How we build.
The problems that sink custom projects, the carpentry crews that prevent them, and the building science behind a house that stays dry, quiet and efficient for generations.
Ten problems the industry measures. What we do about each.
Custom homes fail clients in predictable ways, and most of the failures happen at the handoffs between architect, builder, trades and owner. Here is what the national data shows, and how our process answers it.
| The problem | What the data shows | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Nobody owns the whole job | About 24 trades work on a typical new home, and 84% of the cost is subcontracted.1 | One accountable party from excavation to finish trim, with design under the same roof if you want it. We self-perform the site, the foundation and the carpentry. |
| The budget is a black box | 26% of homeowners who renovated in 2025 wanted more cost transparency than they got.2 | Open-book cost-plus. A requisition every two weeks with every receipt and budget to actual on each line. |
| It takes longer than anyone said | New England homes take 13.1 months from permit to completion, against 9.1 nationally. Homes over 6,000 sq ft take almost 16.3 | A realistic schedule at contract, published to you and every trade and updated every Friday. An exact start date once the permit is issued. |
| The drawings leave gaps | Projects between $5M and $50M average 17.2 formal requests for information per $1M of work, at about $1,080 each.4 | Whether we design the house or your architect does, we price the drawings at every phase, with our carpentry crew leaders at the table from the preliminary estimate, so questions get answered before construction. |
| Too many decisions, too little guidance | 22% of homeowners expect design and product decisions to be one of their biggest challenges.5 | A selections calendar with a real deadline for every decision. We specify what each item must meet; you choose within it. |
| Change orders erode trust | Owner-directed changes are among the top five causes of construction disputes. Good communication is ranked the best way to avoid them.6 | Written change orders, priced and signed before work proceeds, tracked in their own division on every bill. |
| The finish trades are scarce | Finished carpentry has been one of the most acute trade shortages in every national builder survey since 2021, reported by 85% of builders at its peak.7 | Three carpentry crews that work exclusively for Appolonia, frame to finish, including millwork and cabinetry. Their leaders price the plans with us from the start. |
| You have to chase for updates | 44% of homeowners wanted better schedule tracking and 35% wanted clearer communication.8 | A written progress report and updated schedule every Friday, and a selections check every week. You never have to ask. |
| The approvals surprise you | The Northeast has the longest wait between permit and start of construction in the country, at 60 days on average.9 | A permitting road map before you buy, and in-house sitework, so construction starts the day the permit allows it. |
| Service fades after move-in | Homebuyer satisfaction drops by roughly 10 points after move-in, in the warranty year.10 | A closeout package, an eleven-month walkthrough and Appolonia Home Care, from the people who built the house. |
Sources and notes
- NAHB subcontracting study (2020), via NAHB Eye on Housing, Feb 2024
- Houzz, 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study
- U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Construction 2024, via NAHB Eye on Housing, Sept 2025
- Navigant Construction Forum, Impact & Control of RFIs on Construction Projects (2013)
- Houzz, 2026 U.S. Houzz Renovation Plans Report
- Arcadis, 16th Annual Construction Disputes Report, United States 2026
- NAHB / Wells Fargo Housing Market Index labor surveys, 2021–2025
- Houzz, 2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study
- U.S. Census Bureau, Survey of Construction 2024
- Avid Ratings, Homebuyer Journey Map Series: Warranty & Relationship Phase
Figures are national or commercial benchmarks and are not specific to high-end custom homes. They show direction, not a guarantee of any project outcome.
The trade that defines a custom home is the one most builders can’t find. We built ours in.
Finished carpentry has been one of the scarcest trades in residential construction for five years running. It is also the trade you see and touch every day in a finished house. So we made it a partnership instead of a bid: three carpentry crews that work exclusively for Appolonia Construction.
Exterior and interior
Framing, sheathing, exterior trim, siding, decks, stairs and interior finish carpentry, by crews who know the house from the sill plate up.
On site or in our shop
Custom millwork of any kind: paneling, coffered ceilings, mantels, casings and built-in cabinetry, made on site or in the shop.
Dream it, and we will design and build it
Built-ins, libraries, window seats, vanities, kitchen islands and freestanding pieces, designed with you and built by the same hands that trimmed the room.
Why it matters to you
- The number comes from the people who build itOur crew leaders price the plans with us at the preliminary estimate, so the carpentry budget is theirs, not a guess.
- Capacity when you need itThree crews means one job running long never stalls another, and your schedule doesn’t wait for a free carpenter.
- One standard, frame to finishThe crew that frames the wall is accountable for how the trim meets it. No handoffs between framers, finish carpenters and cabinet shops.
- Design and build in one placeMillwork and cabinetry are drawn by our design team and built by our crews, so what you approved is what gets installed.
The part of the house you never see is the part that decides how it lasts.
On the coast, a house lives with wind-driven rain, salt air and humidity. Our standard is a house that keeps water out and gives moisture nowhere to become mold. That is decided long before the finishes, in how the house is wrapped, flashed, insulated and ventilated.
Flashed to shed water
A continuous weather barrier, and flashing at every window, door, roof valley, deck ledger and penetration, lapped so water always runs out and away. Most leaks start at a single detail; we treat every one as critical.
Sealed, then insulated
Air leaks carry moisture into walls. We air-seal the envelope, then insulate it continuously and completely, with no gaps, compressed batts or cold spots where condensation can form.
HVAC designed for the house
Heating and cooling sized to the actual house, with controlled fresh-air ventilation and humidity management, so a tight house stays healthy, dry and quiet in every season.
Photographed before it’s covered
Every layer is inspected and photographed before the next one hides it: flashing, barriers, insulation and rough mechanicals. The record stays with the house.
Start with a conversation.
Tell us where you are: looking at land, holding a property, or working with an architect. Alex replies personally, usually within one business day.
Our past clients have allowed us to share their homes privately. View the private portfolio; Alex will send you the password on request.