Florida is recognized among the most desirable places to live in and visit. Living in the state is like going on a vacation right in your backyard. The Sunshine State has excellent sunny weather all year round, so trips to the beaches and theme parks are common activities. Its sports and food scenes are both intense and diverse. Since Florida has no state income tax, hard-earned money can be spent on leisure, savings, vacations, and other purposes. Its low cost of living and thriving economy provide residents with affordable housing, a relaxed lifestyle, and better job opportunities.
If you are planning to move to Florida and want to build a home, an experienced home builder should assist you. This article lists 10 of the best custom home builders in Florida. These firms have been in the industry for a long time and are composed of talented professionals. They are award-winning firms and a member of leading organizations and associations. Their projects range from single family homes to large custom homes and luxury residences.
E2 Homes
301 Circle Dr. Maitland, FL 32751
E2 Homes specializes in residential and commercial construction, remodeling, and green building. It is a renowned custom builder founded by Rob Smith in 2005. Smith is a Central Florida native and a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Under his leadership, E2 Homes has accomplished projects by designing homes that reflect and combine the client’s vision and the firm’s construction expertise. This method resulted in numerous excellent projects as well as awards. Among these honors are LEED Project of the Year designations, Home Design Awards in multiple categories from Orlando Magazine, and Parade of Homes Grand Award in the Remodeling category from the Greater Orlando Builders Association (GOBA).
This Lake Knowles Circle Custom Home in Winter Park City is a LEED Platinum-certified home. The project was created in collaboration with Michael Wenrich Architects. Its distinguishing characteristics include concrete elements that are enhanced by natural elements. The numerous large windows highlight the home’s exterior and interior’s select cypress tongue and groove. Additional features include an outdoor seating area, a pool, a geothermal heating and cooling system, and hardware-free kitchen cabinetry. These elements provided a clean and minimalistic style in the interior, complementing the contemporary exterior style.
Riverside Homes Custom
12276 San Jose Blvd. Suite 120, Jacksonville, FL 32223
Riverside Homes Custom centers its custom home projects on the clients. The Jacksonville-based firm collaborates with clients and architects for quality home construction and personalized experiences. Its design-build process allows a solution based on the clients’ personalities, lifestyles, and objectives. Its qualified team is detail-oriented when it comes to working in custom homes. From design concepts to project completion, it maintains constant communication with clients. At the same time, Riverside Homes Custom maximizes details in every aspect of the project. It employs current construction techniques and top-notch materials in its work. This practice ensures that quality and accurate details are represented in the project for an exceptional result.
Riverside Homes Custom was established in 2012. Since its establishment, the firm’s goal is to continuously deliver distinct and stunning homes for clients throughout Jacksonville and the surrounding area. It is consistently recognized for its quality and service. The Northeast Florida Builders Association (NEFBA) awarded the firm with Parade of Homes Gold and Silver Awards in the past years. St. Augustine Record, on the other hand, recognized the firm as the Best Home Builder in 2018 and 2019. Riverside Homes Customs is affiliated with NEFBA, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), and the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA).
Hedrick Brothers Construction
2200 Centrepark West Dr. West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Hedrick Brothers Construction is a highly qualified and versatile builder founded in 1979. It is a full-service firm that provides construction management and general contracting services to clients in the public and private sectors. Since its establishment, the firm has completed several commercial and luxury residential projects. These projects can be found in West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, Melbourne, and Orlando. Clients with high standards seek the firm out for its timeless craftsmanship and attention to detail. The Hedrick Brothers team is composed of talented professionals who are skilled and knowledgeable in home construction, renovation, and restoration.
Hedrick Brothers Construction won numerous awards for its dedication to making clients’ visions a reality. These awards include the Golden Eagle Award of Excellence from the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Florida East Coast Chapter, which the firm has consistently received since 2019. Hedrick Brothers Construction’s award-winning craftsmanship is evident in this Palm Beach project. The firm’s Luxury Residential Division served as the general contractor for the 2.7-acre oceanfront property’s development. The estate features classic exterior finishes that complement the contrasting contemporary interior. It was raised to accommodate the finished floor height and was outfitted with over 7,500 plants and trees to create a grand landscape. Portuguese limestone columns and entablature, Turkish shell stone paving, walnut paneling, and high gloss cabinetry are featured in the project.
Farina & Sons, Inc.
3432 Edgewater Dr. Orlando, FL 32804
Farina & Sons, Inc. is a family-owned business that has served discerning clients for 73 years. Its custom home-building process is based on clear and open communication. By establishing this communication, the firm connects with the clients on a personal level. This connection allows for continuous engagement, exchange of ideas, and a seamless integration of the design and construction aspects of the project. Whether the project is a new construction, renovation, or historic restoration, Farina & Sons, Inc. makes sure to understand its clients. Its team carries out projects by collaborating and embracing transparency and accountability. The firm’s commitment to clients remains even after a project is completed.
Farina & Sons, Inc. has been in the industry since 1950, a feat that is further emphasized by the number of awards it has received. The firm’s awards include Chrysalis and Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) Aurora Awards. The project featured is the Grand Award Winner of the 2021 Orlando Parade of Homes. The custom home is designed to accommodate expansive lakefront views. Large windows cover the living room that looks out into the infinity pool in the porch area and the lake. The interior finish of the home shows a natural color palette that perfectly complements the new property’s new hardscape and landscape.
Collins Builders
3840 Crown Point Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32257
Collin Builders offers services such as custom home construction, architectural design, project management, and demolition. The firm has been involved in the construction of some of the most stunning homes in Northeast Florida since 2003. It was founded by Ashley Collins, whose values of faith, family, and service to others have become the driving force of the firm. Each of Collin Builders’ homes showcases the firm’s high level of craftsmanship and commitment to quality. Its team ensures timely completion by regularly communicating with each other and using state-of-the-art technology. The NEFBA consistently recognized Collin Builders for its custom homes. In 2020, the association bestowed six Laurel Awards on the firm, including Best One-of-a-Kind Custom Home 3,501 to 5,000 square feet and Best Single Family Home 3,001 to 3,500 square feet.
The featured project is a Mediterranean-style home in the Mandarin neighborhood of Jacksonville. This home features many elegant details, with its stucco finish, wrought iron doors, and black and white checkerboard tiles. The project’s stunning exterior features a double courtyard with two-car garages. On the interior, the project has an open-concept kitchen and dining room that seamlessly connects to the family room. Its second floor is accessible via a custom-built floating curved staircase, elevator, or outdoor staircase. The second floor has a master bedroom with a walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom. Other features include three bedrooms—each with a bathroom—and a loft with a wet bar.
Charles Clayton Construction
2250 Lee Rd. Suite 120, Winter Park, FL 32789
Charles Clayton Construction (CCC) specializes in residential construction, including large and small custom homes, whole-house remodels, and green construction. Its mission is to provide services and projects that exceed expectations. CCC fulfills this goal by establishing a client-builder team. The firm collaborates closely with clients, maximizing budgets and plans to ensure exceptional project completions without sacrificing quality. When working on projects, its team offers clients white-glove service from the beginning to the end and beyond. The team utilizes cutting-edge technology and environmentally friendly materials for high performance and durability.
Paul Pistulka is the CEO of CCC, which was established in 1994. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s degree in general business. Pistulka leads a team of talented professionals dedicated to providing clients with the highest quality custom homes. Under his leadership, the team remains on top of trends and is in pursuit of knowledge every step of the way. For this dedication, CCC received multiple awards since its inception. Among these honors are the 35 SEBC Aurora Awards for custom homes and remodels. The project featured here is the winner of the 2013 Best in American Living Award (BALA) Gold Award One of a Kind over 6,501 square feet category.
Marker Construction Group
614 S. Federal Hwy. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Marker Construction Group is an award-winning firm committed to exceeding client expectations. The firm understands that each project is unique. Through meticulous planning and adapting practices per project, it believes it can deliver exceptional and customized results. Marker Construction Group will have a thorough understanding of the project, its feasibility, and any potential issues that may arise as a result of the collaboration. With this practice, the firm can find the best solutions to deliver projects on time, within budget, and of the highest quality.
Marker Construction Group offers design-build, pre-construction, construction management, lean construction, and sustainable construction services to its clients. At the same time, it provides clients with virtual construction services and public-private partnerships (P3). It was founded in 2001 and has since completed projects worth more than $1 billion. These projects range from custom homes to luxury residences, estates, and penthouses. Overseeing these projects is CEO and founder W. Grey Marker II. He is a certified general contractor in the state of Florida and is affiliated with the ABC and the Construction Association of South Florida (CASF). Under his leadership, the firm received constant growth and completed projects worth over $1 billion throughout the years. The South Florida Business Journal named Marker Construction Group among the 2019 Fastest-Growing companies in the region.
J.A. Long Design Builders
1677 Wells Rd. Suite D, Orange Park, FL 32073
J.A. Long Design Builders is a family-owned and operated firm based in Orange Park. It serves clients all over Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville and the counties of St. Augustine, Clay, Duval, and St. Johns. Founded in 1972, the firm is a master builder that specializes in custom home construction. Each of its projects is built on the foundation of strong client relationships. J.A. Long Design Builders can gain a thorough understanding of its clients by developing relationships with them. In this way, projects accurately reflect the client’s needs, personalities, and visions. The J.A. Long team is client-focused and strives to provide an exceptional experience that is personalized and seamless.
With five decades of experience, clients repeatedly turn to the firm for custom home projects. Whether clients are looking to build a simple home or a luxury estate, the firm delivers it with quality and service. Founder and CEO John A. Long is directly involved in each project. He has built a reputation for creatively designed and functional projects that began with the firm’s first custom home in Green Cove Springs. This reputation is still going on today, as evidenced by several recent exceptional projects. Long is a member of the NEFBA and served as a board member of the Clay County Board of Adjustment.
Taralon Homes
3113 S. Dale Mabry Hwy. Tampa, FL 33629
Taralon Homes is a custom home builder that was founded in 2011. The firm’s project goal is to provide a personalized service that is enjoyable and stress-free. The Taralon team is enthusiastic about what it does and works hard to find solutions that are best for the client. When working on projects, clients can expect attentive project management, transparency, responsiveness, and high-quality service from the team. These practices ensure that projects are completed with great value, style, and design. For a decade, the firm has delivered over 2,000 exceptional projects to many families. Several of these projects have received the Tampa Bay Parade of Homes Best Custom Home Awards.
Taralon Homes’ stellar reputation is attributed to founders Mike Bartoletta and Scott Kirchner. Both have worked under the highly respected Hannah Bartoletta Homes and have been in the industry for two decades. Bartoletta is known for his attentiveness and creative designs. He served as a former president of the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA) and was named the Tampa Bay Builder of the Year two times. Kirchner, on the other hand, is a leading corporate finance and operation manager. He collaborates closely with Bartoletta and the team on each building process to ensure that it is completed on time and within budget. His expertise in finance and management provides constant growth and development for the firm.
Woolems, Inc.
2301 Centrepark West Dr. Suite 150, West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Woolems, Inc.’s vision is to set the standard in the luxury construction industry. To realize this vision, it brings high-quality craftsmanship, solid teamwork, and a commitment to client satisfaction. Its diverse portfolio showcases this vision in projects, such as luxury custom homes, historic restorations, condominium improvements, commercial spaces, and clubhouse projects. In charge of these projects is the president James Woolems, who founded the firm in 1977. Integrating art in construction is the basis of his firm’s exceptional projects. For four decades, it successfully grew to become among the leading and trusted firms in the area.
Woolems, Inc. has been featured in industry publications, which include Luxe Interiors and Design, Architectural Digest, Art & Culture of Palm Beach, The Luxury of Home, and Florida Architecture. These publications showcased the firm’s expertise and craftsmanship in a variety of architectural styles. Contemporary homes, which is the style of the house featured here, are one of its specialties. The home is located in the Venetian Islands in Miami Beach. It has a smooth stucco exterior and ipe decking and door cladding. A long elevated cantilevered swimming pool with a mosaic tile finish and a glass wall at the end is the highlight of the project. The pool is located on the second floor and offers the owners expansive views of Biscayne Bay. Other project standouts include floor-to-ceiling windows in the living areas and circular skylights.
