BUSINESS

A
WOMAN'S
PLACE

Home builder
Brenda Burdge
is at ease in the
male-dominated
construction world

RUTHAN BRODSKY

Special to The Jewish News

•

er construction boots
lie in a cardboard box
on the back seat of
her car. She can easily
reach over and grab
them whenever she arrives at a con-
struction site.
"I take good care of those boots
because I need them" says Brenda Bur-
dge, owner of Burdge Inc., one of the
few women in the male-dominated
building profession. "They're not easy
to find in women's sizes. I waterproof
them often and they give me the sup-
port I need when I'm on the job walk-
ing on rough ground, over nails and
stone, on foundation walls and so often
through mud."
Burdge used these same boots
when she built "Menlo Park," a custom
home for this summer's Homearama in
West Bloomfield at Orchard Lake and
Walnut Lake roads.
Burdge's Menlo Park home com-
bines classic styling and contemporary
design with an art deco theme that
portrays an eclectic lifestyle. Some of
the building and decorating features
include four skylights, etched glass

H

walls and mirrors, Frank Lloyd Wright
designed wall paper trim, a closet
carousel for the master bedroom suite,
large ceramic bathrooms, a hot tub and
a lighted three-story suspended
staircase.
Several women touring the home
nodded approval and commented that
only a female builder would think to
include built-in ironing boards, a se-
cond floor laundry room and an infor-
mal sitting area next to the breakfast
room in a home.
"As a parent of three, I'm well
aware that so much of family life
centers around the kitchen," says Bur-
dge. "Rather than have everyone hang-
ing around and getting in the way, I've
provided an informal sitting area ad-
jacent to the kitchen and the breakfast
room so that during those hectic times
of car pool or running off to lessons, the
family still has a place to comfortably
be together."
Burdge formed her corporation as
a custom home builder three years ago.
She says she had no trouble getting
customers who approached her
through referrals from friends, realtors

or those who were already familiar
with her work. Burdge says her
business has grown in gross sales from
$1.5 million in 1985 to the current $6
million.
"My customers are people who ap-
preciate quality;' says Burdge. "In my
homes, for instance, I wrap waste pipes,
make certain that there is sound in-
sulation between rooms and floors, and
build basements with extra high ceil-
ings so that when the area is finished,
it's liveable."
Burdge makes certain her
customers understand her priorities
before she takes on a job. Then, long
before the first shovel of dirt is remov-
ed, Burdge meets with designers and
architects.
Much of Burdge's success at
building custom homes stems from her
previous business experience. After
earning a Bachelor of Art's degree in-
psychology at Ohio State University,
Burdge got married, moved to Califor-
nia and started a family. In California,
she worked in the property manage-
ment division for Hilton Hotels. She
did everything from contract work,

remodeling projects and assisting in
the building of new hotels.
When Burdge moved to Detroit
about 12 years ago, she worked for
other builders on a freelance basis.
"I was learning the ropes and I was
using the supervisory skills I learned
in California," says Burdge, "Only I
was taking my career opportunities far
more seriously. My husband and I
divorced and I was the sole bread-
winner. I wanted my kids to go to col-
lege and I set out to develop my
business abilities the best I could."
Burdge feels that going into
business as a builder was a natural
step for her to take. Construction was
something that would provide a good
living as well as maintain her interest.
"I was always confident I could
take care of myself," says Burdge. "And
the building business just seemed
logical. I'm a very nuts and bolts per-
son, the kind who follows the proper
procedure."
Burdge doesn't view the home con-
struction business as a business for
men only.
"I never had to play up or down the

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 47

