Rosbeck Builders - In My Own Words
At about nine years old, my father threw me a shovel, hammer and any other tool that might help him complete houses for the coming summer season. Well, twenty-five years later I am still hard at work as a builder. I just can’t leave a trade I love so much. Not to mention the satisfaction of still being able interface with my father when he unexpectedly shows up at a job site to expound his words of wisdom or just to throw me another tool. Two 
years ago my brother Ted stepped in to handle the financial side of the business and although a family business has its challenges at time, we are all truly blessed to be able to work and see each other on a daily basis.
I like to think of myself as a facilitator, providing cadence and direction with a central focus or goal, which is that our clients will be pleased with their new house – hopefully ecstatic. During the building process, clients often ask me for advice and my personal opinion and it is quite satisfying to offer a builder’s perspective or to research a good answer because I am a builder – and building is what I do day and night.
Only the Finest Tradesmen and Women
Of course, I alone make up only a small portion of our team. Bucking the historical practice of solely coordinating subcontractors, we have a steady program of selecting the best skilled tradesmen as employees, by offering steady work and job benefits not often available in the construction trade. The people I work with all have very extraordinary talents and skills and this allows us to build very special homes. I am extremely fortunate to be surrounded by such exceptional talent and I consider each one of them part of our extended family. No one better represents this than our head foreman, Jeff Wass, who has worked with my father and myself for over 25 years and is like an older brother to me.
A Concentrated Workload
The growing demand for our services has escalated most likely by producing consistent quality and workmanship on a timely basis. We concentrate on our work at hand in order to move on to the next project, rather than take on too many projects concurrently. This job concentration also allows us to build houses in half the time, which clearly pleases the clients. Working on an island, our team must work daily with clients and vendors to make sure materials are on the jobs on time – this aspect of building has taken on new dimensions in recent years with the vast sea of exciting and unique products, as well as our client awareness of special products and materials. We encourage clients to get involved and send us pictures, samples, or just ideas from their travels for us to research and possibly incorporate in their new house. These little nuances and features make many years of living in the house very personal.
Great Design - Top Architects
Great designs or plans provide us an opportunity to build special houses – houses that compliment or even embellish their surroundings. Top line architects are being commissioned to design or redesign some of the most exciting waterfront properties. A few years ago, we completed a wonderful compound on Katama Bay designed by Peter Pometti of Architectural Innovations of Cotuit, who had worked with my father for decades. Peter has a real knack for creating great open spaces within existing structures that have space constraints. With the loss of a respected Island builder, Rick Colson, we were delivered the opportunity to work on a design by Hutker Associates of Vineyard Haven and complete a very detailed Makoniky waterfront residence which sits so gracefully on a very dramatic site. Now, we are about to commence construction of another of their designs on a spectacular site on the top of Peaked Hill in Chilmark.
But, our most visible projects have developed by working with the master of Edgartown design, Patrick Ahearn of Ahearn-Schopfer & Associates of Cambridge and Edgartown. Patrick has such a strong sense of what makes an overall design and fenestration read truly historic Edgartown architecture. His homes are clearly identifiable, yet look like they’ve weathered the island for a hundred years. By combining the best features of the old whaling houses of downtown, Patrick seems to be able to create a more balanced and elegant Edgartown house, if such higher level Edgartown architecture could really evolve. Working with architects with varying concentrations and goals has helped improve our versatility and construction techniques. And, who knows, on this very special Island, the next client or architect could come from anywhere in the world.
Naturally Beautiful Landscaping
The aesthetics or visual impact of our homes would fall far short for our clients’ and neighbors’ expectations if it wasn’t for the addition of professional landscaping. Fortunately, the high-end houses that we are building are embellished by architecturally designed landscaping features that not only provide useable outside areas, but privacy for neighbors. Today, most of our houses are surrounded with stone walls, brick patios, natural pools, shade trees, indigenous shrubs, and waves of colorful flowers. The Island is blessed with very talented and hard-working local landscapers, such as Mike Donaroma of Donaroma’s Nursery & Landscaping Services, Fred Fournier of Landscope and Joel Anthony.
Traditional Teamwork
I know all of us at Rosbeck Builders take pride in not only orchestrating the development of fine island homes, but also making the journey reasonably enjoyable. We are a team and we merge the clients, architects, and landscaper to create a house that becomes a home. Completion brings a satisfying sense of fulfillment – often celebrated with a move-in barbecue for all. Yet, at the same time, we feel a loss by turning over a product that we had borne and grown. I am privileged to carry on a tradition that my father started and fortunate to have his ongoing support. With Rosbeck Builders, you truly join a team of exceptional craftsmen and craftswomen and I am very proud to be their facilitator.