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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Burlington sits on the Skagit flats, on Interstate 5 just north of Mount Vernon. About 9,400 people live here, in ZIP code 98233. Much of the city lies inside the Skagit River floodplain, behind dikes and levees. The city code treats the river and everything riverward of the dike toe as floodway. That changes how a house gets built here. The city's own housing plan says flood hazards and Skagit County farmland rules make expanding the city hard. Most new houses go on infill lots inside town.
Culver Built is a custom home builder in Burlington, WA, based in Langley on South Whidbey Island. Whidbey Island is home ground. We drive north over the Deception Pass Bridge to work here. State Route 20 carries that bridge and runs on through Burlington. We design and build custom homes and remodel older houses in town. We also build decks and concrete patios, and we replace siding and roofs. The company has more than 30 years of building experience and is licensed, bonded and insured. Call or text (360) 544-9027 for a free estimate.
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Most building lots in Burlington sit low on the Skagit flats. The city maps its flood hazard areas from the FEMA flood insurance rate maps. Skagit County also publishes a 100-year floodplain map online. If your lot is in one of those areas, the build starts with a flood development permit from the city.
The city sets a flood protection elevation for new homes. It is the base flood elevation plus one foot. The lowest floor, basement included, has to sit at or above that line. Heating, ductwork, plumbing and electrical equipment go above it too. Materials used below that line have to resist flood damage.
Enclosed space under the lowest floor is for parking, storage or access only. It needs flood vents so water can move in and out on its own. A Washington licensed land surveyor records the finished elevations on a FEMA elevation certificate. In AE flood zones a licensed engineer prepares a floodwater displacement analysis for the city. We plan the clearing, grading and drainage and the foundation around those rules. We do that site work with our own excavators, dump trucks and a skid steer.
Burlington has been adding apartments and townhomes more than houses. In 1980, 76 percent of the city's housing was detached houses. By 2025 that share is down to 49 percent. Between 2017 and 2024 the city counted 727 finished housing units. Only 53 of those were detached houses. The city plans for 2,843 more homes of all kinds by 2045.
So much of the single family work in Burlington happens on a house that already stands. We remodel kitchens, bathrooms and whole interiors. We build additions onto houses people have lived in for years. We find and fix structural, weather and moisture problems while we remodel.
The floodplain adds one rule worth knowing before you plan a remodel. Work that costs 50 percent or more of the building's market value counts as a substantial improvement. At that point the house has to meet the city's floodplain construction standards. Normal maintenance is treated differently. The city code exempts re-roofing and siding replacement from a flood development permit. That holds as long as the job stays under the 50 percent line.
Inside city limits the City of Burlington runs its own building permits. The Building Division sits inside the Community Development Department. The city has adopted the International Building Codes with Washington State amendments. Outside city limits, Skagit County Planning and Development Services in Mount Vernon reviews the permit instead.
Water and sewer work differently inside the floodplain. New development that needs drinking water has to connect to a public water system. A private well cannot be the drinking water source for a new home there. New on-site septic systems are not allowed in the floodplain, so the house ties into the municipal sewer. The city runs its own sewer department.
We prepare and submit the permit set for the work we build. We also plan the insulation, window and ventilation package so the set meets the state energy code. The city reviews all of it. Rules change, so confirm your project with the Burlington permit counter before you count on any of this. Keeping design and construction under one contractor keeps that paperwork in one place.
Burlington is not all flat ground. Burlington Hill rises on the north side of town. Gages Slough winds through the middle of the city. The Skagit River runs past the south edge behind the dikes, and the Burlington Dike Trail follows them. The city code names all three of those areas as special management areas.
Gages Slough is also protected as a wetland and riparian corridor. A patio or a garden wall near it gets a closer look from the city. We plan paver patios, walkways and steps with the grading and the drainage under them. On low ground we pay attention to where the water goes in a wet winter.
Drainage is a large part of what we do. A past customer called us for a small demolition job. It turned into a water problem. We solved it with a curtain drain and other drainage work. Decks, concrete patios and paver walkways all rest on that same base work.
Communities and areas we serve around Burlington: Fairhaven Avenue, Burlington Boulevard, Burlington Hill, Gages Slough, Skagit River Park, Rio Vista Avenue, Whitmarsh Road, Gardner Road, Peterson Road, George Hopper Road, Old Highway 99 North, Josh Wilson Road.
Burlington ZIP codes served: 98233.
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 Burlington. 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.