When David Godbolt of Sentinel Construction worked on his disabled brother’s home a couple of years ago, he was surprised to learn that no other contractor in the area specialized in that type of work — and there were only few statewide. He saw an unmet need for senior and disabled clients who have physical constraints or safety concerns in standard homes.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with seniors, so tying it all together made sense,” he said. “They make great clients.”
Over the past two years, Sentinel Construction has implemented new services for those special needs while remaining a full-service contractor. From small changes like installing roll-in showers or temperature-control valves to entire remodels, Sentinel takes in jobs big or small.
A lot can be done to help seniors be safer in their homes, Godbolt says. Often times, these individuals may resort to living in a group setting, but with the adjustments his company can make the seniors can instead live at home. This is where Sentinel gets creative: cabinets with low-level storage, various types of bars, hardwood floors that are wheelchair-friendly, exterior ramps, even stairway lifts for apartment buildings — these are only some of the tools used.
But, Godbolt says, it’s wise for people to think ahead about their future. So even for clients who don’t have immediate special requirements, he considers universal, adaptable design that can be easily transformed as the homeowners’ needs change in the future.
“It has to be tasteful so it doesn’t look like you’re in a hospital and it’s visitable,” Godbolt said.
His father owned an architectural design firm, so Godbolt grew up in the construction business, helping out during the summer and on weekends. With Pioneer Square restoration and Alaska pipeline work under his tool belt, he has pretty much done the entire spectrum: grocery store remodeling, government work, and pharmacy construction. But when the travel got to be too much as he started a new family, he decided it was time for a change, and about six years ago founded Sentinel Construction.
The company has two to four employees as well as a handful of sub-contractors, and has National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) certification for CAPS (Certified Aging in Place). A member of the Homebuilders Association of Kitsap County and active in its Remodelors Council, Godbolt is also working on a CGR (Certified Graduate Remodeler) Certification, a very thorough training that involves a variety of courses and tests.
Godbolt still doesn’t travel much for the job: The company keeps its work primarily in central and north Kitsap as well as Jefferson County, to keep the commute time down and be more efficient. Although specializing has its advantages, it also comes with a stigma sometimes. So he keeps educating prospective customers that the company can do much more.
Still, working with seniors is a nice addition, he says. “Often times, they have been through the construction process before, and they are more appreciative of the attention to detail we have to give for their needs, which takes extra time,” he said. “They really appreciate our hard work.”
