Pasadera has been a Preferred Builder at Cordillera Ranch for almost 20 years now. They developed the lock and leave enclave known as Di Lusso, but they go back even further. Owner, Gabriel Garcia, remembers the initial project that cemented their reputation in the community. 

“When we first started building here in Cordillera, our first project was the Clubs at Cordillera. However, we had already cut our teeth on homes located inside the inner loop of Houston, which could be compared to the upper end custom building in Alamo Heights. We knew for us to be competitive, we had to use the same quality that everyone else was using, but do it better,” recalled Gabriel.

Being competitive is the name of the game in any market, but the drive for excellence and honesty is something Gabriel learned very early on from his father, who is also one of the partners at Pasadera. 

“When my dad got into the business, power drills didn’t even exist. He learned literally the old school way, but it was the right way; the quality way. He didn’t let me cut corners either. It was my dad’s integrity that taught me to be open and transparent and do things right,” added Gabriel. 

Gabriel’s first memory in the business goes back to when he was just 6 years old and his dad was building what was considered a high-rise hotel in McAllen, Texas — take that with a grain of salt. 

“My summers weren’t filled with things like summer camp. They were filled with Dad’s projects. He would give me a broom. I was always doing menial work because that’s how you learn; that’s the work ethic. So, when you clean, you clean to the best of your ability so you can appreciate everything above it,” shared Gabriel. 

That same work ethic is the foundation of Pasadera. Although Gabriel started out building Section 8 housing, commercial and industrial work, he really found his groove building higher end custom homes. 

“That’s where I found my passion and comfort zone. I really did find my home there. It’s easy to be consistent as opposed to trying to find ways to fake being good, like in the track market,” he said. 

Unfortunately, the level of technical expertise in this industry is such that most clients must rely on the guidance of their builder. Many just present clients with the choices they want them to make without explaining the reasons why. Not so with Pasadera. 

Gabriel and his team take the time to educate their customers as to why certain choices are made or recommended, and it’s always to the benefit of the client. When significant decisions need to be made, Pasadera will set up a meeting to present options to their clients and help them feel involved throughout the entire process. 

“Most of our clients do come to us saying, ‘You’re the expert and we’re going to rely on you to build the best quality house,’ but I like to educate the client about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it,” noted Gabriel. “I get a lot of joy when clients ask more questions than not because they’re really invested in what we’re doing with that detail. And if a client presents a method that provides a better product, I can weigh that information and decide which way is better.” 

An example of something that Gabriel will edify the client about is drywall and why they recommend it be thicker than necessary. Building code requires that the drywall on a house (up to two stories) be a minimum of half an inch, which is what most builders will then do. However, at Pasadera, it’s protocol to use 5/8-inch thick dry wall.

“It doesn’t sound like much, but that higher R-value makes the thermal envelope more efficient so that the home’s HVAC doesn’t have to work as hard to heat and cool,” he explained. “The added benefit to the client is that the more dense your wall systems are, the better the sound control between rooms.” 

Similarly, when it comes to the roof structure and open webbed trusses, Pasadera does what’s best, not what’s cheapest. Although the market dictates off-shelf structural members, Gabriel feels each truss set should instead be designed for each specific project.

“We expect each house to truly be a representation of each client. In this case, the architecture should represent that and the structure should reflect that as well,” he said. 

Although Gabriel and team are conscientious about staying up-to-date on trends, what’s more important to them is building homes that will stand the test of time. Gabriel is always on the search for the latest scientific innovations, but ones with means and methods that help the client and deliver true value. 

“It’s funny because early on high tech was the flavor of the day and everyone bought into it without understanding what it was. Today, clients have had some version of it that has left a bad taste in their mouth because it didn’t deliver,” said Gabriel. “Now, we look for tech that makes things simpler. Less is more, is our approach.” 

Lately, Gabriel has been absorbing the new science related to lighting and how it affects, not only our environment and the rooms we live in each and every day, but our health as well. Beyond picking fixtures and finishes, the Pasadera team takes the time to understand their clients’ unique lifestyle and how they can build a home that will best interact with and support it. 

“What’s never really been done before is creating the best lighting design to showcase the work we’ve done by being aware of how a client is going to use each room and identify what areas we should bounce light off of that are beneficial to the surfaces and finishes in the room. Plus, we use tech to set the proper lighting throughout the day so that residents can maximize the health benefits when it comes to circadian rhythms and overall well-being. It’s about creating an environment that not only highlights the beauty of the space but also enhances the health and comfort of the people living in it.,” said Gabe. 

Although there’s so much more we could say about why Pasadera has earned the appreciation and respect of their clients and the Cordillera Ranch community, Gabriel perfectly captured the sentiment when he said, “As a Preferred Builder, we strive for excellence in every project, ensuring that our commitment to superior design and detail remains unwavering. High level-craftsmanship and quality, no matter the economic climate, is always our intention.”

Pasadera Builders  
830.336.9131
PasaderaBuilders.com