Custom Homes
Design-build custom homes on Whidbey Island, from the raw lot through design, site work and construction, with the same design-builder in every phase.
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Anacortes sits on Fidalgo Island, and about 17,900 people live there. Lots here run from in-town blocks to water view acreage on the island's west and north shores. The city's own housing report puts detached single family homes at about 81 percent of the housing stock. Many of those houses went up in the 1980s and 1990s, the two fastest growing decades in the city's history.
Culver Built is a custom home builder in Anacortes, WA, based in Langley on South Whidbey Island. We design and build custom homes on Whidbey Island, and we cross the Deception Pass Bridge to work here. We also remodel older houses, replace siding and roofs, and build decks and concrete patios. Call or text (360) 544-9027 for a free estimate.
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Building lots around Anacortes come in a few shapes. Some look west over Rosario Strait toward the San Juan Islands. Some sit in the woods above Whistle Lake or Heart Lake, on acreage below Mount Erie. Others are in-town lots near Old Town, where the street and the utilities are already in.
Each of those lots asks for a different first phase. A wooded lot needs clearing, a building pad and a driveway before a foundation goes in. A sloped lot needs a plan for where the rain goes. We do that clearing, grading and drainage work with our own excavators, dump trucks and a skid steer.
We build one home at a time, with the same design-builder from start to finish. That is what design and construction under one contractor means in practice. The company has more than 30 years of building experience and is licensed, bonded and insured. Before construction we build an estimating study: a full materials list priced with local vendors.
The 1990s were the fastest growing decade Anacortes has had, and the 1980s were close behind. Growth slowed sharply after 2010. So a large share of the housing here is 30 to 45 years old. It shows in the same places every time.
Kitchens are closed off from the living space, and bathrooms are small. Siding has soft spots near the ground, and the roof is on its second life. We handle whole home remodels, kitchens, bathrooms and additions. We find and fix structural, weather and moisture problems while we work.
The city's housing report also notes that Anacortes skews older than Skagit County, especially over 70. Many remodel calls here are about staying put: a wider doorway, a step free shower, a main floor bedroom. The city counted 334 seasonal or recreational units, about 4 percent of its housing. Some of the work here is on second homes.
Inside city limits, Anacortes runs its own building permits. On March 15, 2024 the city adopted the 2021 building and residential codes. The 2021 Washington State Energy Code came with them. We plan the insulation, windows and ventilation package so the permit set passes.
Anacortes asks for a permit on more work than people expect. The city lists re-roofs, siding, interior remodels, decks, additions and window and door replacement as permit work. Sheds up to 144 square feet with no heat or plumbing are exempt. So are retaining walls 4 feet or under with no unbalanced backfill.
The city also regulates critical areas under Anacortes Municipal Code Chapter 19.70. That covers wetlands, streams, frequently flooded areas, aquifer recharge areas and geologically hazardous areas. On a sloped or waterfront lot, that review can move where the house sits and how the drainage runs. Outside city limits on Fidalgo Island, permits go through Skagit County Planning and Development Services in Mount Vernon.
Whidbey Island is our home ground. We are based in Langley on South Whidbey, and Anacortes is a town we travel to. The route is State Route 20 north up Whidbey and over the Deception Pass Bridge onto Fidalgo Island. We keep no office and no yard in Anacortes.
That drive shapes how we run a job here. We book full days on site instead of short trips, and we stage materials on the lot. It is the same way we work the rest of the Skagit Valley. We also do roof assessments and roof replacement, siding, decks and paver work on homes we did not build.
Inside city limits the city supplies the water. It comes from a treatment plant beside the Skagit River in Mount Vernon. Outside city limits, wells and septic systems are common on Fidalgo Island. Ask Skagit County what your parcel has before you buy a lot.
Communities and areas we serve around Anacortes: Skyline, Old Town, Ship Harbor, Cap Sante, Anaco Beach, Shannon Point, March Point, Washington Park, Mount Erie, Whistle Lake, Heart Lake, Guemes Channel.
Anacortes ZIP codes served: 98221.
Free estimates throughout Skagit County and the surrounding area.
(360) 544-9027 Design-build custom homes on Whidbey Island, from the raw lot through design, site work and construction, with the same design-builder in every phase.
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We remodel Whidbey Island homes, from one room to the whole house. Kitchens, bathrooms, additions and exterior remodels, all under one contractor.
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Culver Built is a design-build contractor based in Langley on South Whidbey Island. We carry a custom home or a remodel from concept through design, estimating and construction.
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We design and build custom wood and composite decks across Whidbey Island. Ironwood decking and cable railing on view decks, built for a wet marine climate.
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Concrete patios, walkways and driveways on Whidbey Island, including stamped and colored concrete. We handle the base and the drainage under the slab with our own equipment.
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We build paver patios, walkways, steps and the outdoor living areas that tie them to the house. Every one gets the excavation, base and drainage that Whidbey Island ground needs.
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Cedar shingle, fiber cement and composite siding on Whidbey Island homes. We handle the house wrap, the flashing and the rot we find under the old wall.
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We look at the whole roof before we price the work. Metal roofing and asphalt shingle roofs on Whidbey Island homes.
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We clear, excavate, grade and drain the building site before the foundation goes in. Driveways, building pads, utility trenching and demolition are part of the same phase.
Learn MoreReal reviews from real island projects on Google.
Jeff and his team were incredible to work with, and I cannot recommend them highly enough! I approached Jeff with only a vague idea of what I wanted, and together we worked to create an outdoor space that was a thousand times better than anything I could have imagined on my own. He’s got a great eye and sense for space, and I really appreciated his passion for, and collaborative approach to our project. The guys he employs are kind, respectful and talented. I’ve done a number of projects with crews before, and I was so impressed with both the quality of work and professionalism across the entire team. We’re already freaking up future projects, and I genuinely am looking forward to working with Culver Builds again and again!
I highly recommend Jeff Culver and his team. They replaced my roof, demolished an outbuilding, and helped me with a foundation and siding project. Jeff was up-front about cost and communicative as the project went on. I will use Culver again for future projects.
We purchased our dream home on the west side of Whidbey Island above the Puget Sound with 180-degree views of the water and the Olympic Mtns. While we knew the driveway would need to be redone eventually, we soon learned that proper drainage to protect the house and garage had never been installed when the house was originally built. Jeff and his team resolved all of our issues. In front of our garages, Jeff installed proper French drains, a catch basin, and sump pump that pumps the water away. At the same time, Jeff installed proper drainage around the house. Our driveway was a packed dirt path with virtually no stone base. Jeff initially properly graded the driveway before first add a stone base, then a finishing base. After compacting the stone material, our driveway is almost as hard as concrete or asphalt and is 2-3 feet wider and more accessible. While Jeff was working near the garage with his excavator, he accidentally hit the gutter. Jeff immediately told me what happened and within 48 hours, Jeff had an outside gutter company come in and replaced the entire gutter. I appreciated his upfront honesty. As to communication, Jeff could not have been better. I found him through a Google search. He returned my original call within 2 hours. On Whidbey Island you are lucky to even have a contractor return any call. Jeff came out the same day to scope out the work and started the job within 10 days in my case. He and has team where there each day continuing to make progress. Needless to say, I give Jeff a 5-star review and when the next project comes up, I will certainly be reaching out to Culver Construction. Think this review isn’t legit, think again. I’m a small business owner with 50 employees, worked with countless vendors and customers. I know what good service looks like and when it isn’t.
We recommend Jeff Culver because he is reliable, hard- working, and creative. So we thought a simple driveway was a piece of cake, NOT! Jeff had solutions, great design concepts (that we never thought of...), and he LISTENED to us! His creativity and personal attention made this a win-win for us. We are very pleased with the final result. It has improved the appearance & value of our property. Yes! We recommend Culver Construction!
Met or exceeded expectations in all aspects. Communication, follow up and job execution were all top notch. Highly recommended!!
What started as a small demolition project turned into something much more complicated. Jeff and team not only handled the demolition, but they also helped solve a myriad of other problems, including figuring out how to handle a significant amount of water that had pooled under the dilapidated structure as well as hillside water runoff (which was done via a curtain drain and other features added to the property). They were respectful of our neighbors, taking care to minimize the impact of their heavy machinery to surrounding easements and property. Overall, we’re very pleased with the outcome and are looking forward to new uses for the cleared and restored property.
Jeff is super knowledgeable through all phases of construction and great to work with. Looking forward to our next project!
A few of the questions we hear most around Anacortes. If yours is not here, call or text and ask.
Tell us about the lot or the house and what you want to build. You can also call or text (360) 544-9027 to set up a free estimate.
Tell us about the job. We will get right back to you.