Question 1

What kind of projects do you take on?

Accepted Answer

Residential: custom homes, ADUs, whole-home renovations and additions, remodels, gut rehabs, cast iron and Kitec repipes, and small multifamily or build-to-rent. Commercial: tenant improvements and interior build-outs, core and shell, retail, restaurants and hospitality, warehouse and distribution, office construction and renovation, educational facilities, and mixed-use. If it needs a permit and a general contractor, it's probably in scope.

Question 2

Are you a licensed general contractor? Can you pull permits?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We're a registered general contractor in Austin, Texas, and we pull our own permits. That means the permit sits under our registration and we manage the plan review comments, the inspection schedule, and the sign-offs — you're not chasing the city yourself.

Question 3

What areas do you serve?

Accepted Answer

Austin and the surrounding metro — Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, Leander, Bee Cave, Lakeway, Georgetown, Kyle, Buda, Dripping Springs, Manor, Hutto, Elgin, Bastrop, Lockhart, San Marcos, and Wimberley. Roughly a 30-mile radius of downtown. Commercial work outside that radius is case by case — ask.

Question 4

How do you price a project?

Accepted Answer

Line-item estimates against a defined scope, with written allowances for anything not yet selected. On renovation and rehab work we build in a stated contingency rather than pretending older buildings hold no surprises. Change orders are priced and approved before the work happens, with photos of what we found.

Question 5

Do you do design-build, or do I need an architect first?

Accepted Answer

Both work. If you have a permit set from your architect, we'll price it and build it. If you're earlier than that, we can bring in a designer or architect and manage that scope. On commercial and multifamily we'd rather be involved during design — constructability and cost issues are far cheaper to fix while they're still drawings.

Question 6

Can you work in an occupied building or an operating business?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and a lot of our commercial work is exactly that. Phased schedules, hard barricades, dust and noise control, and after-hours or overnight crews where the space has to stay open. It costs more per hour and it usually costs far less than closing.

Question 7

How do you handle change orders and surprises?

Accepted Answer

Nothing gets built before it's priced. When we open a wall and find something — old wiring, a failed drain line, unpermitted work by a prior owner — you get photos, a scope, and a number before we proceed. Renovation contracts carry a contingency so this doesn't become a financing problem mid-project.

Question 8

Do you carry insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. General liability and workers' compensation, with certificates issued to owners, landlords, and lenders as required. If your project or lease has specific coverage limits or additional-insured requirements, send them over during bidding so we can confirm before award.

Question 9

How do I get an estimate?

Accepted Answer

Call (512) 412-8108, email info@jfbuild.com, or use the form on this site. For commercial bids, send the drawing set and any schedule constraints and we'll get you a proposal. For residential, we'll set up a site visit first — accurate numbers come from walking the property.

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