ABOUT US
Olde Florida Contracting, Inc. is owned and operated by Jacob Carter. Jacob has over 20 years experience in residential and commercial construction in Southwest Florida. From conception to completion, Olde Florida Contracting, Inc. has the knowledge and expertise to manage your construction project. Our goal is your complete satisfaction. Our team works diligently to secure the professionals needed to build your job properly from start to finish.
Our Story
In 2005, Jacob was working for a large production builder, building condos and coach homes in a development in North Fort Myers. Things were hot. In just under two years, he closed 60 units (10 of which had ZERO defects). But around mid 2006, the layoffs started. He survived the first round, but wasn’t so lucky the second time. In January 2007, he found himself with a new baby, a stay-at-home wife, and no job.
But when one door closes another one opens; the opportunity of a lifetime came along. He was hired as an Assistant Builder for a commercial construction firm in Fort Myers. Large, complex buildings, intricate drawings; this was right up his alley.
His first project in commercial construction was a clubhouse/hurricane shelter for a community in Punta Gorda. Their old center had been destroyed by Hurricane Charley in 2004. Once the clubhouse was complete, he broke ground on a 30,000 SF church in Fort Myers, and was promoted to Builder. This was truly a labor of love, and remains to this day, one of his favorite projects ever. By the time the church was done, the commercial market had followed the residential market, and for the second time in 2 1/2 years he found himself out of a job.
Determined to take control of his future, he set out to fulfill a long-held goal: obtain his Contractors license. On December 16, 2008, on his youngest sons first birthday, he succeeded and passed the test with flying colors. Once his license was activated in March 2009, as a State Certified General Contractor, he went right to work. Starting his first project, under his new company, two weeks later in April 2009.
A company that began in a small bedroom of his house, has since moved twice to accommodate our expanding team and offerings. Today, we are not only a full-service General Contractor as Jacob originally started, but we are also a dealer of StarMark and Mantra Cabinets and a full-service Real Estate firm.
When people find out he started a construction company in SWFL in 2009, the most common question Jacob is asked is, “Why?” The answer is simple, because he had to.
On the first day when Jacob introduced himself as the assistant builder, I thought to myself, “I don’t want the assistant. I want the guy who knows what he’s doing.” Boy was I wrong. He not only knew what he was doing, he was a complete pleasure to work with. I am so glad he was part of this project.
Our Latest Projects
Benefits of Working With Us
Communication
Remember the game “telephone”? More often than not, by the time it reaches the last person in line, the meaning or even the actual words have completely changed. By having fewer people “in line”, we are able to maintain more consistent and better communication with our clients.
Lean & Mean
This is the philosophy under which we operate; streamlining processes, hiring highly skilled multi-talented workers, and being as efficient as possible. This allows us to deliver top-quality construction without cutting corners.
High Tech
We get asked a lot, “Can you teach other contractors how to do this?” All of our documents, for clients and subcontractors, are signed electronically. All of our customers get password protected access to their project on our website to organize all of the construction documents, job schedule, progress photos and other important data. You can even have the construction calendar right on your phone or tablet!
Construction Management
As a construction manager, we assume all management responsibilities and risk for the total project, delivering to the owner a turnkey project.
Design
If you can imagine it, we can build it. Most of our projects start with a conversation about what exactly you want to build. Even if you don’t have plans yet, we can help you get started. Based on your preliminary ideas, we can give you a ballpark estimate on the price per square foot.
For residential new construction, additions, or any commercial project; plans from an architect and engineer will be required by Florida building code. While all of this is going on, we’ll also be in contact with the local building department to obtain necessary set backs, check for any necessary Wetlands determinations, and address any other site conditions/requirements.
We’ll also be able to start getting solid numbers from all of our suppliers and subcontractors to develop your line-item construction costs and develop your Construction Bid.
Permitting
Permitting will be done by the local municipality where your property is located. Each one has their own processes and procedures, but most will follow the same pattern:
- Zoning Review – Checking compliance with zoning regulations and setbacks (how far off the road and surrounding lots a structure must be)
- Plan Review – Ensuring compliance with Florida building codes. Plan review is usually broken down into separate reviews for: Structural, Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC.
- Permitting & Impact Fees – Calculation of permitting fees (typically based on the value of the project, but some municipalities calculate based on price per square foot) and impact fees on new construction (varies widely depending on location)
- Inspections – Once the permit is issued and construction has started, the local municipality will regularly inspect the structure as construction progresses.
- Certificate of Occupancy or Completion – Once the project is complete, and all inspections have been successfully passed, the municipality will issue the final Certificate of Occupancy (or Certificate of Completion for remodels) certifying that the projects has been built to plan and Florida building code
Construction
This is when the fun begins! After all of the time spent designing and planning for your project, it finally starts to come to fruition. It’s important at this time that you have made all of your final selections for:
- Plumbing fixtures
- Electrical fixtures
- Flooring selections
- Paint colors
- Appliances
- Cabinets
All of these items really need to be chosen before you break ground to ensure a smooth construction timeline. Typical construction looks like:
- Site work – Clearing, grading, fill dirt, plumbing underground
- Concrete work – Footers/foundation poured
- Block work – Concrete blocks set to form exterior walls of the home
- Tie Beam/Trusses – Tie beams poured and trusses set to start the roof framing
- Roof – Roof deck and roof covering (shingles, tile, metal) installed to “dry-in” the structure
- Rough Mechanicals – All of the Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical lines and equipment that will be “hidden” behind the drywall
- Windows & Doors – Windows and exterior doors installed
Insulation & Drywall – This is when you can really start to see the house take shape. The rooms become instantly defined once the drywall is up - Trim, Paint & Hard Flooring – These all happen around the same time. If you have chosen carpet, that will go in very last.
- Well & Septic – If your home will be on well and/or septic, those items will be installed
- Flat Work – Driveways, walkways, concrete equipment pads
- HVAC & Electrical Trim – The HVAC and Electrical systems can be finalized and turned on
- Landscape – Sod & landscaping in place
- Cabinets & Countertops – Cabinets will be set first, then a template taken for countertop fabrication. Countertops will typically be set about a week later
- Plumbing Trim – Once the countertops are in place, the Plumber can hook up all of the plumbing fixtures
- Final Clean – A thorough cleaning of interior. If you have chosen carpet for any rooms, that will go in after the final clean
- “Punch” Work – After a walk-through with the Supervisor and home owner, any items identified will be remedied
Technical Info
License
State Certified General Contractor
License #CGC1517029
Municipalities
Registered with: Lee County, City of Fort Myers, City of Bonita Springs, City of Cape Coral, City of Sanibel, Town of Fort Myers Beach, Village of Estero, Collier County, City of Naples, City of Marco Island, Hendry County, City of Clewiston, City of LaBelle, Charlotte County