The Best General Contractors in Georgia

Last updated on May 17th, 2024 at 01:19 am

Deep in Dixie, Georgia is known for its variety of geographical characteristics; it has valleys, rivers, swamps, mountain ridges, and pristine coastal beaches. The state also supports exotic flora and fauna in its dense forests. Perhaps because of its natural reputation, many Americans don’t realize that Georgia is surprisingly urban: it is the 8th most populous state, and home to more than 10 million people in six cosmopolitan cities including Athens, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, and its state capital, Atlanta. Georgia yields high-grade limestones and peanuts but is, of course, best known for its massive harvest of incomparable peaches.  

Georgia’s distinctly Southern culture blends historic Scots-Irish culture, African-American culture, and Native American culture. Georgia was a former British Colony, and many of its neighborhoods have retained the flavor of British architecture and styles. Georgian home styles include colonial, French, and Tudor, but also include a healthy dash of contemporary styles. General Contractors in these neighborhoods have become proficient in working with different styles.

As we put together this list of Georgia’s best contractors, we considered the permits the firms possessed, the type and styles of the projects they were able to complete, where they do their building, as well the values of the company. We also took into account the number of awards the firms had earned, and any media attention that their builds may have generated.  The result is this top 15 list, where you will find only widely-skilled, elegant remodelers and builders who have cultivated great relationships with their clients.

15) Environs Residential

1420 Peachtree St NE #100, Atlanta, GA

Let’s start our list with Environs Residential Design & Construction, a local, sustainability-conscious general contracting firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Though relatively small, the firm has made an uncompromising decision to use only sustainable products in their construction projects. General Contractor Terry Kitts and Real Estate broker Dawn Landau co-founded the firm in 2001. Kitts himself has done high-end projects in areas with diverse climates, and those experiences only strengthened his structural engineering knowledge. His work often involved areas compromised by weather patterns, and as a result, he has become a staunch advocate of responsible residential construction in which the environment remains free of harm. Kitts has done research on modular construction and alternative building materials and hopes one day to educate homebuyers about building green.

Their commitment to the environment is complemented by their goal to build homes that will last families for generations. The firm’s remodeling team uses materials that are durable and won’t end in a landfill after a few years – doing so addresses the longevity and sustainability of the project. And the firm doesn’t stop there – design and functionality aren’t left out of the equation. In 2016, Atlanta Curbed featured a tri-story Midtown duplex project by Environs; they praised the project’s interplay of modernity and wooden accents which they felt embodied the welcome rise of contemporary aesthetics in Atlanta. Environs is no stranger to having won recognition either, they took the 2010 Gold Obie Award for a master bath project, the 2011 Earth Craft Renovation of the year, and the 2013 Earth Craft Renovator of the Year. They were also selected to build homes under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2010-2013, receiving a city Proclamation for their work.

14) Sheehan Built Homes

4825 High Point Road, Atlanta, GA

In Atlanta, Sheehan Built Homes is known to the community as a steadfast builder and remodeler of extraordinary properties and high-end homes. Founder Patrick Sheehan already had extensive experience building around neighborhoods in Georgia in 2003 before resettling in his hometown Atlanta, founding the firm, and making a name for himself. More than building residential homes, the company strives to create long-lasting customer relationships. Sheehan’s approach to construction has always been putting clients’ “ideas and dreams” first. He feels it is the job of his company to match those ideas with his team’s technical expertise.

Sheehan provides clients with custom home construction, remodeling, and commercial construction, managed by a team of construction professionals with a collective 100 years of experience. The firm’s portfolio emphasizes residential, single-family homes that use modern and luxury rustic styles. A typical Sheehan home is spacious, decorated with French doors and windows, lavishly decorated, and features an open space that connects the living room to the dining room.

13) SHC General Contracting

1110 E. 40th Lane, Savannah, GA

After having completed several residential projects, commercial construction, and historic preservation in the Greater Savannah Area, SHC General Contracting is highly-regarded in the community. Scotty Snipes founded the firm in 2001 and worked on smaller projects including kitchen remodels, roofing, repair work, home additions, and foundation repairs before expanding to include larger, more complex construction projects such as new home construction and commercial construction. The firm mostly accepts residential projects, but Snipes’ portfolio also includes commercial construction such as the Savannah Marriott renovation and the upscale Victorian Market. The firm also added market facility and outdoor enclosures for the Crew Lounge at Thunderbolt Marine.

Given Savannah’s famous historic districts, the team soon expanded into renovating old, historic buildings. Such projects include the porch addition to a Bed and Breakfast Inn in Downtown, a renovation of the Jasmin Quarters at Congress Street which won them a 2015 HSF Preservation Award, and the full-renovation of the Kehoe House, which also earned them another Preservation Award in 2016. Another notable Snipes’ work in Washington Square includes an extensive residential renovation that successfully blended the best of modernity and the old world; that project was recognized with an HSF Preservation Award in 2015.

12) John Wesley Hammer

118 Barry Street, Decatur, GA

John Wesley Hammer Construction Company has a wide breadth of construction expertise – from residential projects to complex commercial projects requiring complex technical know-how. Partners Wesley Stone and John Gilbert both developed an interest in construction through their summer jobs in early adulthood. The two eventually took their passion seriously when they bravely co-founded the firm during the economic turbulence of the 1970s. Today, Stone and Gilbert’s firm has a solid reputation when it comes to the renovation and remodeling of older buildings. The firm has renovated 1800s-dated buildings listed on the National Historic Register. The firm’s work has received features from the Southern Living Magazine and Metropolitan Home.

John Wesley’s portfolio includes residential remodeling in the styles of residential Tudor, French, contemporary, and cabin-style. They work in Brookhaven, North Georgia, and Atlanta. John Wesley has also completed complex renovations for the Central Presbyterian Church and St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.

11) Alair Homes

124 S. Columbia Dr., Decatur, GA

Alair Homes is a high-end general contracting firm maintaining major operations in Georgia, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Missouri. The firm is best known for their elegant home construction and their redefinition of high-end living in the South. Partners Peter Michelson and David Michelson – who both honed their construction skill and passion in Boston – joined Alair Homes with the aim of providing clients with the highest standards in construction and customer service. David himself previously served as an executive board member of the Atlanta NARI Chapter.

Alair Homes provides whole-house renovation, extensive remodels, kitchen and bathroom remodels to clients in neighborhoods in Savannah and Decatur. Alair also offers clients a new hybrid system called “Client Control,” where the client sees all the estimated prices provided by subcontractors. At the client’s request, Alair can also show them the project being done in real time. Alair’s projects have earned them consecutive Guildquality Guildmaster Awards from 2008 to 2018. Typically an Alair home features an elegant finish with an airy feel to its interiors. One notable project from the firm includes a whole house remodel of Sherwood Forest modern house. Alair’s project management team turned the dim, small ranch into a house with a large open space ideal for family gatherings and casual entertainment.

10) Cardinal Construction

3221 Hill St #112, Duluth, GA

Based in Duluth, Georgia, Cardinal Construction is a standout for its elegant builds. The firm does custom home construction and remodeling with the utmost attention to beautiful, cozy details – all set against the neighborhood’s sprawling fields and lakes. Founder and president Charley Hipple started his career in Arlington, Texas working for a remodeling company before settling down in Duluth and starting his own company in 1990.

Hipple and his team built Cardinal from scratch, and that work has paid off. The firm’s first awards came in 2010 when they won two OBIE Awards for a residential remodeling project and a home addition. In 2011, the firm received seven OBIE Awards (a distinction granted by the Atlanta Home Builders Association) in various categories including Home Theater, Outdoor Living, Kitchen, Exterior, and Whole House Renovation over $500,000. Cardinal’s latest recognition includes another set of OBIE Awards in 2012 for two bathroom remodel projects.

The firm’s expertise also includes several commercial builds, such as fast food chain franchises, vehicle leasing centers, spas, and country clubs. Notably, Hipple’s team also completed projects with several reputable clients in the medical field including the Athens Heart Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Magee Hospital, Northside Hospital.

9) RLS Construction

245 W. Wieuca Road, Suite 240, Atlanta, Georgia

RLS Construction is a multi-award-winning general contracting firm that has done plenty of projects in Metro Atlanta. The firm has come to be widely recognized as one of the local mainstays in the area’s construction industry. RLS has racked up more than two dozen remodeling awards including the coveted Georgia Contractor of the Year awards from industry professional groups such as the National Association of Remodeling Industry and the Home Builders Association of Georgia.

RLS Construction provides an extensive range of services including general contracting, professional project management, detailed timetables, and accurate pricing for materials. RLS Construction’s edge is their commitment to building homes that are tailor-made for clients. There is no distinct style related to the firm – their works are characterized by their client’s personality: a sunroom, mudroom, a wider porch – whatever the client needs. To date, RLS has won 11 Chrysalis Awards for their remodels of kitchens, baths, and outdoor buildings, including the Chrysalis Georgia Remodeler of the Year 2003. NARI awarded the firm 19 Contractor of the Year Awards in categories that include residential exterior, best kitchen, best bath, and best outdoor addition.

8) PB Construction

1816 Fairoaks Place, Atlanta, GA

PB Construction has a long history of remodeling and renovating houses in Savannah and Garden Isle. Founder Peter Brannigan, President, and CEO developed the firm’s culture, which puts an emphasis on high-quality, beautiful builds partnered with excellent customer service. Brannigan’s efforts have led to numerous features in media publications which include Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, Southern Living, Decor Magazine, Traditional Homes, and DIY Network. They also took a City of Decatur Historic Preservation Design Award in 2011. Though the firm’s style leans more on the traditional aesthetic side, PB has done a slew of contemporary and modern homes, one of which was even featured in Modern Architecture Tour of Homes for its 10-year anniversary issue.  

PB Construction provides clients with a detailed residential remodeling construction service line-up that includes architectural design, design-build, site inspections, cost analysis, and full project management. In addition to large-scale renovations, the firm is willing to work on smaller remodeling projects such as carpentry, replacing hardwood floors, and garage construction. PB is a member of the National Association of Remodeling Industry and the Greater Atlanta Home Builders’ Association as well.

7) Heirloom Design Build Company

245 North Highland Avenue, Suite 230-367, Atlanta, GA

Heirloom Design Build Company’s commitment is to the client – their ideas and needs. David Radlmann, founder and CEO, assures clients that his goal is to create their dream home through the help of skilled professional builders in collaboration with architects, engineers, and office staff. Heirloom works with the clients’ design wishes and stays in their budget. Clients wanting to opt for sustainable projects can count on the company’s LEED certification from the United States Green Building Council. The firm is also a member of Atlantan Green Building Council, Builder America, Earthcraft, and Energy Star.

For their work, Heirloom has already won four Gold and two Silver OBIE Awards given by the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association to outstanding home builders. The firm won Gold awards for best sustainable homes, best home of the year, and family redevelopment of the year, and two Silvers for their building design for a house more than $750,000 and a remodeling project priced at $550,000. A typical Heirloom residential project includes a modern take on Victorian and neoclassical designs painted in solid colors. As leaders in green building, Heirloom earned the EarthCraft House Project of the Year for their construction in Euclid Avenue at the Historic Inman Park. Heirloom’s other works appeared in Southface Journal of Sustainable Building, Atlanta Home Improvement, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Remodel Atlanta, and KNOWAtlanta Magazine.

6) Berndsen Builds

3525 Piedmont Road, Bldg 6-130, Atlanta, GA

For more than 22 years, Berndsen Builds continues to cultivate a reputation for being the top choice for architects and homeowners alike. Founder and CEO Jon Berndsen, who has more than 35 years of experience, continues to manage the firm’s day-to-day operations. Backed by his team of professionals adept in all types of construction, the firm continues to earn high praise from industry leaders and clients in Atlanta. In 2012, Berndsen won the Custom Home Pacesetter Award: they were named Classic Craftsmen. The firm has also received seven OBIE Awards from the Atlanta Home Builders Association under the categories of remodeling, whole-house renovation, kitchen, and historic restoration. The Institute of Classical Architecture also gave the firm a Philip T. Shutze Award for its construction of a “New Classical” home.

A known builder of beautiful, high-end homes, the firm’s portfolio has no shortage of residential Atlanta stunners. Berndsen has done residential projects ranging in prices from a million and up; he has remodeled condominiums which span 12,000 square feet and are priced north of $10 million. There is no typical style for the firm, their expertise in all manner of Architectural aesthetics is clearly expressed in their extensive portfolio. A typical Berndsen – depending on the style – features a manicured porch, a modern take on an old-world house, and features elegant furniture. Berndsen Builds is a member of the National Association of Home Building, Earth Craft, Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association, and the Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America.

5) Atlanta Home ReBuilders

2120 Plaster Bridge Road, Atlanta, GA

For our seventh pick, we turn to a firm that has the right combination of experience, passionate team members, technical experience and expertise, and glowing customer reviews: Atlanta Home ReBuilders. The firm, based in Bridge Road, Atlanta, has become a local go-to for many homeowners seeking fast, quality remodeling in Atlanta neighborhoods. Since its establishment in 1981, ReBuilders has completed thousands of residential projects, has been ranked Atlanta’s largest renovation firm for the past 10 years. They have also earned more than two dozen awards including Chrysalis Awards, the NARI Atlanta Contractor of the Year Award in 2010, and the Top Remodeler Award from the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Backed by a team of professional architects and skilled construction staff, ReBuilders can provide construction support to any type of renovation, home additions, including special projects such as attic or ranch conversion. The firm works with any kind of remodeling projects including extensive whole house remodels and complete renovations of the front exterior. ReBuilders also maintain a full-service selection studio which showcases materials, and, being a member of the green-friendly association EarthCraft,  the firm cultivates its own products. ReBuilders offer competitive pricing tables generated from its own database.

4) SawHorse Design Build Remodeling

690 Miami Circle NE Suite 700, Atlanta, GA

SawHorse built its stellar reputation on the positive word-of-mouth from former clients, a commitment to green building, a portfolio which does the talking for them, and a myriad of national and local industry awards. A general contracting firm based in Atlanta, SawHorse provides design-build services and turnkey solutions. Being one of the developers of the EarthCraft renovation program, SawHorse helped pioneer the green building renovation movement in Atlanta: EarthCraft sets the standard for renovating existing spaces with an emphasis on sustainability. And SawHorse has also completed more green building certifications than any other contractor in the area.

As skilled builders able to take on any kind of construction projects and aesthetics, SawHorse has no preferred style. Their works are built with precision and attention to detail. The Atlanta Business Chronicle has repeatedly included the firm in their Top 10 Residential Remodelers list for their superb, detailed finishing work. SawHorse has also racked up a number of Chrysalis Awards, 11 Contractor of the Year Awards from NARI, and six Consumers’ Awards for their professional conduct. Likewise, the firm has attracted several media publications: the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Catalyst, Professional Remodeler, and Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles have all featured their projects.

3) Small Carpenter At Large, Inc

884 Lake Ave NE, Atlanta GA

With more than three decades of experience, Small Carpenters at Large, Inc (SCAL) had been providing consistent quality design and remodeling. Small Carpenter at Large can trace its roots in Danny Feig-Sandoval’s efforts to establish a carpentry business. Starting small and humble, SCAL’s work soon gained traction which led to several NARI titles such as Contractor of the Year awards from 2000 to 2016, Chrysalis Awards, and OBIE Awards. SCAL’s works have appeared in Professional Remodeler, Qualified Remodeler Magazine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Remodeling Magazine, and Home Atlanta Home Improvement Magazine.

One award-winning project from the firm includes a historic renovation of a 1920s Druid Hills home where the SCAL team added barrel vault ceilings and custom stained glass. Another award-winning project featured a classic white kitchen remodel: the team redesigned the old layout to include more functional space for movement.

2) Handcrafted Homes Inc.

505 Boulder Way, Roswell, GA

Construction industry stalwarts Handcrafted Homes Inc. has been consistently building and remodeling beautiful homes in Atlanta for nearly 50 years. Handcrafted Inc. is steered expertly by founder and current president Judy Mozen, a NARI Master Certified Remodeler and Green Certified Professional. Under her leadership and the leadership of her partner, Vice President Randy Urquhart, the firm collected more than 50 state-level and national recognition which include four Chrysalis Awards, 15 OBIE Awards, and five Contractor of the Year awards. Judy also served as the NARI National president and chair and was designated as Remodeler of the Year by the OBIE Awards in 2016.

Handcrafted Homes Inc. remodels are nothing short of stunning: paper details have been carefully translated into solid structures. The firm specializes in neoclassical homes which feature a more traditional exterior but have modernized interiors – a window which continuous to bend to the angle of the roof, for example.

Handcrafted provides design-build services for single-residential home construction projects, and they perform renovations and historical restorations as well. Notably, the firm’s work for an estate owned by Asa Candler – founder of Coca-Cola – has earned them a NARI COTY Remodeling Design Award for  Historically Sensitive Renovation over $300,000. Their works have appeared in Atlanta Business Chronicle, Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles and Color Trends, and as well as a feature for Mozen.

1) Weidmann Remodeling & Renovation

1875 Old Alabama Rd., Suite 1310 Roswell, GA

Merely five years after its establishment in 1989, Weidmann & Associates, Inc. was recognized as one of the most reputable home remodelers in Atlanta. The company has since expanded its services beyond Metro Atlanta, with a branch office at Lake Oconee. Our top pick, the design-build firm is backed by its treasure-trove of awards, which include prestigious Contractor of the Year Awards and the Service Excellence Award from the Atlanta chapter of the National Association of Remodeling Industries (NARI). Founder Bill Weidmann, a civil engineer who has more than 35 years of construction experience, continues to nurture the firm’s culture of “right-fit” quality builds. Co-owner, Dan Weidmann, Bill’s brother, also holds an engineering as well as law degree. In addition to his role as company president, Dan formerly served as president in the NARI Atlanta Chapter. Weidmann projects have earned ten COTY awards in numerous categories, including residential bathroom, kitchen, exterior, addition, and universal design to name a few. Guild Quality has also awarded the firm for Service Excellence due to their continuous positive client feedback, and the firm is a member of the Remodeling Magazine Big 50.

Both Bill and Dan Weidmann maintain that every successful project starts with the participation of the firm and project managers who are best matched to the client’s needs. The firm employs a group of professionals who remain actively engaged for the entire duration of the project. Though skilled in most styles of construction, Weidmann is especially cited for its expertise in renovating “Five, Four, and a Door” houses, a common style in many Atlanta neighborhoods, which is characteristic of dark interiors and small spaces. The Weidmann team has turned such small spaces into larger rooms where the family can comfortably gather. The firm’s works has appeared in multiple issues of Qualified Remodeler and Professional Remodeler Magazine.

How can I find a contractor near me?

Read our latest articles on the best contractors in and near Georgia. If you don’t see your project type below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.

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About Our Rankings

This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration

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