Hampton Roads Builders
Few Words From Virginia's Finest Home, Garage and Shed Builders.
Dear Hampton Roads resident,
Something tells us you’re in search for the top builders in the area.
Looking to have a new home, storage shed, garage or anything else built?
Perhaps, you’re into something more complex like a custom home!
Whichever it may be, we’re here to help you do it RIGHT and the best part is… we provide FREE estimates on every new project!
We’re at (757) 349-7995, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions and we’ll be happy to help you schedule your estimate.
Before you move any further, here are of the most commonly asked questions about our builder services:
What’s a complete list of things your do?
When it comes to building, we do it all. Mostly new home construction, attached & detached garages and storage sheds, room additions as well as bathroom, kitchen and home remodeling and renovation work. We are the contractors who handle it all and yes, we do renovate as well and provide no-cost estimates.
What areas do you serve?
All of the Hampton Roads, to include Virginia Beach as well as Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Pungo and Newport News, VA.
What do I get at a FREE estimate?
First thing first, we figure out exactly what you’re looking to have built and what it should look like, whether it’s a new home, shed or a huge garage. Then we’ll go over plans, options and pricing that will essentially depend on the size and complexity of your project.
Looking To Build a New House, Garage or Shed?
The process of building a new structure may seem daunting, but while it is complicated, it doesn’t need to be difficult. Taking a step-by-step approach. spending time looking at what your needs are, and deciding how best to meet them takes some time, but it will prevent possible issues in the long run. Especially in the steps after contractors are hired, delays due to poor planning or stalled permits can not only be time consuming, but costly. Speaking of contractors, knowing how to vet and compare different contracting companies and making sure you find one that suits the needs of your project is one of the most important determining factors in the success of your project. In this article we’ll take you through the process step-by-step and make sure that by the time the foundation of your structure is laid, you’ve set yourself up for a smooth and efficient project that makes the most of your resources.
Planning
The planning stage is the one that takes your project from a daydream to a strategy. Inexperienced property owners have a tendency to rush through this stage because they’re excited to see their structure being built, but it’s important to spend the necessary time making sure that what you’re building is really what you’re going to want over the long haul. Be sure to see our builder services page to see if we provide a service you’re looking for.
Assessing Your Needs
Whether you’re building a new home that you hope to house your family for generations, a simple potting shed, or something in between, you’ll need to have a clear idea of what your structure needs to accomplish. You’ll need to address this in two ways- in terms of what your structure needs to house and what activities need to take place within it. Obviously, houses will have more activities and those activities will be complex, but that’s to be expected in an investment the size of a new home. For homes, consider the realistic needs of your family. If you rarely entertain, a formal dining room is probably not the best use of your resources, whether in terms of time or money. For smaller projects, it’s a much simpler process, but don’t let that fool you into thinking you can make these decisions on the fly. For example, think of a freestanding garage. You’ll probably want to house a vehicle or two, but do you also plan to use it for overflow storage for what doesn’t fit in the attic? What about recreational gear? These things add up, so take the time to list all the things you hope to house in your new garage. Next, turn to activities. Are you hoping to work on your cars, take up a hobby, air out camping gear? All of these things require space, so be ruthlessly honest about what you plan to do in your new structure, bit by bit, until you are sure you know how to best plan for these activities.
Evaluating the Space
Now that you know what you need your building to do for you, turn your attention to the lot it will be built on. Take into account any peculiarities or liabilities while you make your plans. Orienting your structure properly is an important part of this step. If you’re building a gardening shed, for instance, you’ll need to consider where seedlings will be able to receive sunlight. Proper drainage, sun exposure, views, and other factors will make certain areas of the property more or less suitable to your needs. Make sure you consider this before moving forward, because once a foundation is laid, it’s difficult to change.
Permits
This step can be a convoluted and frustrating one. Fortunately, there are offices specifically designed to the answer any questions you have about the process. Don’t hesitate to avail yourself of them! The last thing in the world you want is to finish building a beautiful new patio, only to find that it needs to be torn down a redone just because you used the wrong diameter lag bolt. Do we serve your city? Find out here.
Meeting Requirements
The first, easiest, and most important thing to do is to contact the office responsible for your type of structure and review all of the codes and laws that might apply. For a complex structure like a house, you won’t need to go through the code line-by-line unless you plan to build your entire house on your own. Reliable contractors for things like electricity, plumbing, and window installation will know those codes and guarantee that their work will meet them. Architects and landscape designers should offer the same assurances (we’ll get into this further in a later section.) Therefore, before you contact your building office, make a list of every type of work you plan on doing yourself so you know what information you need.
Inspections
The best advice for any structure that requires you to schedule an inspection is: Plan to fail. Allow your project the time to fail at least one inspection, making sure that it won’t throw you behind schedule and over budget if it happens. The worst case scenario here is that you do fail, in which case, you’re on track just like you planned. It’s not unheard of for multiple inspections to be required, even on small structures, especially when they’re being built by amateur builders. If this describes you, look at inspections as a learning opportunity and not a burden. The inspectors want you to pass, so ask as many questions as you need to to make your second inspection a successful one.
Design
Architecture and design are not just about making a space look good. In fact, you’ve probably heard the mantra of any good designer, even if you haven’t ever done any design yourself, “form follows function.” This means that the use of a space has to come first, and the appearances should always be secondary to utility. For complex projects like homes, you’ll almost certainly need to hire an architect. For simpler things, you are completely capable of tackling the design yourself.
Understanding How You Work and Live
Firstly, you’ll need to revisit the first exercise in this article- the examination of the activities that take place within each space you’re designing. You’ll need to go even deeper into your habits this time. If you’re building a kitchen, how do you cook? What do you reach for, and where will it need to be stored in order to be convenient? If you’re building a shed, how will you access the things you use the most often? What effects will weather have on that access? In a garage, what happens if you buy a different sized car? Look at your habits and preferences as objectively as possible so that you’ll have a clear picture of what your space should look like.
Resources
If you’re designing your structure on your own, take advantage of the many websites and apps that are available to help you visualize spaces as you design them. Some of them will even help you take the measurements you need using your camera phone.
It’s also helpful to look at similar structures that inspire you or look like what you hope your finished product will look like. Whether you’re doing the work yourself or hiring someone to design your structure, having a clear point of view will make your life easier. There are a lot of decisions that go into final design choices, and knowing what works best for you make the overall time go by so much faster.
Hiring a Designer
If you do decide to use a designer or architect, there are some things you should look for to help ensure you receive the attention to detail you need. First, ask to see other pork they’ve done in similar spaces. While someone may have a thousand glorious exterior shots of the hotel they helped build, it’s not really reflective of what the work they do for private individuals is going to look like. Remember that these photos are simply to reference their design sensibility. Don’t ask for an exact copy of work they’ve done before because that asks them to ignore the photos if you don’t think your styles match, or agreeing and then needing to tone down their best work.
Other than that, ask around! Word of mouth is the strongest, and best way to make sure that whoever works on your project is going to be competent, trustworthy, and timely.
Contractor Selection
Choosing a contractor is a nightmare for lots of people. The imbalance of information between contractor and
contract-ee has been very difficult in the years before the internet came along and leveled the playing field. Now we have the opposite problem- there’s simply too much information out there. So what can we do? Consider the few criteria that are really important and prioritize those.
Obviously you want to find a contractor with good reviews, but what do we mean when we say, “good reviews?” The most important thing is that they are pleasant to work with, and communicate well. In many cases, these are people you’ll be spending a lot of time with, so personality matters. You need to be able to convey your goals for the project, ask questions comfortably, and deal with curve-balls with these contractors, so prioritize a healthy working relationship. Equally important is that the professionals you choose will guarantee their work against regulations the government requires. Another good sign is when your contractor is busy enough to be in demand, but not so isolated they can’t handle a job of the size you’re offering. Repeat business customers are very important, too.
Common Pitfalls
One of the big mistakes we see people make is that they under-interview their candidates. Contractors are your employees for however long the contract lasts, so make sure you give them at least that much attention. Another big issue for someone looking to hire a contractor is that, as a buyer, you may not know what you want or how to articulate it. If that’s the case spend some time making a vision board or collage that shows what you’re wanting the final outcome to be. Your designer probably won’t take that word-for-word (or shot for shot, etc.), but they will be glad to be given specific, visual direction.
Finally, make sure you enjoy the process! It’s scary to build something that’s your own pet project, but once you’ve put your years of experience into an organized calendar could be just the thing you need!
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