Every company has a defining philosophy. Ours didn’t begin when Precise Contractor was founded. It began years earlier, standing beside one of my mentors, Dan Keck, on a luxury retail project in Newport Beach. Traditional Jewelers demanded an extraordinary level of craftsmanship. Every finish mattered. Every detail contributed to the experience the client wanted to create. One architectural feature in particular would leave a lasting impression, not because it was complicated, but because it challenged the way I thought about construction.
The Challenge
The project included a mosaic tile installation manufactured on mesh sheets. Installing the tile exactly as supplied would have produced a clean, professional installation that met the drawings and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Most contractors would have installed it exactly that way. There would have been nothing technically wrong with the result. But Dan looked at the material differently. He believed the project deserved something better.
Our Approach
Rather than accepting the standard installation method, Dan studied the finished appearance and imagined what the space could become. His recommendation surprised everyone. Remove every tile from the mesh sheets. Install each individual piece by hand. Pack the joints tighter. Eliminate the subtle spacing created by the factory matting. The installation would require substantially more labor. It would cost the client more money. But it would also create a dramatically richer finished appearance. Before making that decision ourselves, Dan called the client, explained the difference and the added cost, and told him why he believed it was worth it. The client agreed. The result transformed the space.
Leadership Where It Matters Most
That conversation taught me something I have never forgotten. Great contractors don’t simply execute drawings. They protect the client’s vision, even when that means recommending a solution that takes more effort, more craftsmanship, and occasionally a larger investment. It would have been easier to stay quiet. Instead, Dan raised his hand. Not because the original design was wrong, but because he genuinely believed there was a better way to reach the client’s goals. That moment changed how I saw construction.
The Result
The completed installation elevated one of the project’s defining architectural features and reinforced something I still believe today. Clients don’t hire experienced builders simply to follow instructions. They hire them for judgment. That lesson has shaped countless recommendations I’ve made throughout my career, from alternative flooring systems and lighting redesigns to sequencing strategies and constructability reviews. The project ended years ago. The philosophy it created still guides every project Precise builds.
The Precise Way in Action
We Raise Our Hand.
Great builders don’t quietly build what was drawn and hope for the best. When there’s a better way to reach the client’s vision, we say so.
“If there’s a better way to achieve a client’s vision, we raise our hand. That’s The Precise Way.”
Leadership Reflection
Early in my career, I believed great builders were the ones who could solve problems. Dan taught me that great builders do something even more valuable. They recognize opportunities. The opportunity to improve a detail. To preserve design intent. To create an experience that exceeds what the client imagined. That lesson became one of the foundations of Precise, and it continues to guide every decision we make today.
Michael Fogarty, President
Project Details
- Client
- Traditional Jewelers
- Location
- Newport Beach, California
- Market
- Luxury Retail
- Size
- 1,000 SF
- Duration
- Pending
- Services
- Construction Management
- General Contractor
- Mackenzie Keck
- Photographer
- Pending