Ellis Custom Homes

05/25/2026

Memorial Day is for remembering the men and women who gave their lives serving this country. Today, we reflect with gratitude on the freedoms their sacrifice has protected and the families who have carried their legacy forward. From all of us at Ellis Custom Homes, we hope you can spend today with the people you love, and take a moment for the ones who helped make it possible.

05/19/2026

A roof is the most weather-exposed part of a home. It takes every storm, every snowfall, every summer of UV, and every freeze-thaw cycle Virginia can produce. Most homeowners never look up at their roof until something goes wrong, and a well-built one means they rarely have to. Here's what makes a roof last and what to ask any builder before they put one on your new home: https://ellishomesva.com/roof-systems-in-custom-homes/

05/05/2026

Smith Mountain Lake is a special place: over 500 miles of shoreline, deep water, mountain views, and a great community to be part of. Building in and around the lake brings with it a unique set of challenges, and helping our customers work through them is a big part of what we do. If you're considering a lake home, a great place to start is the guide on our website: https://ellishomesva.com/building-a-custom-home-on-smith-mountain-lake/

04/05/2026

Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful and joyful Easter. From all of us at Ellis Custom Homes, we hope your day is filled with good food, good company, and all the things that make the day special.

03/28/2026

For many of our customers, designing around the view is a big part of the process. There are a lot of factors that go into that: from helping position the home on the lot to the design of the rear elevation. And windows are one of the biggest pieces, and something we spend a lot of time thinking through.

Our goal is to help you make the most of your property’s view, while also ensuring the home performs well day in and day out. If you’re curious how windows affect that and why it’s such an important thing to get right, check out our latest article: https://ellishomesva.com/how-the-right-windows-change-the-way-your-home-performs/

03/11/2026

The past few days sure have us thinking of warmer days on the lake! While we're not quite there yet, this winter reprieve sure has been nice. Here's one of our favorite Smith Mountain Lake builds, to help keep the summer dreams alive a little longer than the forecast!

As one of the region's top custom home builders, Craftsman builds high-quality homes with excellent warranties, in a smooth & enjoyable process

02/07/2026

Is anyone else as anxious as we are for this cold weather to take the hint?
This is exactly why people ask us: 'Can a heat pump keep up when it gets really cold?' The answer is yes, but not all systems are equal. Here's what we spec and why (and what to ask any builder you're talking to): https://ellishomesva.com/do-heat-pumps-work-in-cold-weather/
Stay warm out there!

01/24/2026

Snow, ice, and freezing rain all in one weekend. Thanks, Old Man Winter.

This is the kind of weather that shows you what your home is really made of. Your building envelope, everything that separates you from the outside, is more than just walls and insulation. It's a system. When one part is weak, the others have to compensate. When they're all working, your home handles a weekend like this without breaking a sweat.

Here's how it works: https://ellishomesva.com/what-keeps-a-virginia-home-warm-in-winter/

01/07/2026

Building on Virginia's rolling terrain means getting the foundation right from day one. Our latest article breaks down what goes into a basement foundation that's built for the long haul - from proper waterproofing systems to the structural details that make walkouts and daylight basements possible. Whether you're considering a lakefront lot or a wooded hillside, selecting a builder who understands what's happening below grade is one of the most important decisions you'll make. https://ellishomesva.com/basement-foundations-in-custom-homes/

12/22/2025

Wishing you a warm and joyful holiday season from all of us at Ellis Custom Homes!

11/20/2025

A shell home is a great option for anyone who wants the structure professionally built but prefers to handle the interior work and exterior finishes themselves. It gives you a solid starting point that’s dried in and weather protected, while giving you full control over the pace, budget, and final details. This is one we just finished and turned over to the customer.

If you’re considering a shell home and want a straightforward explanation of how the process works, here’s a helpful breakdown: https://ellishomesva.com/building-a-shell-home/