Custom ground-up homes
A custom home isn't a model from a catalog — it's drawn around the way your family lives, finished the way you want it, and built to last. We start with an empty lot and build the whole thing in-house, from the dirt to the front door.
A few directions to consider
Start with the feeling you want — we'll shape the plan around it. These are directions to spark ideas; your finished project is built to your lot and your life.
Modern
Clean lines, big glass, warm wood and stone — calm and simple.
Coastal Contemporary
Bright, airy, made to open up toward an ocean or a view.
Modern Farmhouse
Board-and-batten siding, a steep roof, and a welcoming porch.
What's included
- Designed around the way you live
- Built on your lot, from the ground up
- High-end finishes, inside and out
- One in-house team, start to finish
Start to finish
From the dirt to the front door
A custom ground-up home touches every phase of construction — from the first sit-down with the architect and engineer to the final walkthrough. Here's exactly what we do on a custom ground-up homes, so there are no gaps between the people who design it and the people who build it.
- 01
Sit-down planning with the architect & engineer
We start at a table, not a jobsite. The architect draws the home around the way your family lives and the way the lot sits, and the structural engineer signs off on how it holds up — layout, foundation, and the structural loads all worked out before a shovel goes in.
- 02
On-site walkthroughs to measure the lot
We walk the lot in person and take real measurements — setbacks, slope, existing trees, and where the view actually is. We survey and measure so the drawings match the dirt, not a guess.
- 03
City & state permitting and approvals
We submit the plans to the city, answer plan-check corrections, pull the permits, and handle the coastal and hillside reviews Orange County lots draw. You stay clear to build while we chase the approvals.
- 04
Demolition & site clearing
On a tear-down we safely demolish the old structure, haul off the debris, and clear the lot down to dirt — with dust control and recycling handled so the neighbors barely notice. On an empty lot, this is where we clear brush and get the pad ready to build.
- 05
Site preparation & grading
We clear and grade the lot, set the building pad, and dig the foundation. On a hillside lot we install the shoring and drainage so the dirt stays where it needs to before we pour.
- 06
Foundation & concrete
We form and pour the foundation — footings, slab, and stem walls — and let it cure to strength. The whole home sits on a base engineered for your soil and the loads above it.
- 07
Framing
The skeleton of the home goes up — floor joists, walls, and the roof structure. This is where the rooms finally take shape and you can walk through the house for the first time.
- 08
MEPS — mechanical, electrical, plumbing & solar
We rough-in the plumbing and electrical, set the HVAC, and wire for solar. Every system is laid out and inspected before the walls close up, so there's nothing hidden you can't get to later.
- 09
Lath, insulation & drywall
We insulate the walls and ceiling for heat and sound, hang and tape the drywall, and run the lath and moisture system the stucco and finishes anchor to. The house goes from a frame to real rooms.
- 10
Roofing & waterproofing
We install the roof and the underlayment beneath it and flash every opening — the single most important layer that keeps the home dry for the next thirty years.
- 11
Solar, batteries & energy systems
We install the solar array and battery backup and tie the system to the panel. A high-end home in California should make and store its own power, and we wire it in as part of the build, not as an afterthought.
- 12
Exterior finishes & siding
Stucco, siding, stone, and the exterior doors and windows go on — the curb appeal the neighborhood sees and the weather seal that protects everything inside.
- 13
Interior finishes, millwork & handover
Cabinetry, stone counters, tile, fixtures, paint, and the last hardware — then a full walkthrough where we fix the punch list and hand you the keys.
Scope we handle
New build on a vacant lot
Start with an empty lot and build a brand-new home from the dirt up — the most open canvas.
Tear-down & rebuild
Replace an older home with a new custom one, keeping the lot you already love.
Hillside & view lots
Sloped lots in Laguna Beach or above Newport Coast — engineered to hold and built to the view.
Modern, coastal & farmhouse styles
Board-and-batten, clean modern, or coastal styles drawn around your life and your lot.
Spec & investment homes
A ground-up build planned for resale or rental, finished to a standard that holds its value.
Where we build in Orange County
We build custom ground-up homes throughout Orange County — from flat residential lots in Irvine to hillside view lots above Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. Most of our projects sit within a short drive of our Irvine shop, which keeps the same in-house crew on the job from excavation to the final walkthrough.
Why homeowners trust us
- 30+ years of hands-on general contracting in Orange County
- California CSLB License #957315 — licensed, bonded, and insured
- One in-house team from design through handover, not a chain of subs
- Permits, engineering, and plan check handled for you
Not sure what you want?
A few questions to get you started
Most people don't have a finished plan yet — that's normal. Think through these while you look at the pictures above, then tell us where you land.
01
How do you actually use your house day to day?
Think about mornings, cooking, where the kids hang out, and where you want quiet.
02
What does the lot look like?
Flat, sloped, wide, narrow — the shape of the land shapes the home.
03
Which feeling do you want when you walk in?
Bright and open, cozy and warm, or bold and dramatic? Pick a direction.
04
What's your budget range, honestly?
A real range — even a wide one — lets us design to it instead of designing past it.
How it works
From idea to handed over
We plan it
We draw the home around your life, price it, and pull the city permits.
We build it
Our crew builds it — foundation, framing, systems, and the final finishes.
We hand it over
We walk it with you, fix the last details, and hand you the keys.
Backed by our 1-year build warranty
Per the board of contractors and our own standard, every new home we build is covered by a one-year warranty. If something we built isn't right in the first year, we come back and fix it — that's our promise on every ground-up build.
- A full 1-year warranty on the workmanship and materials we install
- If something we built fails in the first year, we come back and fix it — no charge
- One in-house team to call — not a chain of subs to chase
- Backed by 30+ years and California CSLB License #957315
Talk about your custom ground-up homes
Tell us a little about your project and your lot. Bryan Reed will call you back to talk it through.