Term

With a growing list of satisfied clients, Gabriel Builders enjoys positive word of mouth as its only form of advertising.

A colleague once questioned the wisdom of returning to a completed job years later to repair a minor roof leak. Rubio was sure he had made the right move. “It costs time and money out of my pocket, but we later built houses for four of that client’s business associates, “ he says.

“Some people go into business thinking, ‘How much money can I make and how fast can I make it?’ and they don’t look at the long term.”

Rubio is fond of a sentiment he once read that calls on everyone to do their jobs-even the menial task of a street sweeper-like Shakespeare wrote, like Michelangelo painted and like Beethoven composed.

“This exemplifies the way I try to conduct my business,” says Rubio, obviously proud of the tangible and intangible results of his efforts. “Imagine what things would look like if everyone took such pride in their work.”

Contact Gabriel Builders at P.O. Box 26569, Greenville, SC 29616. Telephone (864)627-1115.

Stucco and stone are features this Paul Hughes-designed home with the magnificent view of Greenville from Glassy Mountain. Grading and site preparation by Sonny Rhem Grading. Spa (not shown) by HotSpring of Greenville. Photo © by Stephen Stinson Photography.

Gabriel Builders, Inc. is built, in no small measure, on faith. A promising start, a leap of faith, success, followed by hard times and rebuilding. All those things have made the husband-and-wife team behind the Greenville-based construction company stronger and wiser.

Gabriel Builders specializes in upper-end custom homes. Their clientele is selective, knowledgeable, and they receive calls from as far away as California from people who want them to build their upstate homes.

Today, Gus and Belinda Rubio build six to 10 custom homes a year in Greenville neighborhoods like Chanticleer and The Cliffs at Glassy. Gabriel Builders is booked months in advance and has an excellent word-of-rnouth reputation.

But today's success is the present reward for a couple who faced hard times past with grace and faith, and who always made it a priority to stick together.

Their story starts early, when both attended Berea High School. Belinda was 14 and Gus was 17 when they met, and they've been together ever since. They attended North Greenville College together, where Gus was an Athletic Hall-of-Famer as a basketball player.

This custom home on Glassy Mountain features a stone fireplace and faux-painted "marble" mantel and columns. Photo © by Stephen Stinson Photography.

The couple married the day after graduating from Furman together, both with business degrees. Belinda took a job as a business analyst at Liberty Life Insurance Corp. and Gus began a career as a shift supervisor at Cryovac.

Gus was always busy on the side, though.

"I had done summer construction in high school and college, mostly working as a laborer," remembers
Gus. "I didn't really like it until I started doing carpentry work."

He started his building business in a small way, building decks and remodeling houses. As a young couple, they bought and renovated a few rental properties, but Gus found that didn't suit.

The appliances in this kitchen were supplied by Jeff Lynch Appliance and TV. Grantite countertop by Campbell Tile Co. Hardwood floors by Jordan Lumber Co. Plumbing fixtures by ProSource. Photo © by Stephen Stinson Photography.

"I didn't have the personality to be a landlord," he says with a laugh. "I had people leave in the middle of the night, owing me money. So we sold [the properties]."

In 1984, Gus started building houses, although "probably not making a dime," he recalls. Belinda became a stay-at-home mom after the birth of their second child, Lauren, in 1985.

By 1987, Gus, too, was ready to leave the corporate world. With Belinda's support, Gus took the
leap and started building houses full-time. They named their company Gabriel Builders after their
first-born son Gabriel (Gabe).

Gus was 30 years old. "I was young enough to go back to work if I had to. But I didn't think of it in those terms. I just wanted to get out and do it on my own.

Gus Rubio's experience has made him a good teacher.
"You have to think long term," he advises young builders. "People think they want to make as much money as fast as they can. But the real focus has be on quality construction and customer service.
"If a homeowner is having a problem, you've got to have the integrity to stand behind your work and fix the problem."
Estimating is a tough but vital component of success. New builders can get tripped up by inaccurate estimating, inexperience and undercapitalization.
Managing these factors, in addition to keeping the customer satisfied, will determine the success and logevity of your business, Rubio says.

"When I left work at the end of the day, I wanted to be able to see what I had done. That's the beauty of construction--you can see results."

Gabriel Builders did well, with Gus in charge of construction and estimating and Belinda managing the office and accounting functions. By 1989, Gus was building 20 to 30 houses a year, had a furnished model home in Adam's Run, an office building underway, and two salespeople working just for him.

But Desert Storm, corporate mergers, layoffs and recession hit them hard. With $1.5 million in inventory, $8,000 a month in interest payments, and a drop in housing activity, the business began to struggle.

The Rubios depleted their personal savings, sold their home, moved in with his parents and Belinda went back to work at Liberty Life. Gradually, with Gus still building and ultimately selling their inventory, they were able to survive.

The beautiful custom hardwood cabinets, mantel and paneling in this doctor's study in Taylors were created by Stylecraft. Floors by Jordan Lumber Co. Photo © by Stephen Stinson Photography.

Slowly but surely, Gabriel Builders paid its debts and made its way back.

"If not for our faith, we would have never gotten through it," Belinda says. "I can now say I'm thankful we went through that experience, because it made us put God, family and friends first."

"It was the lowest point in my life," adds Gus honestly, "but it made me realize what's important. It humbled me and made me a better person. It made me a better Christian."

And, it seems, a better builder and businessman. Today Gus has more work than he can handle.

Belinda rejoined the company in 1995, and they've now hired a full-time office employee to allow her more time with their children, Gabe, Lauren and Nick.

Gus no longer builds spec houses. He specializes in upper-end custom homes. His clientele is selective, knowledgeable and quality-minded, and he receives calls from as far away as California from people who want him to build their homes.

Past homeowners have included the president of Michelin North America. Gus says he's amazed at the variety of people who are settling in Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina. With them, they bring the newest trends in building.

Gabriel Builders currently has homes under construction in Chanticleer, Kilgore Plantation, Thornblade, Parkins Mill, Cliffs Valley and The Cliffs at Glassy, where Gus built the sales office and is building the chapel. He limits the number of homes he builds each year to allow for important hands-on project management.

Unlike many builders, Gus keeps his carpenter crew on payroll for maximum flexibility and control. He also employs a project manager, and two trim carpenters. Many top subcontractors have been with Gabriel Builders for more than 10 years.

Gus does a little design work, and is particularly good at millwork, but he receives much of his work at the recommendation of several well-regarded local architects.

In the end, Gus says his company and his employees continue to get referrals because they have established a reputation for high quality, timely service, and both personal and professional integrity. "We're conscientious and we're honest. he says simply.

Gus limits the number of homes he builds each year to allow for important hands-on project management.

They say the hardships that don't kill you only make you stronger. . Nowhere is that truism truer than in the building business. Many fail, few prevail as Gabriel Builders has.

"It's a tough business," Gus admits. "You have to really want to succeed."

And if, in the end, you do succeed, it means you learned your lessons well.