Buist Sheet Metal’s Shining Legacy of Craftsmanship
“There will always be people who value high quality work, so if you maintain that, you’ll have work.” That’s the insight from his grandfather that resonates most with Don Buist, fourth generation leader of Buist Sheet Metal. In more than 20 years working for his family business, that is exactly the legacy he strives to honor.
Since 1947, Buist Sheet Metal has provided quality, custom architectural metal work to West Michigan. The family business specializes in standing seam metal roofs, metal wall panels, copper roofs and accents, and slate and clay tile roofing. Customizing everything in-house, they fabricate and install each of their jobs with care and precise attention to detail.
Finding their Niche
Making and forming their panels in house, they can create continuous length and custom width panels versus being limited by pre-made options. This, Don said, “Creates a really polished, finished look.”
With this expertise, the Buist family carved a niche in the industry. The family business has contributed to intricate, unique projects such as The Amway Grand Plaza’s Pantlind Hotel roof detailing, Grand Valley State University’s copper archway, metal paneling for the John Ball Zoo’s Bissell Treehouse, residential restoration projects throughout East Grand Rapids, and countless new homes.
With every project, they start from scratch, detailing the design and layout to ensure the result is seamlessly customized. The level of detail they put into roofs is above and beyond, Don shared. “We’re very intentional about the final look, making sure everything is aesthetically pleasing.” Describing the intricacies of numerous projects, Don’s pride in their work and reputation is evident.
Forging Relationships & Reputation
In exceeding the expectations of their partners and clients, they have built strong relationships in the building and architectural community.
“A lot of the work we do is built on the relationships we have with the builders and contractors who know and trust us, know and trust our team. We’ve earned their trust because we’ve problem solved; we’ve done complicated jobs.” The trust of their partners is testament to their skills, acumen, and legacy that they have carefully crafted through generations.
The Team
For the Buist Sheet Metal team, the precise work requires a specialized skill set, Don explained. The longevity of many of their team members is impressive, with several employees having tenured careers spanning multiple decades.
Currently looking to add new team members, Don shared that they are happy to mentor employees and help them gain valuable skills toward a meaningful, skilled career. He expressed, “I hope to continue to grow and develop new talent. And continue to bring in good, quality team members who can build on the quality of the past. We have a great young team. It’s a great place to be.”
The Early Days
Dating back three generations and almost 80 years, Don’s great grandpa, Gerrit, founded Buist Sheet Metal in 1947 out of his garage. Gerrit’s son, Don Sr., joined him shortly after. Don said during high school, his grandpa “would work from 6-8am before school. Then, my great grandpa would be waiting there when he got out of school and worked until 8pm.” By the time he finished 11th grade, Don’s grandpa wanted to work full time. Despite his dad’s protests, he did.
Within a few years, they built a small shop on the West Side, moving out of the garage. In 1956, the founder passed away unexpectedly, leaving his two sons to run the business. As Don explained, “In a lot of respects, it’s more like my grandpa and his brother were first-generation. They were in their 20s when their dad passed away. Their sister did the books, and they ran it together for 20+ years.”
Transitions
Don’s father, Jim Buist, graduated college in 1975 and began working full time for the company, eventually succeeding the business from his father. Don followed a similar path. He graduated with a business degree in 2005 and came on full-time, after seven summers of working for the business. Don started out working on job sites, often beside his grandfather in the early years. Witnessing his father and grandfather’s passion ultimately translated to his own.
After a forty-five-year career with Buist Sheet Metal, Jim succeeded the business to Don. Although Jim is no longer involved in the day-to-day operations, “he is always available as a sounding board for me,” shared the fourth-generation president.
Legacy
To this day, Don is passionate about the work of Buist Sheet Metal and its legacy. “My grandpa is 91. He’s happy to see the business is still thriving. He knows we’re doing good, high-quality work yet, and I think ultimately that makes him proud.”
Both through their contributions to custom homes and their renovation work, Don feels Buist Sheet Metal provides a unique service to the community. The family business has serviced ample historic homes, buildings, and churches throughout West Michigan, restoring their metal and copper work to maintain the original integrity or match details on future additions. Some have been repeat jobs, he explained. “There are properties I’ve worked on that my grandpa worked on.”
The Future of the Business
Aside from growing his team and the business in years to come, Don is excited about the future of Buist Sheet Metal and maintaining their niche. When it comes to his fifth generation following in his footsteps, he is open to many possibilities. “Time will tell,” he said, “and I’ve got time. It’s always in the back of my mind. I’ve built my life and career around the legacy before me, but my dad never pressured me to come in here. That’s exactly where I’m at with my family.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Email fba@fbagr.org if you are interested in exploring feature opportunities.
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