diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/application.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/application.rb
index c9ec754f..5dd3058b 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/application.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/application.rb
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ module Middleman
     # Ready (all loading and parsing of extensions complete) hook
     define_hook :ready
 
+    # Runs after the build is finished
+    define_hook :after_build
+
     # Mix-in helper methods. Accepts either a list of Modules
     # and/or a block to be evaluated
     # @return [void]
@@ -103,21 +106,19 @@ module Middleman
     # @return [String, Symbold]
     config.define_setting :layout, :_auto_layout, 'Default layout name'
 
+    # Default string encoding for templates and output.
+    # @return [String]
+    config.define_setting :encoding, "utf-8", 'Default string encoding for templates and output'
+
     # Activate custom features and extensions
     include Middleman::CoreExtensions::Extensions
 
-    # Manage Ruby string encodings
-    include Middleman::CoreExtensions::RubyEncoding
-
     # Basic Rack Request Handling
     register Middleman::CoreExtensions::Request
 
     # Handle exceptions
     register Middleman::CoreExtensions::ShowExceptions
 
-    # Add Builder Callbacks
-    register Middleman::CoreExtensions::Builder
-
     # Add Watcher Callbacks
     register Middleman::CoreExtensions::FileWatcher
 
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ module Middleman
     register Middleman::CoreExtensions::ExternalHelpers
 
     # with_layout and page routing
-    register Middleman::CoreExtensions::Routing
+    include Middleman::CoreExtensions::Routing
 
     # Initialize the Middleman project
     def initialize(&block)
@@ -148,6 +149,11 @@ module Middleman
       # Setup the default values from calls to set before initialization
       self.class.config.load_settings(self.class.superclass.config.all_settings)
 
+      if Object.const_defined?(:Encoding)
+        Encoding.default_internal = config[:encoding]
+        Encoding.default_external = config[:encoding]
+      end
+
       # Evaluate a passed block if given
       instance_exec(&block) if block_given?
 
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions.rb
index 2267cd7c..ff17629b 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions.rb
@@ -4,9 +4,6 @@ require "middleman-core/core_extensions/request"
 # File Change Notifier
 require "middleman-core/core_extensions/file_watcher"
 
-# Add Builder callbacks
-require "middleman-core/core_extensions/builder"
-
 # Custom Feature API
 require "middleman-core/core_extensions/extensions"
 
@@ -28,6 +25,3 @@ require "middleman-core/core_extensions/routing"
 
 # Catch and show exceptions at the Rack level
 require "middleman-core/core_extensions/show_exceptions"
-
-# Manage Ruby string encodings
-require "middleman-core/core_extensions/ruby_encoding"
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/builder.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/builder.rb
deleted file mode 100644
index 71c4730a..00000000
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/builder.rb
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-module Middleman
-  module CoreExtensions
-
-    # Convenience methods to allow config.rb to talk to the Builder
-    module Builder
-
-      # Extension registered
-      class << self
-        # @private
-        def registered(app)
-          app.define_hook :after_build
-        end
-        alias :included :registered
-      end
-    end
-  end
-end
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/rendering.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/rendering.rb
index 4bcd3456..0d687ba0 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/rendering.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/rendering.rb
@@ -86,9 +86,7 @@ module Middleman
             Tilt.mappings.each do |key, klasses|
               begin
                 Tilt[".#{key}"]
-              rescue LoadError
-                Tilt.mappings.delete(key)
-              rescue NameError
+              rescue LoadError, NameError
                 Tilt.mappings.delete(key)
               end
             end
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/routing.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/routing.rb
index d0bf6c6d..338a2a78 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/routing.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/routing.rb
@@ -2,22 +2,6 @@
 module Middleman
   module CoreExtensions
     module Routing
-
-      # Setup extension
-      class << self
-
-        # Once registered
-        def registered(app)
-          # Include methods
-          app.send :include, InstanceMethods
-        end
-
-        alias :included :registered
-      end
-
-      # Routing instance methods
-      module InstanceMethods
-
         # Takes a block which allows many pages to have the same layout
         #
         #   with_layout :admin do
@@ -81,7 +65,6 @@ module Middleman
             { :options => opts, :blocks => blocks }
           end
         end
-      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/ruby_encoding.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/ruby_encoding.rb
deleted file mode 100644
index 3ff70b13..00000000
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/ruby_encoding.rb
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-# Simple extension to manage Ruby encodings
-module Middleman::CoreExtensions::RubyEncoding
-
-  # Setup extension
-  class << self
-
-    # Once registerd
-    def registered(app)
-      # Default string encoding for templates and output.
-      # @return [String]
-      app.config.define_setting :encoding,    "utf-8", 'Default string encoding for templates and output'
-
-      app.send :include, InstanceMethods
-    end
-
-    alias :included :registered
-  end
-
-  module InstanceMethods
-    def initialize
-      if Object.const_defined?(:Encoding)
-        Encoding.default_internal = config[:encoding]
-        Encoding.default_external = config[:encoding]
-      end
-
-      super
-    end
-  end
-end
diff --git a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/show_exceptions.rb b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/show_exceptions.rb
index 8c34612a..60cac3e8 100644
--- a/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/show_exceptions.rb
+++ b/middleman-core/lib/middleman-core/core_extensions/show_exceptions.rb
@@ -19,17 +19,11 @@ module Middleman
           app.configure :development do
             # Include middlemare
             if config[:show_exceptions]
-              use ::Middleman::CoreExtensions::ShowExceptions::Middleware
+              use ::Rack::ShowExceptions
             end
           end
         end
       end
-
-      # Custom exception class
-      # TODO: Style this ourselves
-      class Middleware < ::Rack::ShowExceptions
-      end
-
     end
   end
 end