About Rock’s Custom Homes — Fourth-Generation Builder Serving Tampa Bay & Southwest Florida
Built on Experience. Driven by Design. Focused on Process.
Who We Are
Built on Four Generations of Craftsmanship. Led by Vision. Driven by Integrity.
Rock’s Custom Homes is a fourth-generation Florida builder specializing in flood-elevated, high-performance luxury homes across Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida.
We design and build residences that are engineered for coastal conditions, elevated for peace of mind, and crafted for long-term durability.
Our homes are not built for trends. They are built for decades of living.
What sets us apart isn’t just how our homes look—it’s how they’re planned, engineered, and delivered through a transparent, guided process that protects your investment from the very beginning.
Leadership
Jesse Rock - Director of Construction | Certified General Contractor
Certified General Contractor Florida License: #CGC1530525
Florida Certified Roofing Contractor's License: #CCC1329729
He leads construction operations at Rock’s Custom Homes and represents the 4th generation of the Rock family’s building legacy in Florida. With deep hands-on experience across luxury residential construction, coastal code compliance, and flood-elevated engineering, Jesse ensures that every home is built with uncompromising structural integrity.
From foundation to final walkthrough, Jesse oversees:
• Construction standards and quality control
• Coastal and flood-zone compliance
• Engineering coordination
• Jobsite execution and craftsmanship
His leadership ensures that every Rock’s Custom Home meets the highest standards of strength, safety, and long-term performance.
Jake Michel - Director of Operations
Jake Michel leads the strategic growth, client experience, and pre-construction planning side of Rock’s Custom Homes. With a background in real estate investment, development strategy, and client advisory, Jake ensures that every homeowner experiences a clear, guided, and financially sound building process.
Jake oversees:
• Pre-construction planning & feasibility
• Budget strategy & financial clarity
• Client communication & project alignment
• Long-term value planning for each home
His role ensures that homeowners enter the build process fully informed, protected, and confident—from the very first conversation.
Our Story
Rock’s Custom Homes was founded on a simple but powerful belief:
Homes should be engineered for the realities of Florida—not just designed for appearances.
What began as a small family construction operation over four generations has evolved into a modern coastal luxury building company—one that combines traditional craftsmanship with today’s advanced engineering, healthy-home standards, and flood-resilient design.
As Florida’s coastal zones continue to change, so has the responsibility of builders. Rock’s Custom Homes exists to eliminate the uncertainty homeowners often face when building in flood-prone areas. From FEMA compliance to elevation strategy, structural load engineering, and moisture protection—we build with the future in mind.
Today, Rock’s Custom Homes is led by:
• Jesse Rock, representing four generations of construction excellence
• Jake Michel, bringing strategic vision, financial clarity, and client-first leadership
Together, they lead a company built on trust, preparation, and precision.
What We Believe
• Homes should be engineered before they are decorated
• Clients deserve clarity before commitments
• Coastal construction requires specialized expertise—not shortcuts
• Elevation, structure, and drainage matter as much as finishes
• Transparency builds stronger projects and stronger relationships
What We Build
Rock’s Custom Homes specializes in:
• Flood-elevated coastal homes
• Single-living-level luxury designs
• FEMA-compliant construction
• Custom primary residences
• Investment-grade coastal properties
Each home is engineered around:
• Lot conditions
• Flood zone requirements
• Future insurance resilience
• Long-term ownership value
A Fourth-Generation Foundation
Jesse Rock comes from a fourth-generation building family. That legacy shows in how Rock’s Custom Homes approaches every project — with discipline, integrity, and long-term thinking.
Our experience allows us to confidently guide clients through every decision before construction begins.
Design-First, Process-Driven
Rock’s Custom Homes requires a structured design and pre-construction phase on every custom build. This is how we protect our clients.
Before final pricing is ever presented, we guide you through:
- On-site consultation
- Architectural planning
- Interior design coordination with our in-house design team
- Engineering, selections, and upgrade integration
- Full pre-construction documentation
- Budget alignment and value engineering
This process allows us to confidently deliver a fixed-price construction agreement once all decisions are defined.
We do not guess.
We design first — then we price.
Why Clients Choose Rock’s Custom Homes
Fourth-generation Florida builder
Dual leadership: Construction + Strategy
No bidding wars, no guesswork
Structured pre-construction planning
Flood-zone and coastal expertise
Transparent communication at every phase
SERVING TAMPA BAY & SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
Custom Homes Built for Florida Living
Rock’s Custom Homes proudly serves:
Sarasota County
Charlotte County
Lee County
Collier County
Manatee County
Hillsborough County
Pinellas County
We specialize in both elevated coastal homes and traditional custom builds.
STILL NOT SURE?
Frequently Asked Questions
Get Clear on the Process Before You Begin
1. Why can’t you give me a fixed price right away?
Because a real fixed price requires real design.
Before we price your home, we must fully understand:
• Your architectural layout
• Interior selections
• Structural requirements
• Site conditions
• Upgrade decisions
• Outdoor features
• Energy systems
• Specialty spaces
Giving a price before that would be a guess — and guesses create change orders, budget shock, and broken trust.
Our process ensures your final price is accurate, reliable, and buildable.
2. When do I receive a fixed price?
You receive your fixed construction price after completing the full pre-construction phase, once:
Architecture is finalized
Interior design selections are complete
Structural engineering is approved
All major upgrades are locked
Site planning is complete
Permitting strategy is confirmed
This is how we eliminate surprises during construction.
3. Do you require interior design services?
Yes.
Every Rock’s Custom Homes build includes a mandatory base interior design package.
This guarantees:
Cohesive architecture + interiors
Accurate material budgeting
Proper lighting and fixture planning
No re-designs during construction
No budget surprises caused by late selections
Premium interior design services are also available as upgrades.
4. Do you use an in-house architect and interior designer?
Yes.
You will meet directly with:
Our in-house architect
Our in-house interior design team
They work in unison throughout pre-construction so your home is:
Architecturally sound
Structurally correct
Interior-coordinated
Budget-aligned
Build-ready before construction starts
5. What is included in your pre-construction phase?
Pre-construction includes:
Full architectural design
Structural engineering
Interior design coordination
Site planning
Upgrade integration
Pool + outdoor design coordination (if selected)
Value engineering
Permit-ready documentation
Final fixed-price construction proposal
This phase protects your investment and defines everything before ground is broken.
6. Do you build pools and outdoor kitchens?
Yes — and they are designed as part of your home, not added later.
During pre-construction, you can design:
Custom pools
Outdoor kitchens
Fireplaces
Pergolas
Outdoor living rooms
Pool baths
Water features
Hardscapes
Outdoor lighting
Everything is engineered, budgeted, and permitted in one unified plan.
7. What happens if my dream design goes over budget?
We value-engineer, not pressure.
That means we:
Adjust size
Modify layouts
Offer alternate finishes
Phase features
Re-design structural decisions
All while protecting:
Performance
Lifestyle goals
Structural quality
Long-term durability
You stay in control of your budget.
8. Do you build elevated and coastal homes?
Yes.
We specialize in elevated coastal construction throughout Florida, including:
FEMA-compliant foundations
Impact-rated windows and doors
Coastal wind-rated structures
Flood-zone engineering
Moisture-resistant building systems
Salt-air exterior assemblies
But we also build traditional inland custom homes across Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida.
9. Can I bring my own architect or designer?
Yes.
However, our in-house architect and interior designers still collaborate to ensure:
Structural integrity
Budget compatibility
Proper documentation
Permit readiness
Construction feasibility
This protects your timeline and investment.
10. Do you offer smart homes, security, and technology packages?
Yes. These are designed during pre-construction and may include:
Whole-home audio
Security cameras
Alarm systems
Gate controls
Lighting automation
Climate automation
Network wiring
Home theater rooms
These are planned and priced before construction starts.
11. Do you build additional structures like ADUs, docks, and garages?
Yes. Depending on zoning and site conditions, we can design and build:
Guest houses / ADUs
Detached garages
Office studios
Boat docks
Boat lifts
Seawalls
Workshops
Storage buildings
All integrated during the design phase.
12. How long does a typical build take?
Most custom homes take 10–16 months, depending on:
Size
Complexity
Elevation
Permitting
Upgrade scope
Weather
Because our homes are fully designed before construction begins, our timelines stay predictable.
13. What happens after Certificate of Occupancy (CO)?
We do not disappear after move-in.
After CO you receive:
Warranty support
Maintenance guidance
System walk-throughs
Ongoing builder relationship
Post-build service coordination
Rock’s Custom Homes supports your home beyond construction.
14. What makes Rock’s Custom Homes different?
Fourth-generation builder heritage
Design-first process
In-house architect + interior design
No blind pricing
No rushed bids
No late-stage surprises
Fixed-price only after real design
Florida-engineered coastal performance
Full upgrade integration
Long-term service support
We are not selling houses.
We are delivering designed, engineered, lifestyle-built homes.
15. Can you design for pets, kids, aging-in-place, or wellness?
Yes. During design we can integrate:
Pet wash stations
Pet feeding zones
Kid-safe stairs & railings
Homework centers
Playrooms
Aging-in-place accommodations
Zero-entry showers
Wider doorways
Wellness rooms
Sauna & spa spaces
These are intentionally designed — not retrofitted later.
