BRAVA Signature Project
Building From the Ashes
Premier industry businesses DreamBuilt and Braswell Construction Group rebuild a dream home with BRAVA
Sitting cross-legged on a cozy earth-toned sectional, Paige Ruhl is choking back tears.
It's taken years of dedication, hard work, and a dream or two to bring Ruhl . She and her husband Jim are the co-founders and co-owners of the premier custom design-build firm DreamBuilt out of Greensboro, Georgia, a vibrant and historical city about 85 miles east of Atlanta. It's where the couple has not only set the standard but also raised the bar in luxury homebuilding and design for over two decades, creating a enduring legacy of exceptional craftsmanship, uncompromising excellence, and a deep commitment to the region and its residents.
If you drive down a long stretch of Georgia's I-20 highway and take Exit 130, you'll soon be passing acres of fertile farmland. A turn onto a windy countryside road eventually brings you to the gate of the renowned Reynolds Lake Oconee, a preeminent luxury lakefront community nestled in and around 12,000 forested acres of stunning natural beauty. People from all walks of life around the country are drawn to Reynolds for the unparalleled lifestyle and amenities it offers — among them a golfer's paradise with seven championship courses, including 5 of the top 15 courses in the state; 21 miles of walking and biking trails; state-of-the-art fitness facilities and holistic experiences; 11 award-winning restaurants; and one of the only lakefront Ritz-Carltons in the world, a luxury AAA Five Diamond Resort. All this and more, including five full-service marinas serving what has become the centerpiece of the community: Lake Oconee's 19,000 acres of sparkling water.
It's at Reynolds that DreamBuilt made its mark, designing and building the finest custom homes in the area from the ground up. It's also where Ruhl is now, relaxing in her English countryside-inspired estate as she recalls the night that her family lost nearly everything here on the lake's serene, picturesque shores.
"This is actually the second time we built this house," admits Ruhl. "The first time that we built it, we were just 10 days from moving in. We went home that night, got a knock on our door, and..." Ruhl pauses for a moment, her eyes beginning to glisten.
"There was a lightning strike," she says, her voice catching in her throat. "Sorry," she adds with a small, bittersweet smile.
That evening, the Ruhl's entire home burned until there was nothing left. "We were truly blessed our kids were with us, our family, our dogs. We didn't have any of our personal items in the house yet. But we lost the whole house."
"We've loved using BRAVA products in our designs. They've really nailed the color scheme for an authentic cedar shake roof look."
— Haley Patten, Co-owner, DreamBuilt, Greensboro, GA
Chris Braswell, owner of the award-winning Braswell Construction Group also based out of Greensboro, remembers that terrible tragedy all too well.
Specializing in wide-ranging roofing and restoration work for over two decades, Braswell Construction is known across the southeast for its expertise, professionalism, and reliability. Holding some of the highest achievements in the roofing industry, the residential and commercial roofer earned its stellar reputation by word of mouth due to its top-quality craftsmanship, its promise to carry only the best roofing products, and the superior attention it provides to each individual client.
Braswell's team had worked with the Ruhls on their initial, ill-fated home. "We've been coming out to the Lake Oconee area for the last 20 years or so, and I've always known DreamBuilt to be one of the biggest, nicest luxury builders at the lake," says Braswell. "I started pursuing them pretty heavily because they're the best of the best in the area, and their quality and luxury products really hit the mark for that custom clientele we're looking for — and the products we offer just fit well with them."
The Ruhls were heartbroken at the loss of their beloved home. A true labor of love, it was as much their dream residence as the one-of-a-kind custom homes DreamBuilt had brought to life for other residents in this peaceful, friendly community. The couple immediately resolved to rebuild, and with the exception of a few tiny details, didn't change a thing. However, this time there was a deadline that could not be missed. "My daughter got engaged, and she decided she wanted her wedding here at the house," shares Ruhl. "So we had to call on everyone and say, 'we need you to do it all again, really, really fast this time.'"
Braswell wasted no time in coming to the Ruhls' aid again. There was one particular change, though, that he strongly encouraged the couple to make.
"In Georgia, the main problem with roofing products is that a lot of them don't stand up well in this harsh, humid, hot environment," explains Braswell, "so a lot of the people that want cedar shakes, or that currently have cedar shakes, are realizing that it's not a good fit. A lot are starting to move toward synthetic products."
"We had used some other synthetic products in our business," admits Ruhl, "but nothing that I really loved."
"I started working on them pretty hard to use some of the synthetic roofs that they weren't as familiar with," says Braswell. It was he, in fact, who introduced a high-performance beautifully authentic composite roofing tile to the Ruhl's daughter, Haley Patten. A residential designer in her own right, Patten had purchased DreamBuilt from her parents a few years prior to the fire, having stepped up when the Ruhls decided they were finally ready to take a step back from their busy lives.
"Chris and I had been talking about all of the cedar product in the area and how much it struggles," shares Patten. "All our design clients come in looking for some kind of a specialty roof product, Everybody loves the natural look of wood products, but they just don't really hold up in this environment."
Both Patten and Braswell recommended the elegant, durable roofing tile to the Ruhls as an alternative to the traditional, increasingly problematic cedar shakes. Initially, the couple was uncertain if the product was the right choice to protect their home — but there was one extremely compelling and persuasive argument that they ultimately couldn't ignore.
When they built their home the first time, the Ruhls had a detached two-car garage on their property. After the devastating fire, that garage remained standing. The front of it had been damaged and needed to be replaced, but nevertheless, the garage was wholly intact. What's more, it was the only part of the home where a particular composite roofing tile had been installed.
"Even though we had a fire that was so hot, that garage was still standing," concedes Ruhl. "I think that's a pretty impressive thing when you talk about the fact that we lost the house down to the dirt."
Enter BRAVA.
"BRAVA's quality of products is the best of the best. It performs and looks better than their competition. And I've installed pretty much everything."
— Chris Braswell, Owner, Braswell Construction Group Inc., Greensboro, GA
They say lightning never strikes the same place twice, but that was a gamble Paige and Jim Ruhl weren't willing to bet on.
With construction ready to begin on the couple's home rebuild, both Patten and Chris Braswell knew without a doubt that BRAVA was the best and only choice for its expansive roof. "After some pretty good convincing, they finally gave us a shot in installing the BRAVA roof," says Braswell. "and it took off from there."
As opposed to traditional materials, BRAVA composite roofing tile is certified with Class A or Class C fire ratings. Designed with high fire resistance, its Class A-rated tiles also resist fire spread and fire penetration from the exterior to the underside of the deck as well as recurring intermittent flame. Along with a Class 4 impact rating on all of BRAVA's products, these benefits lessen long-term maintenance while both increasing the roof's lifespan and adding to a home's resale value.
"Their products are fantastic," raves Braswell. "I've worked with pretty much all the specialty products in the market, and BRAVA has always been at the top of the game."
As important as fire protection was to the Ruhls, equally important was replicating the true-to-life rustic aesthetics of their prior natural hand-split cedar shake roof. They were stunned at BRAVA's ability to channel the rich, deep shades of old-growth cedar into its tile thanks to its patented mineral-infusion process. The combination of BRAVA's superior pigments and fade-resistant technology infuses every one of its composite roofing tiles with incredible color that's guaranteed to look amazing year after year.
"All of the colors are realistic," states Ruhl. "My house has BRAVA's Lake Forest tile. They has great grays and tans and subtle tones, but with the slightest color change, you can get a roof that's very distinctly different than your neighbor's."
The couple were also impressed by the roofing manufacturer's core values, which aligned with DreamBuilt's. "BRAVA takes responsibility for their product, and their people are interested in following it all the way through to the outcome."
Knowing how much the roof's appearance meant to the Ruhl's, Braswell was hands-on in making sure they saw all the newest colors and the full range of BRAVA's roofing products, as well as ensuring their chosen composite tile was available when they were ready to have it installed — while BRAVA's roofing experts made themselves available nearly round the clock to provide both the contractor and the homeowners with the fast, reliable service the manufacturer is known for.
"These are the people we want to be working with," asserts Ruhl. "It's companies like BRAVA and Braswell Construction that we can call and they'll jump through hoops for us."
Indeed, the rebirth of the Ruhl famiy's dream home was a resounding success. Marrying modern luxury with a comfortable, intimate living environment, the new Ruhl House exceeds the couple's expectations, returning them to their sanctuary on the lake with a gorgeous signature exterior that's blessed them with a renewed sense of security.
"People talk about the spaces they want, and how all the pieces fit together,' muses Ruhl, "but when its your home, you want it to be exactly like your vision. That's why it's great that BRAVA's composite roofing product has been introduced. It's a world of difference."
About Dreambuilt
Founded in 1999, DreamBuilt was created with the mission of enhancing the lives of their clients and shaping a better lake community surrounding the breathtaking landscape of Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia. With an approach focused on thoughtful design, quality construction, and innovative craftsmanship, DreamBuilt's magnificent, enduring custom homes stand apart like no others in the region.
About Braswell Construction Group
The award-winning roofing specialists at Braswell Construction Group have been surpassing their customers' expectations for more than a quarter century. Based out of Greensboro, Georgia, this full-service commercial & residential roofing & restoration company delivers the highest-quality craftsmanship while providing the most reliable and professional services to homes and businesses across the southeast.
Expertly skilled in installing all styles of roofing from composite to metal to traditional shingles and slate tile, Braswell Construction also offers proven experience in fulfilling a wide variety of homeowner and property manager needs, such as installation of seamless gutter systems and interior tile, renovation and restoration of decks and building additions, and navigation of the insurance claim process. This highly respected company prides itself on its fierce dedication to helping its clients get their projects completed on time and on budget.
