Site Development
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.
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Build on your land with one company, from the raw lot to the finished house. Culver Built is based in Langley on South Whidbey Island, and we build custom homes on island land. We do the site work with our own equipment, and we design and build the house. The same design-builder is involved in every phase, one home at a time.
Island County will not accept a building permit submittal for a new home until several items are in hand. They are a site registration and septic design, an approved access permit, an address and a water availability verification. A septic designer you hire prepares the septic design, and we plan our site work around it. Our design-build process keeps design, site planning, estimating and construction under one contract.
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Start with water. Under RCW 19.27.097, a building permit applicant must show evidence of an adequate water supply. An application for a water right is not enough proof. Island County's Water Availability Verification has one form for an individual well and one for a public water system.
An individual well is a private well serving one home. A well serving more than one parcel, or a Group A or B system, is a public water system. Island County also rates areas across the county for seawater intrusion risk: Low, Medium, High or Very-High.
A site registration shows whether the lot can support a septic system. A licensed designer you hire does it and assesses soil depth, texture and water tables. A driveway onto a county road needs an approved access permit from Island County Public Works, and a first access onto a state highway goes through the state Department of Transportation.
We do the site work with our own excavators, a mini excavator, dump trucks and a skid steer. The septic plan shows where the well, drainfield, house and driveways go. We plan clearing and grading around that plan before a machine moves.
State rules keep a drainfield and its reserve area at least 100 feet from a drinking water well. We draw the house in-house to fit the lot, or build from your architect's set. Our design-build vs design-bid-build guide compares the two paths. A licensed engineer stamps what the plans require, and we coordinate that work.
Our estimating study prices a full materials list with local vendors, then adds labor and work orders. You see a clear bottom line. We prepare and submit the permit set with its energy code worksheet, and the county reviews it. Then we build the house and schedule the licensed trades.
Island County's design table lists a 97 mph basic wind speed and flags topographic effects. That means wind speed-up over bluffs, hills and ridges is part of the design. We also plan drainage for wet winters.
On waterfront lots, Island County shoreline jurisdiction reaches 200 feet from the ordinary high-water mark. Inside it, the county generally requires review and approval for new construction. Every building permit also needs a Field Indicators Worksheet, even with no known critical areas on the lot. On a bluff lot, ask the county whether its geologically hazardous area rules apply.
Lots in and around Coupeville can sit inside Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, where all projects must meet design guidelines. Whidbey Island is home ground, and we travel over the Deception Pass Bridge to Mount Vernon, Burlington and Anacortes. In Skagit County, new exempt wells for single-family homes are limited in most stream basins. Our Skagit County building permit guide covers permits and water there.
Free, no-obligation estimates across Whidbey Island and the Skagit Valley.
(360) 544-9027From the first call or text to the finished home, here is how it goes.
Reach us at (360) 544-9027 or fill out the form. Tell us about the lot or the house and what you want to build.
We meet you at the property, look at the site or the home, and talk through what is possible. The estimate is free.
We design in house or build from your architect's plans. Then we price a full materials list with local vendors and add labor, so you see the bottom line.
We prepare the permit set with the energy code package and submit it for county review. Once it is approved, clearing, grading, drainage and the driveway go in.
Framing, roofing, siding, the licensed trades and finish carpentry run in order under one contractor. You have one point of contact from the first day to the final inspection.
Common questions about build on your land across Whidbey Island and the Skagit Valley. If yours is not here, call or text and ask.
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 More
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.
Learn MoreYou work with one team from the first sketch to the last piece of trim. Design, site planning, estimating and construction all run through us.
Three decades of custom home building on Whidbey Island stands behind the work. The company holds a 5.0 rating on Google from seven reviews.
We run our own excavators, a mini excavator, dump trucks and a skid steer. Clearing, grading, drainage and the driveway are handled in house.
Culver Built is a registered Washington general contractor, licensed, bonded and insured. Estimates are free, so call or text (360) 544-9027 to set one up.
Real 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.
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.
