New homes and teardown rebuilds
Custom homes and teardown rebuilds, from the foundation to the last coat of paint, built to your architect’s plans or ours. Jeff Scalise Building Contractor has built new homes in Darien, Greenwich, Riverside and the towns around them since 1996.
Licensed in Connecticut, NHC.0010679. Fully insured. BBB accredited since 2012.
Jeff is on every job
Jeff is a master carpenter with over 30 years on the tools, and he runs every job on site himself rather than handing it off to a project manager.
A custom house is really twenty-some companies working in sequence: excavator, foundation, framer, plumber, electrician, HVAC, roofer, insulator, drywall, trim, tile, floors, painters. Most of our subs have been with Jeff ten, fifteen, twenty years. When the same crews show up house after house, the work is consistent and the schedule holds.
Teardown rebuilds
Most of the new houses in Darien are teardown rebuilds on existing lots. The zoning rules on coverage, floor area and height decide what you can build before anyone draws a line.
If the property is anywhere near the water, expect a coastal site plan review with Planning and Zoning and FEMA flood rules on top of the regular building permit. That affects the foundation, the height of the first floor and the cost.
Not sure whether to renovate or start over? Read Teardown or renovate? How we decide in Darien and Greenwich.
How long it takes
Count on a teardown rebuild taking a year to a year and a half of construction after the permit is issued. A builder who promises you a new house in eight months is either going to miss or going to cut something.
How the price works
Most of our jobs are a fixed price with allowances. An allowance is the dollar amount set aside for the things you have not picked yet: cabinets, tile, lighting, plumbing fixtures, appliances.
Some clients prefer cost plus, where you pay the actual cost of labor and materials plus a set percentage and you see every invoice. Both are legitimate. Fixed price gives you certainty. Cost plus gives you transparency and room to change your mind.
Either way the payment schedule follows the work: a deposit, then payments as the foundation goes in, the house is framed, the roof is on, and so on.
Before you sign
Our Connecticut new home registration is NHC.0010679. You can look it up at elicense.ct.gov. We are fully insured and have been BBB accredited since 2012.
For the rest of the checklist, read How to find a good builder in Darien, CT.
How we work
Three steps, start to finish, with Jeff on site for all of them.
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Plans and budget
We review your drawings, walk the property and give you a real number before you commit to anything.
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Build
Jeff runs the site himself, every day, with the same crews he has worked with for years.
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Punch list
We are there until the last item is done, and we pick up the phone after you move in.
New homes we have built
What clients say about building with Jeff
From our Google listing, word for word.
We have had the pleasure of working with Jeff Scalise on two new homes over the past six years, and I truly cannot say enough good things about him, his team, and his subcontractors. Having built twice with Jeff, I wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again.
Read the rest of this review
Building a home can be stressful, but Jeff makes the entire process feel easy. He is incredibly organized, communicates well, and is always honest and transparent. He works hard to keep everything on budget, even when construction costs are rising, while helping us understand where it makes sense to invest in upgrades that add value.
What we appreciate most is that Jeff genuinely cares about the quality of his work. He never cuts corners and consistently uses the best materials, from spray foam insulation to high-quality windows and doors. You can trust that things are being done right.
Finding a builder you can trust is invaluable, and Jeff has earned that trust from us time and time again. We couldn’t recommend him more highly!
We purchased a beautiful home directly from Jeff and could not love it anymore. We also contracted him to build out our backyard and are blown away by the final results. He and his team are incredibly talented and professional!
Planning a new home?
Call (203) 655-1118 or send Jeff a note. We are glad to look at plans or walk the property before you commit to anything.