Tightline Construction

Annie Patrick

STEVE BALDRICK DOESN’T CARE TO talk about himself, but he becomes animated when the conversation turns to the houses he builds.

What makes Steve’s company, Tightline Construction, such a success? In part, it is the camaraderie of the people who work there. After a few years of going it alone, Steve joined forces with Walter Jenkins, who has a strong background in construction in Kiawah Island and elsewhere around the Lowcountry. That left Steve free to concentrate on the design aspects of the business, but it wasn’t long before he needed help.

Rebecca Bryan arrived at Tightline Construction by the scenic route. Originally from New Zealand, she worked in Antarctica before landing in the Charleston area.

“I’ve come to adore the Isle of Palms, and Sullivan’s Island has such character,” she exclaims immediately after telling me she has “the best design job in the world.”

I can believe that. Suzi Baldrick, Steve’s wife and a real estate agent on the Isle of Palms, has just taken me on a tour of Tightline Construction’s most recent project— the family’s new home on the Intracoastal Waterway. You might expect a builder’s home to be constructed to the highest possible standards and you’d be right, but this kind of quality isn’t out of reach for everyone else. Steve says he enjoys building on spec—buying a lot and creating homes that bring to mind a mix of downtown Charleston and Sullivan’s Island.

“We try to establish a theme,” Steve says.

“We bounce ideas off each other.” Rebecca chimes in, “Suzi and I have such fun designing the interiors. We’d go on shopping trips and one thing would lead to another.”

Suzi admits she enjoys the design process, but her real contribution comes through her real estate expertise. As an agent, she is always on the lookout for a good lot to build on as well as a prospect for one of Tightline’s homes. It helps that she and Steve are raising their family on the Isle of Palms.

“We’re part of the community; we live the island life,” she says.

They also know what is important to help preserve that way of life. Quality is the key—not only in using the best materials available but in using the right subcontractors—to building a house that is able to withstand the forces of a hurricane.

Steve says, “We have a good group of subcontractors. Anything has a price. A sub could be 30 percent lower, but I’d rather go with a proven winner.”

Steve stops for a moment to consider, then says, “What surprises me—not one of our homes is in a vacation rental program. They’re mostly second homes.” It’s not surprising at all. A home built by Tightline Construction is obviously a home people enjoy living in.

For further information contact Tightline Construction at (843) 810-7888