The Truth About Quality… Does It Really Matter?
Every homeowner knows it. Going through a renovation is bound to reveal hidden problems. These problems almost always translate into additional expense. Every so often you run into a positive surprise.
Our home was built in 1956. I can’t imagine how many problems have been ignored, covered up or improperly addressed over the years. The thought of uncovering those hidden surprises terrified me.
Yesterday, the workers removed the flooring in our kitchen. To our surprise, it revealed solid cedar plank floors. The wood was over sixty years old. You would never know from looking at it. I have an untrained eye for these things. If they had told me it was brand new, I might have believed them.
The foreman marveled at the quality. “These days, we use pine. This cedar is far superior and in perfect condition.”
There was no further discussion. We decided to keep the sixty-three-year-old subfloor.
Have We Sacrificed Quality?
“They don’t make em like they used too.”
The line is a bit cliche but appropriate. Do you ever sense that quality was more important in the past than it is today? I recall a conversation with a real estate broker around 2009. I was living in New York City and looking for a new apartment. The leasing agent of a building gave me a well-rehearsed sales pitch on our tour.
One comment of hers caught my attention. For some reason, I’ve never forgotten it.
“The building was constructed in 1960 so it was built solid.”
Does that mean modern buildings are assembled like a house of cards, ready to crumble at the slightest touch? Of course, she implied that older buildings used superior materials. Modern buildings rely on cheap drywall, thin floors and porous walls. This 1960 building had walls made of plaster. It took a herculean effort to bang in a nail but they were sturdy as heck.
It’s Not Always About Cheap
What happened? If we made things better back then why did we switch to inferior materials, if indeed they are inferior? Yes, these materials cost less but that answer is too simplistic. It has more to do with mindset brought on by the focus on cost reduction.
Build it as well as we can lost value to make it good enough to do the job. Treated pine wood may lack the quality of cedar wood, but it’s sufficient enough. Why build in extra quality if it serves no purpose?
There’s an elegant efficiency to the modern day quality mindset.
Make it as good as it needs to be… not as good as it can be
When Does Quality Matter?
I argue it has more to do with perception rather than some inherent desire for quality. I desire top quality cabinets because I see and use them every day. I will never see my subfloor again, so I only care that it’s good enough.
Luxury car companies focus heavily on finishes because customers see those finishes. When was the last time a car company bragged about the material they use for their seat padding? I bet you never asked to see the wiring inside your dishwasher. You only cared that it was good enough to do the job. But I bet you paid careful attention to the stainless steel strip on the outside.
The Quality Rule
Yes, some people in every market pay attention to the finer details of quality.
The homeowner who demands cedar sub floors no matter the extra expense.
The car buyer who devours technical specifications to ensure it meets his strict excellence criteria.
The reader who dismisses a book because of a misplaced comma.
These people are in the minority, but there is a market for these folks.
Most of us demand quality where it counts. And it counts where we can see, feel or hear it.
Most homeowners want a subfloor that is sufficient to meet their needs and outer flooring that is top notch.
Most car buyers want exquisite finishes, a strong enough engine and a smooth ride. Few buyers insist on a high-quality coolant system.
Most readers crave a great story and will forgive the occasional grammar issue.
As a business owner or freelancer, we first need to identify our market. Do we target the 1% who demand the cedar subfloors or do we target the buyers who want “good enough” subfloors and fancy flooring?
Before You Go…
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