Frequently Asked
Questions

The first step is a conversation, no cost, no commitment. Contact us through the website, call us at 970.239.1508, or email info@madera.llc. We'll listen to your vision, ask smart questions, and tell you honestly what's achievable, and what it will take to get there.

No. We work across the full range, from practical manufactured and modular homes to high-end bespoke custom builds. What matters to us is that we can do the work well, and that the fit between client, project, and our team makes sense. Contact us and let's find out.

Yes. The initial conversation, including a site visit, is at no cost. We invest time in getting to know your project before any engagement because it's the only way to give you an honest picture of what's possible. This meeting is genuinely one of the most valuable parts of the whole process.

Our core offering is integrated design-build, one team managing both phases, because we think it produces better outcomes. That said, we can also provide design services for clients who have their own contractor, or general contracting for clients who arrive with completed plans. Let us know your situation and we'll tell you how we can help.

The full range: manufactured and modular homes at the practical end, stick-built custom homes in the middle, and fully bespoke, handcrafted residences at the high end. We've built everything from a well-designed single-wide to multi-million-dollar mountain estates. Budget doesn't determine quality, intention does.

Yes, and this is one of the things we're genuinely best at. We've built on sites with no road access, grades over 30%, elevations above 10,000 feet, and supply constraints that required helicopter delivery. The logistics of remote mountain construction are complex, but they're the kind of problem we've spent decades solving. If another contractor told you your site wasn't buildable, call us before you accept that answer.

Yes. We handle the full scope of land improvements: roads, utilities, fencing, outbuildings, corrals, caretaker residences, and site master planning. We've worked with conservation easement holders and work in a way that respects both the land and the long-term vision of the property owner.

A full custom home build typically takes 12–24 months from design through certificate of occupancy. Permitting alone can run 3–6 months in mountain Colorado counties. Weather windows, lead times on specialty materials, and site access can all affect the schedule. We give you a realistic timeline before you commit to anything, and we manage to it.

Mountain construction costs more than comparable builds at lower elevations, typically 15–30% more, due to logistics, weather, limited labor pools, and material delivery. As of 2025, custom home construction in the Ridgway/Telluride area ranges from $300–$600/sq ft for a well-built mid-tier custom home, to $600–$1,200+/sq ft for high-end bespoke work. Remote sites add further cost depending on access. Contact us for a realistic preliminary estimate based on your specific project.

Every project is unique enough that a meaningful number requires a conversation about your specific site, scope, and timeline. We can give you general ranges upfront, but we prefer to give you honest numbers based on your actual project rather than a generic ballpark that sets the wrong expectations. Contact us and we'll be direct about what your budget can build.

Change orders happen, that's the nature of complex construction. What doesn't happen is surprise invoices. Every change order is documented in writing, priced before work begins, and approved by you before anything changes. We don't start work on a change until we have your written approval.

Our primary service area is the Ridgway–Ouray–Telluride–Montrose corridor in Southwest Colorado. We're based in Ridgway and we know this area intimately. We also build on remote and challenging sites throughout the broader San Juan Mountains region. If you're not sure if we cover your location, just call us at 970.239.1508 and ask.

Permitting in Ouray, San Miguel, and Montrose counties is more complex and time-consuming than urban jurisdictions. Reviews take longer, requirements for remote sites can be more intensive, and there are often additional agency reviews for water, septic, and access. We manage the entire permit process for you, applications, agency coordination, plan revisions, and inspection scheduling. Budget 3–6 months for permitting on a typical project.

At higher elevations, the practical construction season can be compressed to 6–8 months (typically May through November, depending on elevation and site). We plan our schedules around these windows, front-loading foundation and framing work during favorable weather, and scheduling interior work and finishing for the winter months when possible. Our experience managing mountain construction seasons is a real advantage for your project.

Yes. We have experience working within conservation easement parameters, design review processes, and HOA architectural guidelines, which are common in the Telluride and Ridgway markets. We'll review your restrictions early in the process and make sure the design respects every constraint before we invest in detailed drawings.

We work through six phases: Initial consultation, feasibility and preliminary scope, design development, permitting and pre-construction, construction, and completion and handoff. You have one point of contact throughout. You get regular updates with real information, not filtered project reports. See our full process page for details on each phase.

As much or as little as you want. We have clients who visit the site weekly and clients who review monthly photo reports from out of state. Either way, you'll always know what's happening. We handle the day-to-day management, you make the decisions that matter.

Yes. Colorado does not require a state license to work as a general contractor, and Madera operates under that framework. We carry full general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and can provide certificates of insurance on request. We also require all subcontractors to carry appropriate insurance for their trade.