As the capital city of Louisiana, Baton Rouge is the seat of Louisiana’s history, culture, and lifestyle. Baton Rouge has a metropolitan area that houses a booming petrochemical industry. The city also houses the flagship campus of Louisiana State University, a public-funded research university. As one of Louisiana’s most populated cities, Baton Rouge is also one of the most active cities in the Southern U.S.
With a median home value of $166,600 that is estimated to rise by 2% next year, according to Zillow, the home value in the city is very accessible as compared to the national median. Consequently, Baton Rouge is one of the most sought-after housing markets in the region.
Due to Baton Rouge’s long history and cultural positioning, home styles in the city are on the traditional spectrum. Colonial, bungalow, and Craftsman styles are among the city’s most common home styles. On this list, homeowners will find the best custom home builders in the city. Firms on this list are gathered and ranked according to the extensiveness of their work history, the prestige of their awards, and the overall quality of their work portfolios.
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. On the other hand, if you want to learn more about the cost of building a custom home in Baton Rouge, check out our cost guide article.
Manchac Homes
17954 Augusta Pointe Ct. Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Hailed as an Industry Innovator by the Home Builders Association of Greater Baton Rouge in 2020, Russell Alleman has been collaborating with clients to create high-end luxury homes since 2014. His firm, Manchac Homes, has become a premier home builder in the Baton Rouge area due to its excellent customer service and attention to detail.
Manchac Homes built this home on the East Lake Shore Peninsula. The 6,000-square-foot structure is surrounded by lush landscaping framed by its black perimeter fence. A gray brick pathway leads to the main entrance through the front gate. Classic white pillars line the façade, and the gray motif runs through the door frames, the exterior shutters, and the roof. White railing lines the second-floor balcony, which can be accessed through a set of French doors. The home has received a lot of praise from the city for its understated elegance.
Cotten Custom Homes
20718 Madison Ave., Livingston, LA 70754
Cotten Custom Homes is a family business in Livingston that has been in operation for over 38 years. The company is currently headed by Gerald Cotten and builds an average of 7 to 10 homes per year in the East Baton Rouge, Ascension, and Livingston Parish areas.
Cotten has an interesting portfolio of compact yet highly functional homes. In the project featured, a bungalow with an adjacent garage proves that homes do not need to be larger in order to perform well. The home features slender pillars and narrow windows that make the home slimmer and more compressed. This design blends well with the suburban setting as it does not look out-of-place with the neighboring homes, while it maintains a sense of personality.
Epic Homes
14908 Audubon Lakes Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70810
When former Louisiana State University football player Joey Noto combined his degree in Construction Management with his vision to elevate the competition in the local construction business, Epic Homes was born. Despite being part of the 2003 National Championship Football Team, he chose to pursue a different path as he worked under MAPP Construction. 10 years after his employment, Noto started his own company.
Epic Homes has an extensive portfolio of traditional homes. Most of the projects handled by the company are built with consideration for classic elegance. A light wash and neutral colors are often used together with time-tested design elements. The project in the picture shows a traditional home built with an asymmetrical layout. This layout is matched with a progressing structure that builds up on the left side of the home. The home also has interesting details; the three wooden pillars in the front matches the ledges and the entryway perfectly.
Traditions Construction
8128 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge, LA 70808
With a local presence since 1976, Traditions Construction has been a staple of Baton Rouge custom construction. The name of the company stems from its background of three generations of construction. Traditions is presently managed and operated by Taylor Braud on behalf of the Braud family.
Despite the name, the company does not settle on conventional home styles. Instead, Traditions take cues from traditional home styles but gives them a modern take. In the project featured, the company reimagined a typical farmhouse and gave it a modern update. Wall tapestries and an unusual layout give a unique look to the home. The cream finish of the facade matches the blush brick. This combination is completed by the pool, creating a modern and welcoming look.
Daphne Construction
7520 Perkins Rd. Suite #260, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Turkish immigrant Umut Meraler found himself in the middle of the construction business when he migrated to the U.S. Meraler is an alumnus of Istanbul University and worked in the construction industry in Istanbul before acquiring his degree. Founded in 2005, Daphne Construction has served the Baton Rouge area with top quality construction. Daphne builds custom homes in a wide spectrum of styles, including modern, contemporary, and Craftsman.
A rustic modern home in a wood and concrete combination tops the company’s portfolio. This home is a progressive and creative utilization of expert craftsmanship and a good example of curation of home materials.
Brandon Craft Development
13425 Quail Grove Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Brandon Craft Development has been a South Baton Rouge staple for the last 15 years. Led by husband and wife team Brandon and Cherith Craft, the company began after the Craft’s graduated from Louisiana State University, then opened a real estate firm.
The homes in the company’s portfolio vary from Tuscan to bungalow, to traditional, but all share the same design trademark unique to Brandon Craft. Neutral tones and conventional design elements characterize the home design. In the work featured, a bungalow in off-white with gray accents proves that an everyday design of a home can also be elegant. French windows serve both a practical and a stylistic function as it both maximizes natural light and adds a common touch to the home. This home fits perfectly in the suburban environment where it is located.
Bardwell Homes
5153 Bluebonnet Blvd. Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70809
For over 20 years, Bardwell Homes has been building high-quality houses in the most exclusive communities of Baton Rouge. Scott Bardwell, the company’s founder, and president, graduated with a degree in Finance from Texas A&M University, and has extensive experience in real estate, in both construction and finance.
Bardwell’s signature process is a bottom-up approach that aims to eliminate micro inconveniences and errors that dissuade customers. Its approach often leads to classic home styles. In the picture, the company created a traditional home with a straightforward layout. The combination of wood, red brick, and blue roofing create a comforting appeal, which channels a home-like atmosphere.
Waguespack Homes
324 W Cornerview Rd., Gonzales, LA 70737
Gonzales-based Waguespack Homes has been serving the Baton Rouge area for more than 16 years. Led by Bart Waguespack, the company has received multiple Parade of Homes awards, including the Best of Ascension Award for 2017. Waguespack is also a board member of both Capital Region Home Builders Association (CRHBA) and Louisiana Home Builders Association (LHBA).
Waguespack has a full portfolio of colonial and Craftsman homes. In the work featured, the company created vibrant colonial home with a posh combination of blue-green and white. The home’s gabled and pyramidic roof creates a layering effect that adds volume to the home’s facade. This bungalow’s energetic and accommodating presence fits perfectly in the lot and highlights the home’s presence.
Patterson Homes
6199 Morgan Rd., Greenwell Springs, LA 70739
Casey Patterson established Patterson Homes with traditional construction training and background. Since the company’s inception in 2003, the company has garnered several awards, including Baton Rouge Business Report, and multiple Parade of Homes awards.
With over two decades of construction experience, Patterson Homes has mastered the craft of making Craftsman and colonial homes. The picture depicts a notable colonial home constructed by the company. It has a symmetric facade that is matched by the balanced positioning of pillars, window panes, and roofing. The home provides a sense of comfort and familiarity as the warmth of the color provides an atmosphere in which both residents and guests feel subconsciously welcome.
Telich Custom Homes
7616 Willow Grove Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Telich Custom Homes is proudly from Southern Louisiana; the company prides itself on knowing the area’s unique vernacular and home needs. Featured by local circulations such as inRegister Magazine, House & Home, and Business Report, the company has solidified its popularity in the local construction scene.
The company has a strong portfolio of French, traditional, and transitional homes. Most of the firm’s projects feature neutral colors, French multi-panel windows, and porches. This home’s unique form is achieved through a combination of a non-linear facade, the use of curves, and the highlighting of the multi-panel window. This home is a fun and youthful take on the conventional home in the area.
Blair Construction
2250 Tiger Crossing Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70810
Husband and wife team Chip and Theresa Blair have been building homes in the Baton Rouge area for more than 30 years. In those years, Blair Construction has completed more than 300 projects and has received various awards, such as Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)’s Mark of Excellence Award for Custom Home of the Year for 2014.
Blair has a stunning selection of traditional, contemporary, and Victorian homes. Over the decades, the firm has completed homes with classic elegance in mind. In the work featured, Blair constructed a gorgeous traditional home characterized primarily by simple layout, off-white paint finish, and gabled roof. The home has a unique U-shape layout that aims to maximize the room space and therefore the functionality of the space.
Daryl May Construction
344 Baind Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70808
With over 20 years of industry experience and over 250 homes built, Daryl May has established himself as one of Baton Rouge’s most prominent builders. He established his namesake company a few years after graduating from Louisiana State University. The company has worked on several award-winning projects, including an Architect Magazine-awarded home, shared with the designer Cockfield-Jackson Architecture firm. Daryl May has also been featured in local publications such as House & Home Magazine, Sage, The Advocate, and Builder + Architect Magazine.
The company has worked in Baton Rouge’s most exclusive neighborhoods, such as Southdowns, the Garden District, Bocage, and Old Goodwood. Styles in those homes are primarily of the colonial and bungalow styles. In the project featured, the company built a Greek Revival home with neutral tones and a classic close-to-ground elevation. This home blends in with the natural backdrop in the suburban setting where it was placed.
Gafford Builders
13310 Wood Creek Dr., Baton Rouge, LA 70818
Founded in 1998, Gafford Builders is the firm in which Dwayne Gafford utilizes his expertise. With 27 years of experience in residential construction and 37 total years in construction as a whole, Gafford works in all budget ranges. Gafford was awarded the HBA of Greater Baton’s 2018 Rouge Builder of the Year and was the recipient of its Outstanding Leadership Award. He is also the Vice Chairman of the NAHB Custom Home Builders Committee for 2019 and a member of the Single Family committee.
Gafford makes high-quality traditional, bungalow, colonial, and Craftsman homes. In the project featured, a traditional home with neutral colors and earth tones stands out as some of the company’s best work. The home is a wooden composition of varying tones with an asymmetrical facade and follows a conventional look while using a modern mixture of beige and white in the fluted walls. This home is a good testament for mixing new design elements with traditional styling.
How can I find a home builder near me?
Read our latest articles on the best custom home builders across Louisiana. If you don’t see your city 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.
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.
