Last updated on May 17th, 2024 at 01:21 am

The Tampa Bay Area is an ideal place for building a vacation or primary home for those who enjoy the laid-back beach lifestyle. The Bayshore, in particular, has some of the most luxurious homes built by Tampa’s top-notch designers and builders.  

We’ve carefully selected the top 14 residential contractors for this list, taking into consideration the quality of work along with customer reviews, reputation, and recognition from notable organizations and associations. Whether you’re looking to remodel your Mediterranean villa or build a new contemporary home from the ground up, there’s a contractor here that’s most likely a great fit for you.

If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.

14) Nelson Constructions and Renovations Inc.

1174 Court Street, Clearwater, FL 33756

Nelson Constructions and Renovations is a family business that specializes in high-end remodeling, home additions, and custom homes. It was founded over 10 years ago by Greg Nelson, a certified general contractor who already had experience in carpentry, historic renovations, and construction management many years before he started the company. His superb talent in manning 100-person crews and handling numerous residential/commercial projects is what makes him one of the most respected builders in Tampa Bay area.

An example of one of his successful projects is a historic renovation of the 1920’s bungalow located in Clearwater, Florida. It was formerly an old pool house that was turned into a luxurious guest house with an outdoor dining area. This led the company to be given a first place Contractor of the Year Award in the Best Residential Historical Renovation/Restoration category from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) in 2014. The home was also featured in the 2015 fall-winter issue of the Remodel Tampa Bay Magazine. Though Nelson Construction and Renovations is recognized for remodeling projects, they maintain the same award-winning standards for building custom luxury homes.

13) Javic Homes

4263 Henderson Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629

Luxury custom home builder Jon Solomon started Javic Homes in 2004. They are one of the few custom home builders in Tampa that offers personalized luxury home floor plans rather than pre-existing ones that are made for speculative homes. Solomon and his team understands that many customers prefer to live in homes that is specifically made for them.

As they have served clients in the Tampa Bay area, they have seen the area undergo a lot of changes and have evolved to adapt and meet the needs of their clients accordingly. Whether their customers want a primary home or a vacation home, their method prioritizes constant communication, fair pricing, energy efficiency, and quality control. They draw confidence from their ability to be “future ready” — that is to always find ways to resolve and, as much as possible, avoid unexpected situations. With their excellent services and reputation, Javic Homes is a recognized member of the Southern Living Custom Builder Program and in 2012 the firm was deemed the Best Home Builder of South Tampa – Gold Winner by the Tampa Tribune.

12) Bartlett Custom Homes

11438 Hammock Oaks Ct, Lithia, FL 33547

Jack Bartlett founded his eponymous firm, Bartlett Custom Homes, in Tampa Bay in 1991. Jack is an exceptional craftsman himself who knows every aspect of custom home building from planning to actual building process. His practical knowledge and expertise on building homes from the ground up is the culmination of years of experience in the custom home building industry. Many of  his clients have become the firm’s main source of advertisement as they unabashedly tell their friends about their pleasant building experience with Bartlett Custom Homes.

Other than being the talk of the town, the company’s Hillsborough County project was the topic of a popular publication known as Housetrends Tampa Bay. The 8,400 square-foot home features 5 bedrooms and 7 1/2 bathrooms that showcase designs inspired from majestic Indian temples. Bartlett’s ability to build luxury homes priced between $300,000 and $5 million is what made him a grand winner of Parade of Homes and a respected member of the Tampa Bay Builders Association, the Florida Home Builders Association, and the National Home Builders Association.

11) Arthur Rutenberg Homes – Lyons Heritage Tampa

| 19508 Shumard Oak Dr Ste 102, Land O Lakes, FL 34638

Lyons Heritage Tampa is an independently owned franchise by Arthur Rutenberg Homes – one of the country’s largest networks of custom home builders. It is spearheaded by Lori Gartons, the former President of Arthur Rutenberg Homes (ARH) Interiors and Vice President of ARH Finance and Administration. She has been in the management team for more than 20 years and is the second woman to have received the award for Builder of the Year in 2008.

With an in-depth knowledge of building quality custom homes, she makes sure that every home built by Lyons Heritage carries the ARH standard of custom home building—efficient, functional, beautiful and supremely personalized.  Lyons Heritage designs are perfect for families who live a modern-Florida lifestyle. Most of their homes have a modern kitchen set-up, casual dining space and large great rooms where families can spend time together. Lyons Heritage Tampa is one the top choices for clients who wish to own homes in Tampa’s most sophisticated communities.

10) Homes by John C. Fowke

1444 Bloomingdale Ave, Valrico, FL 33596

For almost 3 decades, Homes by John C. Fowke has been designing and building homes in the finest neighborhoods in the Tampa Bay area. Their homes are so captivating that these have served as landmarks in their own communities. An example of their work is a customized single family home located in FishHawk Ranch. Drawing inspiration from Italian designs, the 5,534 square-foot home has elegant features such as high beamed ceilings, dark wood cabinetry, balconies, a cast-stone fireplace, and a detached cabana.

As the owner of this design-build firm, John C. “Chuck” Fowke is deeply engaged with home building community as he currently serves as the Third Vice Chairman of the National Home Builders Association and will become Chair of the Board of Directors in 2021. Chuck is also the past president of the Tampa Bay Builder Association and the former Vice President of the Florida Home Builder Association. Over the years he has received several awards including Builder of the Year in 2006 and 2009 from the Tampa Bay Builders Association and Florida Home Builders’ Eagle Award in 2012. Together with his brother, David Fowke, they continue to maintain the firm’s award-winning standard for building quality custom luxury homes.

9) Samuelsen Builders

6331 Ridge Top Dr, Trinity, FL 34655-5609

Father and son duo, Rich and Rick Samuelsen established Samuelsen Builders in 1988. Building runs in the family for generations and this custom home building firm provides services centered on the core values that made them successful throughout their years in the industry.  They maintain their ideals of uncompromising integrity, quality, and craftsmanship from the planning process to a home’s finishing touches.

Part of their offered services is the professional guidance from their talented interior decorator to help their clients choose the perfect design elements that will bring out the homeowners’ individuality. Samuelsen consistently produces top-notch homes in more than 80 communities in the Tampa Bay area. They recently received the Parade of Homes Silver Award and won Best of Class Overall Floor Plan Award.

8) Costanza & Salm Homes

8538 Bench Dr, Port Richey, FL 34668

Constanza & Salm Homes is one of Tampa Bay’s top-rated luxury custom home builders. They have been building homes ranging in size from 2,800 to over 10,000 square-feet which are sold for the price of $750,000 to $1.5 million. For 35 years, John Costanza and Brian Salm, founders and owners of this firm, have developed a sterling reputation for integrity, responsibility, and dedication. The homes produced by the firm are often found near other exceptional homes and in private neighborhoods.

They have earned numerous accolades in the past for their Parade of Homes entries including a custom home of more than $1 miliion located in Champions Club at Summerfield in Stuart,  Florida. The single-family home received a Grand Award in 2008 for homes worth $1 million to $1.5 million. Their other works also received Parade of Homes awards for Best Overall in 2007, Grand Award-Best Home on the Block in 2006, and a Grand Award for the $851,000 – 1 million category in both 2004 and 2005.

7) Marc Rutenberg

| 3001 Hawks Landing Blvd, Palm Harbor, FL 34685

Coming from a renowned home builders family in Florida, Marc Rutenberg worked under his father beginning in the 1970s until setting out to make his own name in the business by starting his namesake firm in 1991. A visionary of green building design, Rutenberg is experienced with building LEED certified and net zero energy homes and is currently working on some concept designs for a zero energy neighborhood. For him, “Green building is about your home’s efficiency, it’s incredibly low cost of ownership, the beauty in design and livability that make it timeless, and its healthfulness for you and your family.”

His designs and building methods are perfect for millennials who are passionate about saving the environment. Young professionals today could “go green” with the help of Marc’s energy-efficient materials, technology and construction services. With Marc’s new and innovative designs, his firm is leading the new norm in building luxury energy-efficient custom homes. His projects are consistently selected for the  Aurora awards and Best in American Living awards, among others.

6) Bayfair Homes

| 1318 West Swann Ave, Tampa, FL  33606

Bayfair Homes has been one of Tampa Bay’s highly regarded custom home builders since its establishment in 1989. It was founded by Mike Morris who was later joined by David Seidenberg as a co-operator of the firm. Every Bayfair home ever built is crafted with panache which the firm defines as distinctive or stylish elegance. It is the company’s goal to build “homes of enduring significance” – homes that are unique, modern, cozy and inviting.

Bayfair homes are produced by excellent talents who have been affiliated with the company for a very long-time. The gifted craftsmen that work with Bayfair produce beautiful homes that are designed to endure for generations. Over the years, Bayfair Homes has been given awards such as the Tampa Planning Commission’s Grand Award for Housing and the coveted Aurora Award from the Florida Home Builders Association.

5) Campagna Homes

955 MLK Dr. E, Unit F, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Michael and Tim Campagna, founders and owners of Campagna Homes, come from a family of home builders that has been serving the wealthiest communities all over the Tampa Bay area. For 60 years, Campagna Homes has developed a superior reputation for building high-end luxury custom homes that are elegant and durable. Their homes are built by skillful craftsmen who have been with the company for many years. Known for their excellent craftsmanship, the team has a keen eye for detail with extensive knowledge on design from Mediterranean to European-styles.

Campagna Homes has won a Parade of Homes Grand Award for their Villa Capri model home from 2006 to 2007 and another Grand Award for their Villa Sorrento project from 2008 to 2010. More recently, their Appian Way project, a two-story contemporary-modern home with a price range of $2 million to $3 million was given an Aurora Award for Best Custom Home in 2016.

4) Alvarez Homes

 | 617 Hudson Ln Ste 101, Tampa, FL 33618

Since 1983, Alvarez Homes has been building custom residences that are energy efficient and technologically advanced. They’ve built over 450 premier custom homes in luxury communities from Tampa to Pinellas County beaches. Native to the Tampa area, Bobby Alvarez, president of Alvarez Homes, is a graduate of the University of South Florida with a degree in finance. His financial and management skills are key factors to why Alvarez Homes is one of the most successful builders is Tampa Bay. He sees to it that his team works on limited  projects at the same time because he knows that full focus is needed in building quality luxury custom homes.

Throughout their years in the industry, Alvarez Homes has received multiple awards in the past including the Parade of Homes “Best of Show” in 1986, 1988, and 1989. They also earned an Aurora Award for Best Custom Home in 1991 and Best Home Comfort Award in 1993. More recently, they won the 2018 Best Green Single-Family Custom Home from National Association of Home Builders.

3) The Fechtel Company

| 15488 N. Nebraska Ave, Tampa, FL 33549

The Fechtel Company is a luxury homebuilder in Tampa Bay that is well-known for constructing homes that are original, diverse, and completely personalized. The owner, Jay Fechtel, has been designing and constructing homes in Tampa for 30 years. Under his leadership, the Fechtel Company is determined to develop meaningful relationships, achieve excellence, and operate with integrity in all its projects. He is a certified LEED builder who was invited to be a member of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Team. Since 1996, he has also been an owner-member of the National Custom Builders Council.

Jay’s elegant and eye-catching designs have earned multiple “Best in American Living,” Aurora design, green building, energy efficient and water-conservation awards. In addition to their accolades, over the years the firm has also been featured in Tampa Bay Home and Garden Magazine and the Tampa Bay Business Journal. As a supporter of various charities and initiatives within the community, the Fechtel Company is a first-class builder that stands out from the rest by being deeply involved in giving back to the community through their work with Abe Brown Ministries, Hope Children’s Home, and other local non-profits.

2) Taralon Homes

3113 S. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33629

After years of working together at Hannah Bartoletta Homes, Mike Bartoletta, the former president and co-owner, and Scott Kirchner, the former CEO and COO, founded Taralon Homes in 2011. Mike has built  more than 1500 luxury custom homes in highly sought after areas like Tampa Palms, Cheval, Hunters Green, and FishHawk Ranch. Recently named the 2017 CEO of the Year for Florida by BUILD Magazine, Scott runs the finance and operations side of the business, helping to ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget. With their years of working together in the same company, they have developed a strong partnership and combined leadership that serves as pillars of Taralon Homes.

The homes they have built have won highly respected awards among home builders in Tampa through the Parade of Homes such as Best Custom Home $600,000+ Award in 2017 and Best Custom Home Award for both the $1.5 million and $2 + million categories in 2018.

1) J.O. DeLotto & Sons

924 E. Busch Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612

Named as one of the top 50 contractors in the Gulf Coast of Florida in 2013 and 2015, J.O. DeLotto and Sons is a general contracting firm that is known for building master-crafted homes and offices all across the Tampa Bay area. Over their 70 years in the business, they have developed a deep expertise in residential and commercial construction. Starting as a small paint and hardware store back in 1946, the firm today has expanded its services to designing and building homes that are worth more than $1 million.

J.O. DeLotto has been winning awards since its establishment including the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Excellence in Construction Award in 2007 for their Bayshore Residence project. Another residential project they are proud of is the North Tampa Residence which won the National ABC Award of Excellence: Project of the Year and the ABC Excellence in Construction Award in 1999. J.O. DeLotto’s efforts in producing successful projects was recognized by the Tampa Chamber of Commerce when it was named Small Business of the Year in 1996.

How can I find a contractor near me?

Read our latest articles on the best contractors in and near Tampa. 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.

The Best General Contractors in Florida

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.

Get Bids For Your Build

If you are thinking about building a custom home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.

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