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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Clinton is the ferry landing at the south tip of Whidbey Island. Much of the town sits on a high bluff above the water. Columbia Beach, down by the terminal, is at sea level. Lots here come with steep driveways and long views, and with water that has to be routed off the site.
Culver Built is a design-build custom home builder based in Langley, a short drive from Clinton. We build custom homes here from the raw lot through design, site work and finish carpentry. We also remodel older island homes and build the decks, patios and siding that go with them. Call or text (360) 544-9027 for a free estimate.
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Clinton lots vary a lot from one road to the next. Some are wooded acreage out toward Deer Lake, a mile west of town. Others are bluff parcels with a long view of the water at Scatchet Head or Possession Point. Smaller lots sit close to the ferry and Ken's Korner.
Under the topsoil much of South Whidbey is dense glacial till. Water perches on that hardpan and travels sideways instead of soaking in. The same lot can hit clean sand in one test hole and cobble in the next. So a build here starts with clearing, grading and drainage, not with the foundation.
Island County lists a basic wind speed of 97 miles per hour. Its design table marks topographic wind speed-up effects yes, so a bluff-top lot feels more of it. The table also sets a ground snow load of 20 pounds per square foot. Footings go 12 inches below finish grade at a minimum, and we frame and detail roofs to match.
Clinton is unincorporated, and the 2020 census counted 956 people here. That means Island County reviews the building permit, not a city department. Planning and Community Development sits at 1 NE 6th Street in Coupeville. The Whidbey phone number is 360-679-7339, and new home permits go in through the county's online Public Portal.
Since March 1, 2024 the county has asked for more in the packet before it accepts a new home application. That list includes a septic design, an approved water availability verification form, an approved access permit and an address application. A qualified septic designer draws the system and Island County Public Health reviews it. We do the site work and build to the approved design.
Inspections are requested through the same portal. A request made before 3 pm on a business day gets a next business day inspection. One contractor for design and construction keeps that paperwork in one place instead of three.
Census survey estimates put the median year built for Clinton homes at 1980. About half of the housing here went up before that. Homes from the 1940s and 1950s make up close to a third of it. Roughly nine in ten are single family detached.
Older South Whidbey houses share a short list of problems. Rot shows up where siding meets a deck or a roof edge. Crawl spaces stay damp because the ground around the house never drained. Rooms are chopped up, and the windows are small for the view the lot has.
We take on one room or a full-home remodel, and we draw as-builts when a redesign needs them. We find and fix structural, weather and moisture problems while we remodel. New siding and a new roof are common on these houses. Many owners add a deck built for the view at the same time.
Water around Clinton usually comes from a private well or a small community water system. Waste goes to an on-site septic system rather than a sewer main. Island County wants the water availability verification and the septic approval in hand early.
A septic designer sizes the drainfield after test holes and a soil log. On a sloped lot that often decides where the house can sit. We do the excavation, the driveway and the utility trenching with our own excavators, dump trucks and skid steer. Doing the dirt work ourselves keeps the grades matched to the plan.
Drainage is the part owners find out about late. A customer on the west side of the island bought a house that had no drainage around the garage. We put in French drains, a catch basin and a sump pump that moves the water away. Then we graded the driveway, laid a stone base and compacted a finish base over it.
Communities and areas we serve around Clinton: Columbia Beach, Clinton Beach, Deer Lake, Maxwelton, Dave Mackie Park, Cultus Bay, Sandy Hook, Scatchet Head, Possession Point, Glendale, Ken's Korner, State Route 525.
Clinton ZIP codes served: 98236.
Free estimates throughout Island 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 Clinton. 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.