New Construction
New construction contractor in Marietta, GA. Ground-up custom homes, detached garages, workshops, and ADUs across Cobb County and metro Atlanta.
Project Photos
Building from the ground up is a different job than remodeling, and it's one we're set up for. Catalino Quality Construction takes on new construction projects across Marietta, Cobb County, and the northwest Atlanta metro — custom homes, detached garages and workshops, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — small secondary homes on the same lot, like a backyard cottage or garage apartment — where zoning allows. Owner Robert Catalino has spent some 15 years framing, building, and finishing homes in this area, and he runs every new build personally from site prep to final walkthrough.
What We Build
Our new construction work covers detached residential structures:
- Custom homes — single-family homes built from your plans, on your lot, with one builder responsible for the whole job.
- Detached garages and workshops — from two-car garages to full workshop buildings with power, matched to your home or built to their own purpose.
- ADUs and in-law suites — backyard cottages and guest quarters, where local zoning permits them.
- Outbuildings and site structures — sheds, run-in shelters, and other purpose-built structures done right, on proper footings.
What Our License Covers
Georgia licenses residential contractors by class, and it's worth checking any builder's class before you sign. We hold a Residential Basic Contractor license — Company #RBCO008244, Individual #RBQA008233 — issued through the Georgia Secretary of State. That class covers new construction of detached one- and two-family residences and one-family townhouses up to three stories. It's the correct license for the work on this page, and you can verify it yourself on the state's license lookup. We carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and we'll hand you a current certificate of insurance without being asked twice.
What we don't do matters just as much: no light-commercial buildings, no multifamily, nothing outside the license class. A builder who's vague about scope at the license stage will be vague about scope at the change-order stage.
How a Build Runs
Every ground-up project moves through the same phases, and we manage all of them:
- Plans and permitting — we work from your architect's drawings (or help you get a set), then handle permit submittal and approvals with the county or city.
- Site preparation — clearing, grading, erosion control, and utility rough-ins, staged so the lot drains right and equipment doesn't tear up what you're keeping.
- Foundation — footings and foundation work, inspected before anything gets built on top of it.
- Framing and dry-in — structural framing, sheathing, roofing, windows, and wrap, built to the International Residential Code and Georgia amendments.
- Systems and insulation — electrical, plumbing, and HVAC rough-ins through licensed trades we've worked with for years, then insulation and inspections.
- Finish — drywall, flooring, trim, cabinets, paint, and fixtures, held to the same finish-carpentry standard you'll see across our project gallery.
Robert is on site through each phase — checking the framing package against the engineering, walking inspections with the county, and catching problems while they're still cheap to fix. One builder, one point of contact, start to finish.
Thinking about building? Contact us and tell us about the lot and what you want to put on it — the first site walk and estimate are free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does your Georgia license allow you to build?
Our license is Georgia's Residential Basic class, which covers new construction of detached one- and two-family homes and one-family townhouses up to three stories, along with related site work and detached structures like garages and workshops. We don't take on commercial or multifamily buildings — those require a different license class, and we'd rather tell you that up front than stretch past what we're licensed for.
How long does a ground-up build take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the structure. A detached garage or workshop typically runs a few months from permit approval to final inspection. A full custom home is a much longer commitment — most take the better part of a year or more once you account for design, permitting, weather, and finish work. During your estimate we'll walk the schedule with you phase by phase, and the timeline goes in the contract.
Do you handle permits and inspections for new construction?
Yes. We manage the full permitting process — plan submittal, permit applications, and every required inspection from footing to final. New construction draws more inspections than any other residential project type, and we schedule and attend each one.
Can you evaluate a lot before I buy it?
We're happy to walk a lot with you and flag what we can see — slope and drainage, tree cover, access for equipment, and where a driveway and septic or sewer connection might run. For questions that need a survey, soil test, or zoning determination, we'll tell you which professional to bring in rather than guess. Better to spend a little on due diligence than buy a lot that fights you the whole build.
What does new construction cost per square foot?
We don't quote a blanket per-square-foot number, because it moves too much to be useful — finish level, foundation type, site conditions, and the current price of materials all swing the total significantly. What we will do is price your actual plans: a detailed written estimate, broken out by phase, based on the drawings and the lot. That number means something. A generic one doesn't.
Do you build ADUs and in-law suites?
Yes, where zoning allows it. An ADU — accessory dwelling unit — is a small secondary home on the same lot as the main house, like a backyard cottage or garage apartment. The rules vary by jurisdiction in metro Atlanta — some allow detached ADUs outright, others restrict size or require owner occupancy. We'll help you confirm what your lot's zoning permits before any design work starts.