Today we’d like to introduce our Trim Specialist, Danny Drew. He works alongside his older brothers and father, Mike Drew to build beautiful pocket doors, trim door frames, and install baseboards in all of our custom homes.

Meet Danny Drew: General Construction Crew, Trim Specialty

Q: Tell us about your role with Next Custom Homes.
A: I do general carpentry and construction. Overall, my job is to do whatever task I’m put to! Some days I’ll be installing trim or working on a deck. On other days I’ll be cleaning up the job site or hanging doors inside.

Usually, I’ll work on a few different projects in a day, depending on what’s a priority. Sometimes I even end up cleaning toilets or mopping floors, right before the house is sold to make it look perfect. If something has to be done and I’m able to do it, (whether I already know how to do the job or I have to learn it) then that’s what I do.

Q: What is your specialty? 
A: Well, my father tells me I’m good at doing trim. I install base, trim out doors and windows, and my favorite at the moment, build and trim out pocket doors. Pocket doors are a lot more work than a regular door, but they’re pretty cool, so it’s definitely worth it.

Q: How long have you been part of the NEXT team?
A: When I first started going to work, I was around 14, but I was still in homeschool, so I wasn’t able to help much. At that time I was making $25 a day, so my dad would have me come to work when there was a lot of stuff to carry or a dumpster to fill up. I would always ride in the back of the van on some tools or a nice comfy box if I was lucky enough. When my brothers who drove vans moved out, I upgraded to a real seat, in one of my older brother’s cars. When that car broke, we both lost our ride to work so he went and got a job at a carwash and ended up getting me a job there as well. They weren’t too happy when we left together, but around the time I turned 18 we both quit the car wash and went back to working in the family business, and since then I’ve been a full-time employee.

Q: What do you love about your job?
A: I have learned so many different skills on the job site, which is my favorite part. I’ve learned things that will come in handy in the future when I build my own house. Also, being a part of the building process for all these cool Austin houses feels great, especially when they’re done. I love being able to say, “I built the shelves,” or “I installed the trim in that house,” feels pretty cool to be able to do stuff that many people twice my age wouldn’t even attempt.

Q: What’s it like working alongside your family?
A: Of course there have been plenty of good times and some not-so-good times, but I’m definitely glad I work with my dad and brothers. There have been plenty of bickering and arguing in the past, but as we’ve all gotten older and worked with each other more, we’ve learned to get along and work together on things for the most part. 

Before we started working together, some of us did not get along at all. With ten boys in one house, you can just imagine how things might get sometimes. Shoes flying, people being chased throughout the house, crying and yelling, etc.  Fortunately, none of that happens at work, (at least most of it doesn’t!) All in all, though, I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else, and I’m excited for my younger brothers to start working with us when that time comes.

Q: What is your favorite project?
A: Some of my favorite projects were helping to frame the home at Rocky Mound, or helping out on the house that my dad lives in now, and more recently, helping out at the new cabinet shop, NXT Cabinets. I also have some good memories of working on the Turtle Point, Delcrest, and Mountain Villa properties, back when our oldest brother was still working with us. My favorite times are usually when dad joins in and we’re all working together to get the job done, having a good time. We all seem to go home happiest at the end of those days.

Q: Do you have any role models? 

A: As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to appreciate and respect both my mom and my dad a lot more. Twelve super cool people (my siblings and I) wouldn’t be here without them, and the crazy amount of work that they’ve put in over the years to raise and support all of us is just amazing. I’m very fortunate to have parents that love their kids and care enough to work as hard as they have. No one in the world deserves more respect from me than both of them.

Q: What are your future goals?
A: Right now, I’m kind of in the process of being promoted to the Head of Trim. In the future I’ll probably be managing a whole Trim crew, making sure all of our projects have the best trim in Austin. Beyond that, there’s no shortage of things to be done between the NXT Cabinets shop and our goal to build 12+ custom homes a year. So it’s hard to say exactly what I’ll end up doing, but whatever it is, I look forward to what the future will bring.

Q: Ok, now for some fun facts, what is your favorite movie?
A: Surf’s Up is always a good one.

Q: Your favorite place to eat in Austin?
A: Definitely Terry Black’s BBQ.

Q: Tool, device, or thing you can’t live without:
A: My Bible. Also wouldn’t want to be without my awesome bed after a hard day’s work.