Differentiate through Quality: KAST Construction Shares Its Keys to Success

By Christine Andola, Moxe

Quality is the cornerstone for one successful Florida builder. Attention to quality work allows KAST Construction to extend warrantees, reduce punch lists, win new projects, and grow their business around the state.

From a foundation in West Palm Beach, FL, KAST Construction has built a company with more than 300 people in five offices across the state: Tampa, West Palm Beach, Space Coast, Miami, Naples – and soon, Orlando. The company focuses on hospitality, condominium and multi-family projects touting more than 85,000 keys, 4,782 condos and 8,192 residential units completed.

According to the company’s web site, “Our philosophy regarding quality is to differentiate or die. As a company, KAST has invested heavily in quality management with our world-class vertically integrated internal quality control department.”

“We do a lot of work with repeat clients, so we understand their expectations,” said Bryant Bell, Vice President of KAST Construction, in his address to a room full of eager subcontractors at the ABC Central Florida Builders’ Breakfast in April.

As part of building long-term client relationships, KAST focuses on building a quality product to improve the value and efficiency of its work. Its approach to quality includes a full-size outside mock-up of every project. KAST designs, builds, and punches a mock-up of the project, perfecting its process while confirming details with the client.

“Modeling seems like it would add time (and money) to the project. But getting it right on the ground before building up in the air helps us avoid costly tear downs,” Bryant said.

“Modeling has become an important part of our quality process.”

— Michael Spencer, Project Executive, KAST Construction

The biggest warrantee items in most construction projects are waterproofing, showers, and bathrooms. KAST built a mock-up in an old shopping center to try different materials and applications. It uses the mock-up like a training center for replicating best practices to achieve a higher quality standard.

Repeated visits to the site for punch-list items can waste time and money (and can be aggravating to project owners). KAST saves time and money by reducing the need for lengthy punch lists.

KAST implements its quality building process developed during the modeling stage and then protects the finish work until the project is complete. Floors, for example, are covered with a material heavy enough to truly protect them from high traffic damage until the build is completed. And KAST doesn’t paint until the end, resulting in shorter punch-lists, more efficient builds, and happier owners.

When asked about how contractors could best work with the company, KAST provided the following tips:

• Write quality RFIs and properly qualify your bids

• Budget and bid projects that fit your company – You can’t bid on every project

• Budget aggressively

• Stick with the bid after submission

• Provide added value

KAST Construction has chosen quality as a means of differentiation in a crowded marketplace, but it doesn’t end there. According to their website, “KAST remains productively paranoid in the quality arena, staying out in front of industry trends and best practices.”

As presented at the ABC Central Florida Builders' Breakfast on April 26, 2023. More information on KAST at www.kastbuild.com iconic projects.

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