Based in Langley, WA · all of Whidbey Island and north to the Skagit Valley
Custom Homes · Remodels · Free Estimates (360) 544-9027
Dark blue island home with a green metal roof and a new cable-rail deck
Service Area

Custom Home Builder in Freeland, WA

Serving Freeland · Island County

Custom Homes, Remodels and Outdoor Living for Freeland Homeowners

Freeland sits on a mile wide neck of land between Holmes Harbor and Mutiny Bay. That is why so many lots here look out at water or at the Olympic Mountains. Island County's own Freeland plan puts the steep slopes along the west and east shores of Holmes Harbor. The same plan calls Freeland a critical drainage area, so new work has to soak runoff into the ground.

Culver Built is a custom home builder in Langley on South Whidbey Island. We design and build custom homes in Freeland, and we do the site work that comes first. We also remodel older Freeland houses and replace decks, siding and roofs. Call or text (360) 544-9027 for a free estimate.

What We Do in Freeland

Free Quote in Freeland

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Building a custom home on a Freeland view lot

Most of the good views in Freeland come with slope. Island County maps geologically hazardous areas along both shores of Holmes Harbor. The bluffs above Mutiny Bay and Bush Point are steep as well. Work on or near one of those slopes can trigger a geotechnical report from a licensed professional.

The county sets the buffer from a steep slope case by case, and the report drives it. Shoreline rules add another layer within 200 feet of the water. Surface water cannot be pushed over the face of a marine bluff. So the drainage plan for a view lot gets settled early, not after the foundation is poured.

Island County also fills in the code table for wind and snow. Basic wind speed here is 97 miles per hour, with topographic effects marked yes. Ground snow load is 20 pounds per square foot, and footings sit at least 12 inches below finish grade. Those numbers shape the framing and the foundation, which is one reason we like design and construction under one contractor.

Island County handles the building permit in Freeland

Freeland is unincorporated, so Island County reviews your building permit rather than a city. The planning office is at 1 NE 6th Street in Coupeville, and the Whidbey number is 360-679-7339. Inspections are requested through the county's online public portal. Requests in before 3 pm on a business day are set for the next business day.

Since March 1, 2024 the county will not take a building permit submittal without a few items in hand. It wants a site registration and a septic design, plus an approved access permit. An address assignment and a water availability verification come with those. Check the current list with the county before you build a schedule around it.

Well water, district water and septic around Holmes Harbor

Water in Freeland is split two ways. The Freeland Water and Sewer District serves the greater Freeland community and also runs the separate Harbor Hills system. Some single family homes are still on private wells. Which one your parcel has changes the water availability verification and the way the site plan is drawn.

Sewer is the bigger surprise for buyers. Most homes and businesses inside the Freeland urban growth area run their own septic systems. The water and sewer district dropped its sewer plan in 2019, and the county is still studying options. The Holmes Harbor Sewer District covers a few hundred homes near the harbor, and that is the exception.

So the drainfield sits near the middle of your site plan. A septic designer draws the system and Island County Public Health reviews it. Septic care matters here, because a 2006 survey once closed shellfish harvest at the south end of the harbor. We build the house and do the clearing, grading and drainage around what the designer calls for.

Remodels, siding and roofs on older Freeland homes

The 2020 census counted 2,252 people and 1,241 housing units in the Freeland area. Census survey data puts the median build year around 1992. Close to four in ten Freeland homes went up before 1980. Most of them are single family houses on their own lot.

Homes that age show the same problems around here. We find rot behind old siding, roofs at the end of their life and soft deck boards. Salt air off Mutiny Bay and Bush Point is hard on wood and fasteners. Wet winters from November through March find every gap in the flashing.

We can remodel an older Freeland home one room at a time or all at once. A recent exterior job took a stucco house to new cedar shingle siding, a new roof and a new deck. Culver Built is licensed, bonded and insured, with more than 30 years of building experience. Our Google rating is 5.0 from seven reviews, and estimates are free.

Communities and areas we serve around Freeland: Holmes Harbor, Mutiny Bay, Bush Point, Double Bluff, Harbor Hills, Honeymoon Bay Road, East Harbor Road, Bush Point Road, Main Street, Goss Lake, Lone Lake, Freeland Park.

Freeland ZIP codes served: 98249.

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Serving Freeland and nearby

Free estimates throughout Island County and the surrounding area.

(360) 544-9027
Our Services in Freeland

Every Service We Bring to Freeland

Custom home builder in Langley, WA

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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Remodeled great room with a double-sided fireplace and tile floor

Home Remodeling

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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Aerial view of a custom home with a standing seam metal roof and covered patio

Design-Build

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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Custom deck with cable railing overlooking the water on Whidbey Island

Custom Decks

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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Exposed aggregate concrete driveway curving past a house

Concrete Patios

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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Paver patio with a water view and a plate compactor during installation

Hardscaping

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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Remodeled home with new cedar shingle siding, a black metal roof and a deck with red chairs

Siding

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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Log home with new roof framing and underlayment going on during construction

Roofing

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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Two excavators on a freshly graded building site on Whidbey Island

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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Google Reviews

5.0 on Google From Whidbey Island Homeowners

Real reviews from real island projects on Google.

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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!

Caitlin Robbins6 months ago · Google review

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.

Greg Hensrude7 months ago · Google review

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.

Erick Spronck9 months ago · Google review

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!

Teddy Reesa year ago · Google review

Met or exceeded expectations in all aspects. Communication, follow up and job execution were all top notch. Highly recommended!!

Bruce Gallagher5 months ago · Google review

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.

JS A10 months ago · Google review

Jeff is super knowledgeable through all phases of construction and great to work with. Looking forward to our next project!

Freeland FAQ

Questions From Freeland Property Owners

A few of the questions we hear most around Freeland. If yours is not here, call or text and ask.

Call (360) 544-9027

Do I need a permit from Island County to build in Freeland?
Yes, and Freeland is unincorporated, so the county reviews the plans instead of a city. Since March 1, 2024 a submittal needs a site registration and a septic design. An approved access permit, an address assignment and a water availability verification come with it. Confirm the current list with the county planning office in Coupeville before you plan around it.
Is there sewer in Freeland, or will my new home be on septic?
Most homes and businesses in Freeland run their own septic systems. The water and sewer district dropped its sewer plan in 2019, and the county has been studying wastewater options since. The Holmes Harbor Sewer District covers a few hundred homes near the harbor. A septic designer draws your system and Island County Public Health reviews it.
What drives the price of a custom home in Freeland?
The lot does most of it. A flat parcel near Main Street costs less to prepare than a sloped bluff lot with a long driveway. A well, a geotechnical report and a big drainage plan all add to the site work. After that it is the size of the house and the level of finish, and our estimate is free.
Can you build on a bluff lot above Holmes Harbor or Mutiny Bay?
Often yes, with the right reports in the file. County rules cover clearing and digging near steep slopes and within 200 feet of the shoreline. A geotechnical report may be required, and drainage cannot be run over the face of a bluff. Ask Island County what your parcel triggers before you buy it.
What else do you build in Freeland besides custom homes?
We remodel island homes, replace decks, siding and roofs, and pour stamped concrete patios and driveways. We also do the site work with our own excavators, dump trucks and skid steer. One homeowner on the west side of Whidbey Island came to us with no drainage around the garage. We put in French drains and a catch basin, then rebuilt the driveway on a proper stone base.
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Get In Touch With Culver Built

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.

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Tell us about the job. We will get right back to you.

Call (360) 544-9027