Who We Are
Strange Bird Builders was founded by owner and builder Dylan Walton — a craftsman, climber, and seeker of wild places.
"I never dreamed that construction would be my calling in life. I wanted to explore the world, climb mountains and see what was over the next horizon. I grew up in a world of family members and friends who built for a living and that was the life I wanted to leave behind. I hit the road in a van with nothing much more than a wooden platform I had cobbled together from repurposed wood , a sleeping bag for warmth and a small stove to cook with. Eventually I built a cabinet to put things in instead of a plastic tote. It wasn't much but that cabinet gave the inside of that van a bit more life. It wasn't just a utilitarian space, it was a home."
Finding Purpose
"Over the many miles the van grew into more of a home. I dug back in the memory banks and put those woodworking skills I had learned as a kid to work to create a rolling home that was more and more a space that represented me as a person.
Then through what I can only attribute to luck or fate I eventually landed a job with a company that let me combine traveling to cool places with climbing and construction. I became a professional zip line builder."
Living and Learning
"For many years I roamed all over the United States alternating between hard days on job sites and exciting days in the mountains or by the sea. I learned about the world around me as I also honed my craft as a carpenter and builder. On the rare occasions that building towers, climbing and surfing didn't keep me completely busy I also found extra work helping apply my skills in residential settings.
Throughout this time I came to realize that the space around us is critical to how we live. The atmosphere around us, the people we spend time with and the spaces we spend that time in shape who we are as humans. This in turn shapes how we show up in the world and the impact we leave on it."
The Birth of Strange Bird
"While I still spend time out in the world traveling and building zip lines and towers I also found myself wanting to apply my skills closer to home, to find a balance of time on the road and time spent with family. I began to take on more clients here at home and thus Strange Bird Builders was born.
At first these projects were small but slowly with the help of people willing to trust us to bring their visions to life we have grown.
The Heart of the Business
At the heart of my life I have always been led by a need to find the next adventure.
Something I have learned in my journey from the child of a craftsman to rock climbing vagabond to craftsman in my own right is that at the heart of it there is adventure in both.
I have come to realize that the intention and focus it takes to climb a cliff or catch a wave is much the same as the intention it takes to bring a vision for a space to life.
The heart of Strange Bird Builders is to bring this intention to every project no matter how big or small. I want to create spaces that allow people to live the most authentic version of their lives.
Just like every mountain has its own beauty, every home should reflect the uniqueness of the people who live in it. Whether it’s a custom home, a remodel or a fence, deck or other addition my goal is always the same: create environments that inspire, support, and elevate the people who live in them.
