LINDON — Despite national accolades from 2006, custom-home builder Paul Magleby isn't dwelling on that fact this year.
He's too busy building dream homes for his distinguished Utah customers.
"It won't change me," Magleby said of the title 2006 Custom Home Builder of the Year, awarded by the National Association of Home Builders. "Once your rules are ingrained within, it's hard to change. The notoriety is not anything I've sought for or care much about, frankly."
The quiet, unassuming Magleby graduated from Brigham Young University's construction-management program in 1974, and a few years later had his own company. Now, Paul Magleby Construction, Inc. is known for building, remodeling and repairs but especially for custom homes.
"It's all unique," Magleby said. "It's become our slogan — You dream. We build. (I) love to create things. What we do is our art. The real joy is handing the client the key."
This year was the first time the Custom Home Builder of the Year has been awarded. The only other award from the national association is the annual remodeler of the year.
"This is quite a recognition, not only for Paul but for the caliber of builders in Utah," said Deann Huish, executive vice president of the Utah Valley Home Builders Association.
The award, given in late October through the Custom Builder Council within the NAHB was a complete surprise to Magleby.
"My respect for Paul is boundless," wrote friend and colleague Brad Simons in the application packet he filled out for Magleby.
Simons described Magleby's kindness and respectfulness toward clients and employees, exemplified in the financially tough years of 2003 and 2004, when Magleby refused to lay off any employees.
"You develop a lot more loyalty by treating people right and caring about them," Magleby said.
The company has 75 employees, including 25 workers in the Magleby mill making custom doors and cabinets for homes.
They're so different, one client even requested a salvaged small stained-glass dome from an old European building be installed. So builders put it in a bathroom with backlighting. Another client asked him to incorporate old iron railings from Europe. Magleby was happy to oblige.
"We want to create a customer for life," he said.
Ranging in price from $1 million to $15 million, many of Magleby's projects are second homes for wealthy folks in Wasatch and Summit counties. He also services the Park City and Deer Valley markets.
The custom home market in Utah is quite extensive, and of the 150 or so general contractors who are members of the Utah Valley association, two-thirds are custom home builders, Huish said.
However, Magleby isn't threatened by his competition.
"We're all peers in the industry," Magleby said. "No one builder could do all the work. My goal is to help all of us become better ... (so) we all become better as an industry."
E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com