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Vol. XXII · Issue 4 · Spring 2026
Ridge Built.
a journal of custom home building
In this issue
p. 4How we work p. 6Capabilities p. 9From the archive p. 12Contact
No. 4 · April 2026
On the cover — an addition in Chapel Hill, completed March 2026

Homes built slowly, to last.

Family-owned contractor serving Wake County since 2004. We take on one client at a time, finish on schedule, and stand behind every project for as long as it stands.

Feature  \\  How we work

Twenty-two years, one project at a time.

We turn down more work than we take, and we’ve been asked why often enough that it’s worth explaining. In 2004, Mike Carter opened Ridge Built with a single rule: one active project per crew. Twenty-two years later, we still work that way. Our subs know it. Our clients notice it. Our phones ring because of it.

It means the homeowner knows our crew’s name. It means the same lead carpenter starts the job and finishes it. It means when a question comes up on week 14, the same person who drew a line in the sand on week 2 is the one who answers it.

A kitchen remodel in progress, summer 2025. Photo by T. Hodges.
We finish on schedule. We stand behind the work. We’d rather do four jobs well than forty jobs halfway.

Most of our work comes from referrals. Most of our referrals come from people who hired us for one thing and called back for another. We’ve built home additions for clients who started with a porch, and new homes for clients who started with a bathroom.

If you’re thinking about a project, reach out early — even if you’re just kicking tires. We typically book 2–4 months out, and the conversation itself usually sharpens what you actually want before we write a single line of scope.

Capabilities

Six specialties, done deeply.

i.

Home additions

Second stories, bump-outs, in-law suites. Designed to match the existing home. Built to code, finished on schedule.

ii.

Kitchen & bath

Full tear-out to final walkthrough. We manage the design, the permits, the subs, and — more quietly — your sanity.

iii.

Custom new builds

One-of-a-kind homes on your land or ours. Mid-range to custom, from 1,800 to 6,500 square feet.

iv.

Outdoor living

Covered porches, outdoor kitchens, pergolas. Four-season rooms that actually get used in four seasons.

v.

Historic renovation

Older homes need older eyes. We work with Raleigh’s historic district, and we know the folks at the permit office by name.

vi.

Consultation

Thinking about a project but not ready to build? Hourly consulting on scope, budget, and sequencing.

From the archive

Recent work.

Contact

Let’s talk about your project.

“Typical booking is 2–4 months out. Reach out early — even if you’re still thinking it over.”

Start a project →