Homeowners
↗
Austin, Texas
Austin general
contractor.
Aurea Build is a general contractor for homeowners, investors and business owners. Kitchens and baths, additions and ADUs, custom homes, commercial build-outs, and the renovation work that gets a house ready to sell.
About Aurea Build
Who we are
Aurea Build is a general contractor in Austin. We build and remodel homes and commercial space for owners and investors in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties, and Rob Vahle is the person you talk to from the first call to the final walkthrough.
Most of what goes wrong on a job gets decided early. A scope nobody wrote down. A budget built on allowances nobody could actually shop for. Something behind a wall nobody looked at. We spend the front end of a project on those things, before the work starts.
Tell us about your projectServices
What we build
Pick the one closest to your project. Each page covers how that kind of job runs and what you will need to decide first.
And more
Other projects we take on
Kitchens and baths, whole-home work, additions, ADUs, custom homes and commercial build-outs. Same process, same person answering the phone.
01 · Homeowners planning a kitchen remodel
Kitchen remodeling
Kitchen remodeling in Austin: layout, cabinets, counters, plumbing and electrical planned together before demolition starts.
Explore kitchen remodeling02 · Homeowners planning a bathroom remodel or primary suite update
Bathroom remodeling
Bathroom remodeling in Austin: waterproofing, drains, tile and layout decided before demolition so the work behind the finishes holds up.
Explore bathroom remodeling03 · Homeowners considering a whole-home renovation
Whole-home renovations
Whole home renovation in Austin, TX: where you live during the work, what gets checked inside the walls, and what to decide before demolition.
Explore whole-home renovations04 · Homeowners planning a home addition or second story
Home additions
Home addition in Austin, TX: how the new space connects to your house, what the lot and soil allow, and how plans and permits fit together.
Explore home additions05 · Property owners planning an ADU, garage apartment or guest house
ADU construction
ADU builder in Austin, TX: lot check, utility runs, permits and construction for a backyard home, with the rules left to your city.
Explore ADU construction06 · Landowners and families planning a custom home build
Custom homes
Custom home builder in Austin, TX: lot review, design and engineering, permits and the build order, with the unknowns named up front.
Explore custom homes07 · Business owners and tenants planning a commercial build-out or tenant improvement
Commercial build-outs
Commercial build-out contractor in Austin, TX: how the lease, permits, inspections and occupancy shape a tenant improvement before you open.
Explore commercial build-outs
How we work
How a job starts
Before work starts, we put the scope, budget, schedule and selections in writing. When something changes later, you see what it does to cost and time before it happens.
See the process01Define the work
What is included, what is not, and who decides what.
02Spend where it counts
Money goes to the work that matters for how you will use the property, or sell it.
03Keep it in front of you
Decisions, costs and next steps tracked from kickoff to handoff.
The process
From first call to final walkthrough
Here is the order things happen in.
01
Property walkthrough
We come out, look at the property or the lot, and talk through what you want done.
↗02
Detailed bid
You get an itemized proposal: what is included, what is not, and the allowances for anything not chosen yet.
↗03
Project plan
Once you approve it, we set the sequence, the timeline and the decisions you will need to make along the way.
↗04
Construction
We run the schedule and the trades, check the work as it goes, and send you progress updates and photos.
↗05
Final walkthrough
We go through the finished work with you, list anything left to fix, and close the job out.
↗Insights
Guides
Plain-English guides on costs, permits, schedules and site conditions in Austin.
Kitchen planning · 6 min read
What drives the cost of a kitchen remodel in Austin
Layout, cabinets, appliances, utility moves and what's under the floor decide a kitchen price. Here is what each one does to the budget.
ReadADU planning · 6 min read
Building an ADU in Austin: what to settle first
Check the lot, deed restrictions, utilities and soil before you draw or hire. What to find out and how it changes the bids you get.
ReadPermits · 6 min read
Do you need a permit for your Austin remodel?
Which remodel and addition work usually needs a permit, who applies, how review and inspections go, and why Austin and its suburbs differ.
ReadCommon questions
Questions we get
The ones that come up on almost every project.
What areas do you work in?
Austin and nearby cities in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Lakeway, Pflugerville, Georgetown and West Lake Hills. If you are a little outside that, call and ask.
What kinds of projects do you take?
Pretty much any kind: kitchen and bathroom remodels, whole-home renovations, additions, ADUs, custom homes, commercial build-outs, and the renovation work investors and sellers need done. Tell us what you have and we will tell you if it is a fit.
Do you build new homes?
Yes. We build custom homes from the ground up as well as remodel existing ones. A new build starts with the lot: utilities, access, slope, soil and any restrictions. Plans, engineering and permits come next, then construction.
Do you build ADUs and additions?
Yes. Whether an ADU or addition is allowed on your lot depends on zoning, utilities, setbacks and any HOA or deed restrictions, so we check those first and price after.
Do you do commercial work?
Yes, commercial build-outs and tenant improvements. The lease, the landlord's requirements, the plans and the permits all shape the scope, so we start by reading those.
How do I get started?
Fill out the estimate form, call 512-775-1692, or email [email protected]. We will talk through what you want done and set up a visit to the property.
What happens after the visit?
We write up an itemized bid with the proposed work and what it costs. Once you approve it, we set the sequence, the timeline and the decisions you will need to make before work starts.
Is the first estimate a fixed price?
No. An early number is a range, and it can move as we learn more about site conditions, the final scope, your selections, permits and what the work costs to buy. The signed agreement is the number that counts.
Can you work from plans or a scope I already have?
Yes. Send plans, inspection reports, repair lists or an existing scope and we will review them and point out the gaps before we price anything.
How do you run the job?
We schedule the work, keep the trades in order, check quality as it goes, and keep decisions moving. You get progress updates and photos while the job is underway, so you always know what is coming next.
What happens when I want to change something?
We write the change down before the work happens, along with what it does to the price and the schedule. That way nothing shows up on an invoice you have not seen.
How does the job end?
We walk the finished work with you, make a list of anything left, and confirm the agreed scope is done before we close the job out.
What makes one renovation cost more than another?
Square footage is only part of it. What is behind the walls, how complicated the work is, what you choose for finishes, and how much of the house gets opened up all move the price more than size does.
Where to check the rules
If you want to verify anything yourself, these are the offices and organizations behind residential construction rules in the Austin area:
- City of Austin Development Services Department — permitting, review timelines, and inspection process
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation — trade licensing in Texas
- Travis Central Appraisal District — property records and assessed values
- International Code Council — the model building codes Texas jurisdictions adopt
Request a preliminary estimate
Tell us about the project
Send what you have: the address, what you want done, any drawings or inspection reports. We will tell you whether the next step is a site visit, a feasibility check, or a rough budget range.
Based in Austin, TexasRemodels · Additions · New builds · CommercialRob Vahle · 512-775-1692[email protected]