I’m not sure if any of you have been following the Mom Chats Dad Chats house saga online, but it is heartbreaking.
To sum it up, content creators Suzanne and Dillon had a company build what was supposed to be their dream home, only to discover serious construction defects, moisture problems, and mold. What should have been an exciting new chapter has turned into a nightmare of extensive repairs, a legal battle with their builder, and having to move out of their home. They’ve been sharing their heartbreaking and frustrating journey with millions of followers on social media. Even if you aren’t familiar with their story, unfortunately, it’s one that many people can relate to.
There are so many incredible builders and tradespeople out there who take tremendous pride in their work. But there are also those who cut corners, compromise quality, and leave homeowners paying the price. And sometimes that price goes far beyond money.
One of the things Dillon has talked about is how fortunate they are to have the knowledge and resources to fight for their home. He is an attorney himself, and even with that experience, they are facing a long and difficult battle. He has pointed out that many families don’t have those same resources. Some are left living in homes that are falling apart around them, dealing with health concerns, or facing repairs they simply cannot afford. And that is heartbreaking.
It’s something my dad talks about often. To quote him:
“For many, this is the biggest purchase of their life. This is their HOME. They are going to LIVE in it. To not handle these people with the utmost INTEGRITY is criminal.”
I couldn’t agree with him more.
I usually don’t like to focus on the problems in the construction industry when talking about Lincoln Block. I believe in our building system so much that I think we can focus on all the wonderful things it does and the problems it solves. But following this story has me all up in my feels. Because I think about the families out there who trusted someone to build their home, invested their life savings, and ended up with something that wasn’t built the way it should have been. We can’t go back and fix everything that has already been done. But I come from a “know better, do better” way of life. We are always learning, growing, and finding ways to improve. And I think it’s time we take a hard look at how we can do better when it comes to housing.
There are so many reasons why Lincoln Block exists. Necessity is the mother of invention, after all.
When I ask Dad why he invented Lincoln Block, he usually takes a deep breath, lets out a sigh, and then launches into the history of housing and why we build the way we do today. He’ll tell you about the changes he watched happen in the construction industry over the decades. How large corporate builders entered the market and how he believes that shift affected many independent craftsmen and tradespeople. He’ll tell you about when OSB became popular in construction and how he once stuck a piece in a bucket of water just to see what would happen. (We live in Washington. Dad is ALWAYS thinking about what water will do to building materials.) When he saw it swell, he knew he didn’t want to use it on a roof. He’ll explain all the different layers and components needed to make a traditional stick-framed home strong, sturdy, and able to withstand the elements. And then he’ll start talking about commercial construction. About brick and block buildings and how masonry has been used for centuries to create structures that stand the test of time.
And eventually, he’ll ask you a question:
“WHY AREN’T WE BUILDING OUR HOMES LIKE THIS?”
And the thing is, in many places around the world, we do! But traditional brick and block construction comes with its own challenges. It can be expensive, labor-intensive, and difficult to insulate efficiently. Dad knew there had to be a way to take the simplicity and strength of block construction and create something that made sense for residential housing. Over the years, he’d seen other companies attempt to create wood-block building systems. He even worked with some of them. And while there were some good ideas, he felt they were overcomplicating things. He wanted something affordable. Something sustainable. Something simple enough to manufacture and build with, without sacrificing strength or quality.
And eventually, that thinking led him to invent Lincoln Block.
Lincoln Block is an interlocking structural wood block building system that combines the simplicity of block construction with the benefits of building with wood.
It was designed to offer a strong, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and affordable alternative to traditional stick-frame construction. But for us, it’s about more than inventing a different way to build. It’s about giving people better options. Because your home should be your safe place. Your sanctuary. More than just a shelter. You deserve a home built with quality materials that are meant to last. A home that can be passed down through generations without the constant worry of major repairs. A home where you feel safe, comfortable, and healthy. And you deserve to have affordable options when it comes to building that home.
We aren’t just trying to change the way people build houses. We’re trying to change what people can expect from the homes they build. Because somewhere along the way, we’ve become accustomed to accepting less than we deserve when it comes to housing. We’ve accepted that quality comes with an outrageous price tag. That building a home has to be complicated, expensive, and overwhelming. That cutting corners is just part of doing business.
But why?
Why shouldn’t we expect better? Why shouldn’t we DEMAND better?
We have the knowledge. We have the technology. We have generations of experience to learn from. And we have the ability to rethink how we build homes for the future. So why aren’t we? I don’t believe that doing things the way they’ve always been done is a good enough reason to keep doing them that way. And I certainly don’t believe that building better homes should be a luxury reserved for those who can afford it. That’s why Lincoln Block exists. That’s what we’re working toward. And that’s why we believe so deeply in what we’re doing. And through it all, our goal as a company will always be to treat our customers like family. To listen, to care, to stand behind what we do, and to approach every project with integrity.
Because at the end of the day, Dad is right.
For many people, this IS the biggest purchase of their lives.
This is their HOME.
They are going to LIVE in it.
And that is not something we take lightly. ❤️