James David Custom Homes

In 2018 and again in 2019, Stephanie, my spouse, and I initiated two purchases intended to be our home together. The first was an empty lot with a design-build house and landscape project. The second was a new-build house renovation and landscape project. Briefly, each project hit a tipping point during the planning, design, and HOA approval phase. We met James Lepak of James David Custom Homes (JDCH) during the second project but did not get to the point of engagement. In 2021, Stephanie introduced me to the community of Talega in San Clemente. Specifically, the street Via Carina in the Alta development where she had toured the then model homes. Serendipitously within four months we were actually able to purchase a property at 24 Via Carina! We wanted to create an enlarged great room by removing a support wall, to add a prep kitchen with a produce refrigerator / wine cellar, to add a bonus room off the kitchen, to add a cocktail bar in the kitchen, to add a fitness studio / guest suite, to add a floating staircase, to reconfigure the master suite for two walk-in closets, vanities, and water closets. In addition to the structural modifications, we replaced or added all cabinetry, plumbing, appliances, flooring, and hardscape. The difficulty was the timing of the expiration of the lease on the property where we lived and the amount of work to be designed and implemented before we could relocate. We chose JDCH from the architect’s referral and our interview. We believe that a General Contractor requires a career’s worth of field experience across all disciplines, a committed constituency of competent, licensed sub-contractors, motivated staff and a set of digital tools to track the schedule (GANTT actual vs. plan), spending (versus budget per line item), daily project status, estimates, invoices, payments, and email communication for the owners, JDCH, sub-contractors and other project professionals. The project faced start-up delays from the length of the design phase, HOA approval submission timing, and City of San Clemente out-source of plan review. We were left with 12 months to implement an ambitious renovation. With all due respect to James, I don’t know if he could it again, but his hands-on direct involvement improved the final product beyond the plans and implemented our vision within 12 months for which I am deeply grateful!

Great landscaping services for new builds. Very thorough and lots of attention to detail. Reasonable prices and good quality to price ratio after shopping around. Owner really makes sure customer is happy and personally goes to make sure of this

James did a fantastic job for me. We needed to completely remodel out outside, especially the barbeque area, where extensive work was done. New barbeque, sink, roof, flooring, and fire pit with its own roof. Complete new Lanscaping in the front yard, with a new driveway. I had a few problems, like with all jobs, and James has taken care of fixing them, like you would expect. He cares about his work and wants you to be happy.

I hired James Lepak to build my residence in Newport Beach in 2008 and it was a great experience. James and his team did an amazing job and completed the project in under 8 months. I was so pleased with the quality of construction and customer service from James David Custom Homes, that I have referred several friends over the years. I will definitely use JDCH on any construction projects that I have going forward.

My company has had the pleasure of working with James David custom homes for over four years now. We have done several dozen projects together, and I find that the company is always very easy to work with, they use the latest software to track the job, and the final work is always exceptional. I look forward to doing more jobs with James and his team, and I highly recommend them for any build project. Robert - Quantum X wellness design

We would like to take the opportunity to thank JDCH, your team and your subcontractors for the exceptional work you completed on our home. We are extremely happy with the result and have received many compliments from friends and neighbors on the high quality of the work. If anyone is in the market for a professional high-quality builder, we highly recommend JDCH. James is an excellent general contractor and home builder focused on quality, timeliness, customer satisfaction and workmanship.

I contracted with JDCH in 2017 to do a complete remodel of our 5,000 square foot Laguna Niguel home. The project involved taking the house down to the studs and completely renovating the space. James and his sub-contractors were excellent. In fact, James personally supervised the job and met with me daily for the first 4-5 months. He also answers his phone when you call and was instrumental in recommending some cost saving ideas that did not take away from the architectural feel of the house. The work was very high quality and timely. The finished product won several awards. Unfortunately, we lost our home to the Coastal Fire of Laguna Niguel in 2022 and have contracted once again with JDCH to rebuild our custom home. The project now will be a little less than 8,000 square feet under roof with custom finishes and design throughout. The project to date has gone perfectly and ahead of schedule. Many of the same sub-contractors are on the job and their quality is exceptional. I would recommend JDCH without hesitation. They are honest, trustworthy, service oriented, and are an exceptional quality custom home builder.

James builds me a custom home the way I want it and within an acceptable budget 10 years ago. Finishing is good. What's better is the ongoing services after completion. 6 years after moving in, my swimming pool pump went out of service. Pool company told me it's out of warranty. My pool service guy said that the water pump is no longer in production. I was out of luck till I called James for help. With his magic connection, the issue was resolved dramatically. My Western company made, expensive aluminum casement window was not closing properly. A repair company I found cost me $522 each time coming to service. After consecutive 3 years, the problems were not really corrected. Again, James was able to muscle a right company to do a right job. And the cost is only $280. There is another story involving my wine cellar cooling system being burned out. Can't thank him enough for more than building my home, for ongoing services so many years after.

I had the absolute pleasure of working with James Lepak, he is an incredibly skilled and professional constructor. His diligence, attention to detail, and unwavering sense of responsibility were truly remarkable. Our communication remained always open and transparent. His dedication to delivering top-notch results was evident in the flawless craftsmanship displayed throughout the process. What truly sets James apart is his responsiveness and how he cares about his clients. Even today, he helps me with any problems I have with my house by either giving me advice or connecting me with the right service provider. He is always readily available to address any concerns or questions I have, His willingness to go above and beyond exemplified his professionalism. In summary, James is an invaluable asset to any project. His diligence, attention to detail, responsibility, and responsiveness make him and his company standout professionals in his field. I wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone seeking excellence in construction.

An excellent general contractor and home builder focused primarily on quality, timeliness, customer satisfaction and workmanship guarantee. Unlike most contractors, their time estimate is either 100% on point or they finish in advance of the expected completion date. They are committed to satisfaction and detailed customer service and standby their products and subcontractors work. Highly recommend if you want a seamless experience.

James, Hilary, and the whole team are so great to work with! They are detailed, thorough, on time, and honest! They have a strong design eye as they build so it's really a "one stop shop" I talk to many builders and they are just the real deal. I'd highly recommend them to build your custom home.

I highly recommend James David Custom Homes. They're work is some of the most detailed, precise and high quality that I have ever seen. James and his staff are wonderful to work with and they're customer service is excellent. If you are looking for a professional and high quality builder they are the ones for you!

We just finished an extensive remodeling of our home with James David Custom Homes. James Lepak and his team did an amazing job on our home. We are still a little starstruck by how beautiful it is and the high quality feel of the materials and construction. Quality is what most impresses about James and his team and the work that they do. James stayed personally on top of the job and stepped in several times to ensure that the workmanship met his expectations. He and his team also brought ideas to us that we never would have thought of that contributed greatly to the overall outcome. James has an excellent set of subcontractors that he works with regularly who understand his expectations and show up on time and do good work. We were always comfortable with the team who was working in our home during the months-long remodel. Finally, after we moved back into our home, James has continued to be responsive to us as small things come up. Overall, it feels like the team treats our home as if it was their own.

We would highly recommend James David Custom Homes for your next remodeling or building project. James and his team are highly qualified professionals with exceptional attention to detail. James was very involved and contributed extensively to our project from the design phase to completion. The team of carpenters and project managers were knowledgeable, punctual and excellent at customization. His employees were courteous and helpful during the project. James' knowledge of the building codes, materials and selection of sub-contractors/trades helped us get thru an extensive remodel during the height of Covid. In addition, James and his team are excellent at follow up and provide an ongoing inspection service to ensure your home is maintained in top condition.

My wife and I recently hired JDCH to completely remodel of the interior of our 6,000 SF custom home. The result was fantastic. The workmanship was top of the line and our home looks like new construction, not a remodel. The JDCH employees were well experienced and professional. They showed up on time and managed to finish our job almost a full month before we anticipated. As a construction defect lawyer, I can say that we highly recommend JDCH. In fact, we have recommended JDCH to other family members and intend to use their services on our other project.

James, Wanted to thank you again for "knocking out of the park" on our recent project. Your team is great to work with and is comforting to know everything gets handled in a prompt / professional manner each and every time. Keep up the great work !

We hired James David Custom Homes for a complete rebuild of our home in Seal Beach. James and his team including project manager Kevin, office manager storm, and especially our project manager Jaime were extremely professional, communicative and knowledgeable. Jaime who was in charge of the day to day was always on site and ready and willing to answer any questions or tackle or new problems that arose. The bid process was extremely detailed with each item required accounted for (our bid was ~ 60 pages long compared to 2 pages from another contractor.) Throughout construction we received daily updates via the Buildertrend App with progress pictures through each step. Overall we are extremely satisfied with the finished product and while there are always some surprises and ups and downs with any large scale project I feel these were handled quickly and confidently. Would highly recommend James and his team for any custom construction product.

I have worked with James David Custom Homes on a couple projects and am impressed by their professionalism and customer service. They really put customer service as a high priority! As an Interior Designer they are great to work and collaborate with; respecting the designers vision but also sharing their experiences with the construction process I look forward to working with James David on future projects.

James David built the most beautiful home for us in Corona Del Mar. The build quality, fit and finish were superb. I will definitely look to the JDCH Team again for my luxury and custom home builds. Thanks James Davis Custom Homes Team!

Choosing my contractor was probably one of the toughest decisions I had to make. I don't consider myself a strong decision maker so I make sure to have enough information to make the best decision I can. There are many other creative, hardworking, and honest contractors that can build the home you want, but I ended up going with James David Custom Homes (JDCH) because they are genuine. For me, it was all about finding the right people who can translate my concepts into construction, and who I can really enjoy being around. I felt inspired and informed so much to the point where I didn't feel stressed. The people at JDCH were always on top of the paperwork, communications, and schedule. I strongly believe that the homeowner must also be on top of their paperwork, communications and schedule in order to facilitate the project. I highly recommend JDCH for your next build, because I will most certainly call them for mine.

Over 5 years ago I purchased a home in Huntington Beach from James (owner of James David Custom Homes). I could not be happier with the home and the quality of the workmanship. I was blown away the minute I saw the home, and everyone who has been here since is amazed by all of the beautiful details. James is fantastic! Although it has been over 5 years he still answers my text messages when I can't find things like the main line sewer access (I may be needy at times...). James not only informs me about my home but he tries to educate me too so that I know how to handle things in the future. If this isn't enough to convince you that James is great you should also know that my parents were so blown away by the work he did on this home that we purchased in Huntington Beach, that they hired him to remodel our family home in Coto De Caza. The quality of the home is top notch and we couldn't be happier with our decision!

James David and his entire crew is an absolute pleasure to work with. Our firm, Jeannette Architects, strongly believes that any recommendation we make to our clients is an extension of ourselves and so we don’t take it lightly. We know with absolute confidence that our clients will be taken care of by every member of the team at James David Custom Homes from start to finish. Their attention to detail, team-based mentality and excellent communication skills are just a few of the reasons our clients enjoy working with them. They dig into every detail of the numbers when putting bids together and propose cost saving measures that aren’t at the expense of good design. They use tools like ‘Builder Trend’ that allow everyone to see photos of the construction progress online and review daily reports at any time. The final product at the end of the day is a beautifully crafted, high quality build that any homeowner would be proud to call home.

James David Custom Homes did an excellent job on our full kitchen remodel. Six months after the final walk through, the kitchen is still our dream come true. The custom cabinets are everything we had hoped for; they are durable, strong and beautiful. The execution of the job was almost perfect from demo to completion (although it did take a little longer than expected as construction can). The JDCH team were the nicest, hard working guys that showed up when they said they would and explained everything in great detail. Their communication is 100% on point. I would definitely recommend JDCH and am beyond happy with the final turn out and quality of their craftsmanship.

James Lepak and his team at James David Custom Homes did an amazing job on my extensive modern remodel in Newport Beach. My 2100 sq ft house was torn down to the studs and rooms were moved to different locations and an addition was added. Even when we hit a snag with the original house being old, we found a way to do Plan B. James would come up with alternative ideas in workarounds and with design. If he knew I was missing something, he was on it. Their attention to detail and responsiveness was exactly what I needed since this was my first-time remodeling something other than a bathroom. James took my project seriously and was always available if/when I needed him. To top it off, they always left my site each day clean. I would definitely recommend them to anyone considering a remodel or essentially a rebuild!

Given the number of unique high end finishes we desired as part of the full remodel, the process became complicated at times. The superintendent, Jamie Maqueda, did an excellent job keeping all parties patient and tracking towards completion. The ultimate outcome was a high quality finish, providing a conversion to the open modern Santa Barbara feel we desired at the outset.

We hired James David Custom Homes in February, 2016, to build our home in Newport Beach, CA. Building a home at the time seemed daunting and we had mostly heard only negative things about contractors and the experience overall. Fortunately, we chose James to help us through that process and he not only helped to make it a very exciting experience, but a very rewarding one, too. James is an experienced contractor who pays attention to detail. He is very knowledgeable about architecture and design and when things aren't clear to him, he seeks additional information for clarity. He works well with other players of the team and keeps the project moving forward with ease. When we experienced a problem or issue, James' foreman was extremely responsive and our issues were resolved quickly and seamlessly, for the most part. Of course we experienced some hurdles along the building process, but nothing that couldn't be worked through. One of the strongest reasons we decided to build with James David Custom Homes was because of the quality product we knew we would have at the end of the experience. Our home is stunning. The woodworking requirements were extensive, and the installation and finishing team did an amazing job. Electrical, Plumbing and finishing teams worked seamlessly together to ensure our home was magnificent. Regarding the timeline on the project, we were about 2 months later than our estimated targets. This was due to circumstances beyond James' control. His team was on site every single day and worked tirelessly not because of a deadline, but because of their work ethic and commitment to success. In conclusion, we would recommend this contractor if you're building a custom home, and especially if you're in need of much customized woodworking. Great work James!

My company used James David Custom Homes to build our home in Corona Del Mar. James staff was super responsive and very solution driven. As with all projects we come across road blocks and the company was great at anticipating many of them and always being prepared with options for our team. Our build speed was amazing and the quality of work was impeccable. I would highly recommend James David Custom Homes for your next build!!

James and Kevin did a great job on my remodel. They were very responsive to all of my requests and even better stood behind their work when it wasn't perfect. It is hard to find contractors that answer the phone these days or do what they say they will do. I highly recommend them for anyone considering a remodel or new build!

James and his team were great. We interviewed many contractors before deciding on our major remodel. First, James was exteremely detailed in his bid. He presented basic options and left room for upgrades at our discretion. Second, he picked up on several important items, such as raising the roof in the kitchen and increasing the size of the La Cantina doors. A less detailed contractor may have overlloked these opportunities for enahncement. Last, there were generally limited delays. most of James' subcontractors were equally detailed and prompt. We finished the whole project essentially within the time frame allotted. JAmes was open to communication and was available via phone, email or text anytime. He worked with our interior designer to ensure we acheived our desired "look" and functionailty for our remodel. We are very pleased and would recommend James David without reservations.

I hired James David Custom Homes 2 years ago to remodel a beach cottage duplex. This was a complex project in that not only was the property we bought extremely run down, my husband and I do not actually live in the state of California. This was a vacation home that we had purchased and was going to oversee the renovations from a distance. I knew prior to removing a single nail that we had to hire someone who was honest, could handle complex situations both with sub-contractors and city officials, as well as be a good communicator to us. In all honestly, there were a lot of hurdles in our project and costs kept escalating, not the fault of JDCH. James' guys would open walls and find problem after problem after problem and the project very much fell into every renovation cliche you can think of. But through this incredibly stressful process, James kept his cool and talked me off several cliffs and kept the project moving forward to the best of his and his team's ability. Like any long renovations (ours took roughly 6 months) there were times in-between were JDCH were the last people I wanted to talk to but in any working relationship, you communicate, compromise, and work your way through it and that could not be possible had I not been working with a complete professional who was highly capable of managing a complex renovation. Now here is my super glowing review of JDCH. Ten months after my renovation was complete, a handyman discovered a gas leak in the house. The city shut down the main gas line so I could bring in a plumber to find the leak. I called just a random company from Yelp, don't know why I didn't think to JDCH fist, and they came out there and told me I would be looking at a minimum of $1500 to find the leak and it could be more to fix the leak. I was completed panicked since again I do not live in the state and we had a vacation renter checking into the unit in less than 48 hours. I called James and asked him what I should do and exactly what parts of the home was under warranty. Within 2 hours James had the plumber to the house and several hours later the leak was found and fixed and way after regular working hours, JDCH had the painter come fix the drywall and paint. I checked our door activity online and the painter did not leave the house until 9:30pm. This speaks volumes about this company and the relationships they have with their subs. James acknowledged the leak was very unusual accident but he took care of it all. I will also never forget the words James said to me on the phone when I first called him about the leak, "you should always call me first with any problems on the house because I will get you the right people." Assuringly, I can write that James kept his word and I have called him at least 2 other times after the project completed with some other issues and he has always taken care of me and our house. JDCH goes above and beyond and we were very fortunate to have worked with such an outstanding team, lead by James Lepak.

We hired James to do a complete renovation of our 5000 sq. ft. Laguna Niguel home. This project involved extensive structural changes, new electrical, plumbing, lighting, flooring, exterior landscaping, and HVAC. He exceeded our expectations in terms of the quality of his work and those of his subcontractors. The project was on time and James personally oversaw the critical elements of the project and was readily available for questions. I would recommend him highly and without reservation. A true professional and top notch contractor.

James Lepak of James David Custom homes has been an excellent choice for our remodel in Yorba Linda, CA. We are changing from Spanish Mediterranean to Contemporary. James has over 20 years in the business. His ideas and vision are pretty amazing. Our plans were not perfect and many adjustments needed to be made. He was able to correct the engineering and move forward with the right methods for the addition. James is conscientious and takes each project to heart as if it were his own home. We are anxious to complete our remodel and move into a completely new home by summer of this year.

The team at JDL Construction has the Midas touch. Every home they complete is more beautiful, inspired, and unique than the last. We are delighted and honored by their choice of Garrison Collection flooring in many of these exquisite projects. The JDL home shown below features one of our most popular floors – French Connection Toulouse - with a completely new and exciting postmodern industrial spin. Moreover, JDL's extreme professionalism, kindness, and industry experience makes them a pleasure to work and interact with. It has been our privilege to serve the needs of this excellent company and we hope to see Garrison floors showcased in many more JDL masterpieces.

We initially hired JDL to add a first floor bonus room and an upstairs bedroom, bathroom and office to the house we had lived in for 9 years. A couple months into the project we expanded the scope of the work to include a complete remodel of the kitchen and family room including the relocation of windows and installation of a 20 foot La Cantina door system. We lived in the house during the entirety of the project and were pleased with JDL efforts to keep dust and noise under control. As the owner of JDL, James Lepak was very involved with front end discussion of the design and estimate, onsite regularly during construction and conscientious on the final stage of project wrap up. James takes great pride in his work and has high expectations for his crew and his subcontractors. Months after construction he continues to be responsive and conscientious to any issues or needs related to the project. We love all our new space and remodeled kitchen/family room. James is a good guy and responsive to client questions. We recommend James and JDL for your construction and remodel needs.

JDL Construction was recommended to me by my real estate agent. The house I had purchased required extensive remodelling and I would be living in the house with my two dogs while the work was being done. From the initial estimate to the final walk through each stage was professionally undertaken. The estimate was fair and only fluctuated when I made adjustments or upgrades. James Lepak ran a tight ship, all of the sub-contractors were professional and pleasant to be around. Living on a building site with jack hammering, windows boarded up and dust, dust, dust was stressful but the guys did all they could to keep the dust down with plastic sheeting and always left the job in the afternoons in as clean condition as possible. I am truly delighted with the finished product. The style and quality are really spectacular. Thanks James, you were great!

I have worked with JDL Construction on several projects and have always found James and his crew to be professional, experienced and intuitive. Not only does JDL Construction do an excellent job when it comes to the quality of their work but the true measure of a professional is how they handle issues that arise. JDL Construction has always come through, going above and beyond what was expected to solve any issue. I always enjoy the process when working with JDL Construction especially since, at the end, the client is thrilled with the outcome.

James Le-pack and his team at JDL, have done both residential and commercial remodels for me, and do excellent quality with attention to detail, in a fair cost with time conscious deadlines. Double Thumbs UP! I strongly recommend JDL, and look forward to future projects with them : )) Sincerely, David Longridge President Balboa Horizons Recovery Services

We've had the pleasure of working with JDL on a number of projects and the end result is a consistently beautiful project. The craftsmanship and attention to detail in their homes is amazing. I would highly recommend JDL to anyone and we will continue to work with them again. To everyone at JDL, thank you for all of your hard work and dedicated efforts in making our house a home!

Since 2012, JDL Construction has been my "go-to" contractor for both a major remodel of our home, as well as some other minor modifications. Since our house is historic and very eclectic, James and his team at JDL Construction were the only contractors that I felt shared our same vision. My wife and I were living on the East coast and JDL Construction was remodeling our home on the West coast. We worked together via emails, Skype & phone calls, constantly communicating. No other contractor that we interviewed even knew how to get onto Skype. James & his team were very detailed and ultimately built us a very high quality end product. I would highly recommend JDL Construction for any project.

Mine was a modest project, but the results were great. I replaced an old, unattractive carport with a new two-car garage with attic storage space. JDL personnel were skilled, prompt, and totally pleasant to deal with. Even though it was just a little garage, they took care with every detail as if it were a showplace. I constantly get comments like, "Who lives in the cottage behind your house?" and "This is so cute - I could live here!"

I am a longtime Orange County Realtor. I recommended JDL Construction to a client of mine that wanted to do a complete remodel. She is very happy with the results and the job done by this most professional and exceptional firm. I recommend this firm every chance I get. They make me look GOOD!

We hired James (JDL Construction) to do numerous projects on our home, including a very large outdoor pergola and several wood finishing projects (including painting) inside our home. We were extremely happy with both the quality of the work his team did and the professional manner in which he and his team always conducted themselves. My husband and I are both perfectionists and really appreciated James's great attention to detail. They also finished within the promised time frame, which I believe is very rare in the world of construction! As a mom at home with young kids during the project, I also really appreciated how friendly, polite, and considerate his whole team was. They were all a pleasure to work with and I'd highly recommend them to anyone.