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Building and Remodeling North of Gainesville: Clermont, Lula, Cleveland and Dahlonega
New homes on your land, cabin and farmhouse remodels, porches and decks for Murrayville, Clermont, Lula, Cleveland, Dahlonega, Demorest and Cornelia.
Quick answer: EBD Construction LLC, a licensed and insured general contractor based in Gainesville, Georgia, builds new homes and remodels existing ones north of Gainesville in Murrayville, Clermont, Lula, Gillsville, Cleveland, Dahlonega, Demorest and Cornelia. Building a new home typically runs about $150 to $350 or more per square foot plus land and site work, and remodels start around $1,500. Owner Eric Bubniak pulls all permits himself. Call 404-925-7481 for a free consultation.
Looking for a remodeler? See home remodeling in Gainesville, GA for every service EBD offers, with typical costs and timelines.
Who builds and remodels homes north of Gainesville, GA?
EBD Construction LLC is a Gainesville general contractor with more than 15 years of experience and the same three-person crew for over a decade. North Hall and the foothill towns just past it (Murrayville, Clermont, Lula, Cleveland, Dahlonega, Demorest and Cornelia) are a short drive from EBD's base, and EBD builds and remodels there just as it does in Gainesville.
The work up here looks a little different from in-town remodeling. There's more building on family land and acreage, more wells and septic systems, more long driveways and sloped lots, and more older farmhouses and cabins that need updating. EBD handles all of it with the same crew from start to finish.
Can I build a house on my land in north Hall, White or Lumpkin County?
Usually, yes. Building on land you already own is one of the most common projects north of Gainesville. Before plans are drawn, Eric walks the property with you to look at:
- Access: how long the driveway will be and whether trucks and equipment can reach the house site.
- Slope: whether the site suits a slab, a crawlspace or a walk-out basement.
- Water and sewer: most rural lots need a well and a septic system, and the septic permit depends on a soil test.
- Power: how far the nearest line is and what the utility will charge to bring it in.
- Zoning and setbacks: what the county allows on your parcel.
If you haven't bought land yet, Eric can look at a lot with you before you buy, so you know what site work will cost.
How much does it cost to build a home north of Gainesville?
The house itself typically costs about the same as anywhere in the Gainesville area, roughly $150 to $350 or more per square foot. What changes north of town is site work, which depends on the land. Here's a general guide. It isn't a quote.
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small custom home, cabin or guest cottage | $90,000 to $300,000 |
| Mid-size custom home (about 1,500 to 2,500 sq ft) | $225,000 to $700,000 |
| Clearing and grading | $5,000 to $40,000 |
| Driveway (longer drives cost more) | $3,000 to $25,000 |
| Well | $8,000 to $20,000 |
| Septic system | $8,000 to $25,000 |
| Power and utility connections | $2,000 to $15,000 |
For a deeper breakdown, see how much it costs to build a custom home in Hall County.
Tip: A smaller home or guest cottage on family land is one of the most affordable ways to build new. A simple footprint with a big covered porch gives you a lot of living space for the money.
How much does remodeling cost in Clermont, Lula, Cleveland and Dahlonega?
| Project | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Bathroom refresh | $1,500 to $12,000 |
| Kitchen refresh | $2,000 to $25,000 |
| Mid-range kitchen remodel | $8,000 to $70,000 |
| Deck (pressure-treated to cedar or composite) | $2,000 to $36,000 |
| Covered or screened porch | $10,000 to $80,000 |
| Room addition | $15,000 to $90,000 |
| Whole-home renovation of an older house | $7,000 to $250,000 |
These are typical area ranges, not EBD quotes. A free consultation gets you a real number for your house.
What should I know about remodeling an older farmhouse or cabin?
Older homes in the foothills often have charm worth keeping and a few things worth checking first. Common issues EBD looks for:
- Floor framing and crawlspaces that need sistering, new supports or moisture control.
- Old wiring and plumbing that should be updated while the walls are open.
- Porches and decks with rotted posts, ledgers or railings that need rebuilding.
- Small, closed-off rooms that can be opened up by removing a wall.
- Too little space, solved with a room addition or a screened porch or sunroom.
For bigger projects, see the whole-home renovation guide, which also covers whether to renovate or move.
Who issues building permits north of Gainesville?
It depends on the county and town. North Hall homes (Murrayville, Clermont, Lula, Gillsville) are permitted through Hall County unless they're inside a city's limits. White County covers Cleveland and the area around it, Lumpkin County covers Dahlonega, and Habersham County covers Demorest and Cornelia, with some towns running their own building offices. Septic permits come from each county's Environmental Health office. Eric checks which office covers your property and pulls all required permits himself.
How long does building or remodeling take north of Gainesville?
- New custom home: about 8 to 14 months of building after permits, plus 1 to 4 months of planning.
- Addition: about 2 to 4 months.
- Kitchen or bath remodel: about 2 to 10 weeks.
- Deck or porch: about 1 to 6 weeks.
Well drilling, septic approval and long driveways can add time at the start of a new build, so it pays to get those moving early.
Which towns north of Gainesville does EBD Construction serve?
- Murrayville
- Clermont
- Lula
- Gillsville
- Cleveland
- Dahlonega
- Demorest
- Cornelia
- North Hall County
- Gainesville
Live in south Hall instead? See remodeling in Flowery Branch, Oakwood and Buford.
Why hire a Gainesville builder for a project north of town?
- The same crew every day. Three full-time builders who have worked together for over a decade, not a rotating cast of subcontractors.
- You talk to the owner. Eric Bubniak is your point of contact from the first visit to the final walkthrough.
- Permits handled for you. Eric pulls every permit himself and schedules the inspections.
- Reviews you can check. EBD Construction has 5-star reviews on Thumbtack, and references from past customers are available on request.
- See the work first. Browse the project gallery or walk through a real EBD whole-home project.
Building and remodeling north of Gainesville FAQs
Do you travel to Dahlonega, Cleveland and Demorest?
Yes. EBD Construction is based in Gainesville and builds and remodels in Murrayville, Clermont, Lula, Gillsville, Cleveland, Dahlonega, Demorest and Cornelia.
Can you build a cabin or small home on my land?
Yes. Cabins, guest cottages and smaller custom homes are a good fit for family land and acreage. Eric will walk the property with you first to check access, slope, water and septic.
Do I need a well and septic system?
Most rural lots north of Gainesville don't have public water or sewer, so a well and septic system are common. The septic permit depends on a soil test done through the county Environmental Health office.
Can you build a home with a walk-out basement on a sloped lot?
Yes. Sloped lots are common in the foothills and often suit a walk-out basement, which adds living space and a ground-level entry on the low side.
Do you remodel older farmhouses?
Yes. EBD updates older homes with new kitchens, baths, open layouts, porches and additions, and checks framing, wiring and plumbing along the way.
Is EBD Construction licensed and insured?
Yes. EBD Construction LLC is licensed and insured, all work is guaranteed, and references are available on request.
Ready to build or remodel north of Gainesville?
Call Eric Bubniak at 404-925-7481 or fill out the form below for a free consultation. Tell us your town, whether you're building or remodeling, and your timeline.
Get your free consultation
Tell us a little about your project. Eric will call you within one business day to talk it through and set up a time to see the space.