Custom Home Builder in Southeast, NY

Westchester & Putnam Custom Home Building Service Serving Southeast

New homes on Southeast land, from the first soil test to the certificate of occupancy, built by a family contractor that has worked in Putnam County since 1980.

In Southeast, the Land Comes First

The Town of Southeast covers about 35 square miles around the Village of Brewster, and roughly 8% of it is water. Much of that water is New York City’s: the Bog Brook and East Branch reservoirs sit right in the middle of town, inside the East of Hudson watershed. Outside the village, most lots rely on a private well and a septic system.

So before anyone draws a floor plan, three questions decide what can be built: where the septic field can go, where the well can go, and how close the house will be to streams, wetlands or a reservoir. We answer those first.

What a Southeast Lot Evaluation Covers

Soil and septic

Deep test holes and perc tests witnessed by the Putnam County Health Department, with a primary and a reserve field.

Water supply

Well location, separation from septic areas and neighboring wells, and a county well permit.

Watershed limits

Distance to streams, wetlands and reservoirs under NYC DEP rules, and whether a stormwater permit is needed.

Zoning and access

Setbacks, driveway grade and where the house sits best on the slope.

Building the House

Once the land is understood, design can move quickly. Guardian has several architects we can recommend depending on the style and size of the home, and we price the drawings as they develop so the plans match the budget. We work design-build: one team responsible from the foundation to the finish carpentry.

The photo shows a stone-and-timber custom home under construction by Guardian. We frame, roof, side and finish the house ourselves, and licensed, insured subcontractors handle plumbing and electrical under a Guardian project manager.

Typical Order of Approvals in Southeast

1. Soil testing

Engineer schedules deep holes and perc tests with the Health Department (not mid-July to mid-September).

2. Septic and well design

Engineer submits plans; well permit issued to a licensed driller.

3. Watershed review

Stormwater permit from DEP when the house is near a perennial stream or wetland.

4. Building permit

Stamped drawings filed at Town Hall, 1 Main Street in Brewster.

5. Construction and CO

Inspections at each stage, then the certificate of occupancy.

Honest Expectations

We do not quote a price or a schedule for a new home until the land is tested and the design is drawn, because in Southeast those two things set the cost. What we can promise is a clear process, a single point of contact and a written one-year workmanship warranty. We hold Putnam County HIC #52594, and financing is available for qualifying projects.

Southeast New Home FAQs

Can we test the soil for a septic system any time of year?

Not always. The Putnam County Department of Health will not consider deep test hole results for a new project taken between July 15 and September 15, and it does not test in bad weather or with snow on the ground. If you are buying land in Southeast, schedule soil testing for spring or fall.

How many soil tests does a new septic design need?

Under the Health Department’s single-family procedures, at least four deep test holes for each septic area (two in the primary field and two in the reserve) and at least four percolation tests. A licensed engineer designs the system from those results.

Does the NYC watershed affect a new house in Southeast?

Often. Southeast contains several New York City reservoirs, including Bog Brook and East Branch. Putnam County reviews septic systems under an agreement with NYC DEP, and DEP’s rules require an individual residential stormwater permit for a new house within 100 feet of a perennial stream or wetland.

Who drills the well?

A Putnam County-licensed well driller, under a county well permit. County rules call for the casing to go at least 10 feet into solid rock and be grouted with cement.

Do you build on land we already own?

Yes. Many of our new-home clients start with a lot or an older house they plan to replace. We begin with the land evaluation before design.

We also build new homes in nearby Putnam towns.

Have Land in Southeast?

Call 914-912-0385 or send the form with the address or tax lot, and we will start with a site visit. Read our Google Reviews.

Guardian Remodeling Corp · 143 Lake Shore Dr W, Carmel, NY 10512 · 914-912-0385 · Frank@guardianremodelingcorp.com