Do you handle design and permits?

Yes. Real Custom Builds draws the plans, handles the permit process and builds the project. Structural engineering is coordinated through local firms when a project needs it.

Who does the work on my project?

Refugio Chapa III runs every job and brings in subcontracted trade crews matched to the scope of each project.

Mostly in Austin, Texas, and across Central Texas when the project is the right fit.

What happens after I send the form?

We call or text you back to set up a free consultation at the property.

Real Custom Builds | Design, Remodeling and Construction in Austin, TX

Q: Do you take commercial projects?

Yes. Real Custom Builds works with homeowners, investors, developers and businesses, on construction as well as design and permitting. On a recent daycare we handled the permitting and code-compliance work, including the fire alarm system, through to the Certificate of Occupancy.

Q: Do you speak Spanish?

Yes. Hablamos español. You can call, text or meet with us in English or Spanish.

Services

Design, permits and construction. One builder.

Most projects need a designer, someone to run the permits and a contractor. Real Custom Builds is all three, for homeowners, investors, developers and businesses.

Start with a free consultation

Side yard of the Oltorf new build with a black horizontal fence, turf and a new mechanical pad — Oltorf new build, Austin

New construction

01

Ground-up builds, including tearing down the old structure and rebuilding on the same lot. We carry the project from plans through the final walkthrough.

Custom homesDemo and rebuildInvestor and developer builds

Remodels

02

Interior remodels for homes and businesses. Kitchens, bathrooms, layouts, and the things about the building that have never worked.

Interior remodelsKitchens and bathsCommercial remodels

Additions

03

More room without moving. Covered porches, added rooms and outdoor living that tie into the existing structure and roofline cleanly.

Covered porchesRoom additionsOutdoor living

Design

04

Residential and commercial plans, drawn by the same person who will build them. Structural engineering is coordinated through local firms when the project calls for it.

Home plansCommercial plansEngineering coordination

Permitting and code compliance

05

We handle the permit process so you do not have to learn it. That includes bringing an existing building up to code and getting it to a Certificate of Occupancy.

PermitsCode complianceCertificate of Occupancy

Demolition

06

Interior demo ahead of a remodel, or a full tear-down ahead of a new build, done as part of the same job.

Interior demoFull tear-down

Recent work

Built in Austin.

No stock photos. Every image on this site is a Real Custom Builds project, from a full tear-down and rebuild to a single shower.

White kitchen with a waterfall island, flat-panel cabinets and a stainless range hood at the Oltorf new build in Austin

Demo and new build

Oltorf, Austin

The original house came down and a new single-story home went up on the lot: floor-to-ceiling glass across the back, a cedar and stone front elevation with black trim, an open kitchen with a waterfall island and flat-panel cabinets, and a fenced turf yard kept under the mature oaks.

LocationAustin, TX

ScopeFull demo, new construction

Finished covered back porch with gray decking, white railings, ceiling fans and a stone base on a limestone home

Addition

Covered porch addition

A full covered porch framed over the existing deck and tied into the main roofline, with a finished ceiling, fans, lighting and new railings.

LocationAustin, TX

ScopeFraming, roof tie-in, finish

Commercial, permitting

Up to code. Cleared to open.

Permitting and code compliance

Daycare, Austin

We handled the permitting and code-compliance work to get an existing building approved for daycare use, including the fire alarm system, through to the Certificate of Occupancy.

LocationAustin, TX

RolePermitting, code, CO

Timeline3 months

Bathroom remodel, Austin

Primary bath

Glass-enclosed shower with a bench and niche, marble-look tile, a patterned accent wall, new mirrors and lighting, and a rebuilt closet.

Frameless glass corner shower with a tiled bench, long niche, grab bars and a rain shower head

Shower rebuild, Barton Hills

Foxtail shower

A dark, cramped tile stall rebuilt as a frameless glass shower with a bench, a long tiled niche, grab bars and a rain head.

Remodeled hall bathroom with a pale green double vanity, oval mirrors, brass lighting and herringbone floor tile

Interior remodel, Austin

Bedrooms, hall and bath

New paint, doors and trim through the bedrooms and hallway, rebuilt closets with shelving, and a fully retiled hall bath.

New backyard deck at dusk with black metal railing and built-in post lighting

Outdoor, Austin

Deck with lighting

A new deck framed and finished beside the pool patio, with black metal railing and built-in lighting.

Before and after

Same rooms, same angles. Drag the handle.

Before: primary bathroom vanity with a wallpaper border, a soffit light box and carpet — **Primary bath** Soffit, wallpaper and carpet out. Tile, mirrors and lighting in.

After: the same vanity with new mirrors, lighting, a tile accent wall and marble-look floor tile — **Primary bath** Soffit, wallpaper and carpet out. Tile, mirrors and lighting in.

Before: green hall bathroom with a framed tub enclosure and an oak vanity — **Hall bath** New tile, glass, vanity and fixtures in the same footprint.

After: the same hall bathroom with a glass shower, new vanity, oval mirrors and herringbone floor tile — **Hall bath** New tile, glass, vanity and fixtures in the same footprint.

Same porch, three stages

The frame goes up, the new roof ties into the old one, then the ceiling, fans, lighting and rail. Watch the drone video

Open roof framing over a back deck during a covered porch addition — **Framing** Posts, headers and rafters over the existing deck

Drone view of the crew laying underlayment and shingles where the new porch roof ties into the existing roof — **Roof tie-in** Underlayment and shingles where new meets old

Finished porch ceiling with fans, lights and a mounted TV looking out over the yard — **Finished** Ceiling, fans, lighting and new railing

How we work

Four steps. No surprises.

You will always know what is happening, what it costs, and what comes next.

Walkthrough
We meet you at the property, look at the space, listen to what you want and talk through what is realistic. Free, no pressure.
Free consultation
Design and quote
We draw the plans, bring in a local engineering firm when the structure calls for it, and give you a written quote that spells out scope and timing.
Plans, scope and price
Permits and build
We handle the permits, bring in the right trade crews and run the job on the schedule we agreed to. You get regular updates along the way.
Permitted, scheduled, supervised
Final walkthrough
We walk the finished project with you, fix anything on the punch list, and hand over a space that is ready to use.
Punch list closed

Refugio Chapa III working on a job site in Austin

Refugio Chapa III, Owner

Who you are hiring

The designer is also the builder.

Refugio Chapa III has been designing homes and commercial plans since 2017 and building them since 2021. The person who draws your project is the same person who runs it on site.

Designing since 2017. Building since 2021.
Design, permitting and construction handled by one company.
Trade crews matched to each project, with Refugio running the job.
Hablamos español. Talk to the person building your project in English or Spanish.

Meet us at your property

Where we work

Austin first. Central Texas too.

Most of our work is in Austin. We take projects across Central Texas when the job is the right fit, so if you are outside the city, ask.

Austin and nearby communities

Austin
Pflugerville
Round Rock
Cedar Park
Leander
Lakeway
Bee Cave
Manor
Del Valle
Buda
Kyle
Dripping Springs

What clients say

Ask the people we built for.

The shower is a beautiful addition to our home. The final result is truly beautiful and worth every penny. We will definitely recommend you to anyone looking for contract work. We couldn't be happier.

Bob and DebbyBarton Hills, AustinFoxtail shower remodel

Questions

Straight answers before you call.

Anything else, call or text 956-466-3438.

It depends on size, finishes and what is behind the walls, so we do not quote over the phone. We come out for a free consultation, then give you a written quote that spells out scope, price and timing. If you have a budget range in mind, tell us early and we will design to it.

Yes. We draw the plans, handle the permit process and build the project. When a project needs structural engineering, we coordinate it through local firms.

Refugio Chapa III runs every job. He brings in subcontracted trade crews matched to the scope of each project, so the people on site are the right ones for the work.

Yes. We work with homeowners, investors, developers and businesses, on construction as well as design and permitting. On a recent daycare we handled the permitting and code-compliance work, including the fire alarm system, through to the Certificate of Occupancy.

Mostly in Austin, and across Central Texas when the project is the right fit. If you are outside the city, ask.

Sí. Hablamos español. You can call, text or meet with us in English or Spanish.

We call or text you back within one business day to set up a free consultation at the property.

We design it, permit it and build it.