The first time I met Jake Walsh, owner of JT Builders, he was proudly showing off the craftsman-style home he had built in Edgemont Highlands, a planned community just east of Durango. The beautiful house with post and beam arches won the “People’s Choice Award” that year (2019) during the annual Parade of Homes event. From that feature, I could tell he was a true artisan. His attention to detail, design, selection of materials, and choice of finishes yielded a truly custom dwelling.
Hailing from Illinois, Jake was raised to be fair and reasonable with people and certainly models the Midwestern work ethic. His commitment to perseverance pays off in the long run as he is willing to rise earlier, work harder, and stay longer to get the job done—and done right. He has decades of experience in various construction fields and is a member of the Homebuilders Association of Southwest Colorado and the National Homebuilders Association. Having lived in Durango since 1998, Jake is deeply involved in our local community, particularly as a supporter and former coach of the Durango Area Youth Hockey Association.
If you’ve ever participated in building a house, you’ve quickly realized the endless choices and decisions involved can become overwhelming. One needs a calm and steady hand to guide you through the complex process of ideation, permitting, excavation, framing, etcetera. Jake Walsh and JT Builders have been building beautiful, low-maintenance, sustainable homes since 2006 and have developed an efficient system to complete your dream home on budget and on schedule. They use the most up-to-date technologies and premium-grade materials to produce energy-efficient homes that work in our mountain climate.
The pre-design process begins with the client filling out a questionnaire about their vision and preferences, followed by the composition of an online “idea book” for inspiration. This step helps define the client’s needs and desires, from the number of bathrooms and bedrooms to the design style and special features required. From conceptualization all the way to completion, JT Builders is with you every step of the way, ensuring that your needs are fulfilled. They use 3D modeling to help bring the structure to life and allow for changes in a floor plan before construction begins.
JT Builder’s design/build program is divided into four phases: First, discuss and define your project goals or how you want to live. Second, establish a mutually beneficial agreement. Third, develop a preliminary design and cost estimate. Fourth and finally, transition from preconstruction to construction of your home.
Embarking on the journey of building a dream home requires a lot of trust and communication to ensure that the client’s expectations are managed throughout the project. JT Builders uses the latest project management software to provide cost transparency and weekly project updates every Monday that show progress reports, future goals, and monthly updates about budget and schedule. They provide full disclosure on budget change orders and promptly address any issues that may arise. Even during the building process, JT has the client fill out a customer satisfaction survey to head off any foreseeable challenges. This is truly personalized support.
Jake and his team are masterful at sequencing the many time-sensitive steps involved. Scheduling and consistent progress can often be challenging when using the many subcontractors involved in the multiple stages of homebuilding. JT Builders meticulously monitors its trade partners to make sure momentum is kept while delivering quality craftsmanship.
One of the unique services JT Builders offers is post-construction support for the first year after the home is completed. In their commitment to creating a lasting relationship, JT Builders will be the handyman for free to fix any detail or issue that may arise. The glowing testimonials about their work prove that they really care about their client’s satisfaction. Some notable compliments include “friendly, courteous, responsive, professional, dependable, and receptive.” It’s clear why their mission statement is “Building Sustainable Homes and Lasting Relationships.”
During the 2024 Parade of Homes in September, I was able to tour a recent JT Builders’ project located in the Twin Buttes development west of town off Highway 160. The beautifully modern split-level house is built into a hillside facing south with a majestic view of Wildcat Canyon. The style of the house is a happy marriage of wood and steel with plenty of outdoor spaces for relaxation or entertaining. It offers 2,200 square feet of living space on the main floor with an abundance of windows for solar gain during the winter months. The interior features custom local cabinetry, in-floor heating for the bathrooms, and a natural flow from room to room. A unique feature that the client requested is an elevator to the 1,870 square foot three-car garage and attached workshop located under the house.
The heart of the home lies in its open-plan layout, centered around the waterfall island countertop in the kitchen, complete with motion-sensitive lighting underneath the bar. The back patio is nestled against a rock retaining wall and has plenty of room for a hot tub and grilling station. Dylan Jackson, the project manager who has been with JT Builders for four years, showed me some of the exterior details around the house, like the cantilevered front deck and uniquely textured walls defining the driveway and front entrance stairway. With the help of JT Builders, the owners were able to blend their style sensibilities with the opportunities presented by the building site. This residence blends modern design with cozy comfort to provide an ideal retreat just minutes from town.
From post and beam archways to waterfall kitchen islands, JT Builders customizes every house to meet each client’s specific needs and visions. Their signature touch on any project they tackle centers around maximizing views and incorporating spacious decks and thoughtfully designed social areas curated to bring people together.
