Drake General Contractors Inc

What Drake General Contractors Inc does

Drake General Contractors Inc (DGC) is a bespoke residential general contractor founded in 1983 by Gary Drake and headquartered at 13949 Ventura Blvd #312 in Sherman Oaks, California. The firm specializes in custom home renovations, new construction, historic restorations, and complete gut renovations for high-net-worth homeowners in affluent Los Angeles neighborhoods including Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Bel Air, Hancock Park, and Century City. Notable commissions include restorations of Paul R. Williams and Gordon B. Kaufmann architectural landmarks, a 12,587-square-foot modernist estate in Brentwood (Brentridge), and a 7,000-square-foot smart home in Beverly Hills Flats (Camden). The company operates with a lean team of approximately 5 employees, anchored by President Gary Drake and Senior Project Manager Cindy McClure, supported by decades-long subcontractor relationships.

The firm's service portfolio spans six integrated offerings: pre-construction consulting (cost estimating and scheduling), budget estimating, project scheduling, subcontractor coordination, full project management from pre-construction through punch list, and ongoing post-completion maintenance. Core technical differentiators are 30+ years of budget adherence and job costing expertise, and the ability to navigate complex regulatory and architectural requirements including Mills Act historic preservation contracts and condo/HOA board guidelines. The company has no proprietary software platform, no API, no patents, and operates on standard construction project management practices rather than technology-mediated workflows.

DGC's business model is project-based and quote-priced, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Revenue streams include one-time construction fees tied to project scope, professional services for pre-construction consultation and project management, and recurring maintenance subscriptions post-completion. Demand generation relies on a website project gallery, earned media (Archello, MyDomaine, LivingEtc, generalcontractors.org), and direct referrals from a network of premier LA architecture firms including Tim Barber Architects, Studio Shamshiri, KAA Design Group, Martin/Poon Architects, and Cindy Grant Architecture. The company is privately held, founder-owned, with no institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no M&A activity on record.

Name

Drake General Contractors Inc

Legal name

Drake General Contractor Inc

Website

https://garydrakeconstruction.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Drake General Contractors Inc is a Sherman Oaks, California-based bespoke residential general contractor founded in 1983, delivering custom home renovations, historic restorations, and new construction for high-net-worth homeowners in affluent Los Angeles neighborhoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Residential Construction

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential General Contracting (New Build) (IMAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Renovation, Remodeling & Tenant Improvements (General Contracting) (IMAFAAAE), Residential Design-Build & Renovation-Integrated Builders (IMAFABAE)

Keywords

• Custom home construction
• Residential renovation
• Luxury home building
• General contracting
• Home remodeling

Headquarters

HQ city

Sherman Oaks

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Home Construction: Project-based revenue from constructing bespoke residential homes, ranging from complete renovations to new construction, with fees typically tied to project scope and complexity.
2. Pre-Construction Consulting: Consultation services during the design phase providing construction cost estimates, scheduling recommendations, and preliminary budget development.
3. Project Management: Full project management services from pre-construction through punch list, coordinating subcontractors, troubleshooting issues, and managing changes.
4. Ongoing Maintenance: Post-construction maintenance and repair services as client needs arise, providing ongoing support after project completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Drake General Contractor provides bespoke custom home construction and renovation services for high-end residential properties in affluent Los Angeles neighborhoods. The company delivers full-service project execution from pre-construction consulting and budget estimating through construction, project management, and ongoing maintenance, including historic restorations, ADU construction, smart home integration, and complete gut renovations.

Product overview

Drake General Contractor (DGC) operates as a single-service construction firm offering integrated residential construction and renovation services. The company provides six interconnected service offerings: Pre-Construction Services (consultation on costs, scheduling, and budgeting), Budget Estimating (cost estimation with 30+ years of expertise), Project Scheduling (schedule management), Subcontractor Coordination (managing trusted subcontractor relationships), Project Management (full-service coordination from pre-construction to punch list), and Ongoing Maintenance (post-construction repair services). The company specializes in bespoke high-end residential projects including historic restorations (Paul R. Williams homes, Mediterranean Revivals), custom smart homes, complete gut renovations, and additions, serving wealthy clientele in exclusive Los Angeles neighborhoods including Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Bel Air, Hancock Park, and Century City.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pre-Construction Consulting Consultation during the design phase covering potential construction costs, scheduling recommendations, and preliminary budget development. Engaged by clients and their design teams to provide cost and schedule input before construction begins.
• Custom Home Construction and Renovation Bespoke residential construction and renovation services for luxury residences in affluent Los Angeles neighborhoods. Includes custom smart homes, historic restorations (Paul R. Williams homes, Mediterranean Revivals), complete gut renovations, additions, and ADU construction delivered to high-end finish standards.
• Full-Service Project Management End-to-end project management from pre-construction through punch list, coordinating clients, designers, and subcontractors while troubleshooting issues and managing changes throughout construction.
• Ongoing Maintenance and Repair Post-construction maintenance and repair services provided to clients as needs arise, delivered with the same thoroughness and attentiveness applied to the original construction project.

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tim Barber ArchitectscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on historic 1921 Mediterranean Revival residence renovation under Mills Act contract, with careful attention to maintaining the property's original structure and architectural integrity.
• Studio ShamshiricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on 12,587-square-foot Brentridge estate project featuring modernist architecture with board-formed concrete and steel-framed geometrical windows, museum-quality finishes.
• Cindy Grant Architecture, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Paul R. Williams classic Saltair Residence restoration, involving complete transformation of 8,000-square-foot main house while maintaining original architectural character.
• 4C Design GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on 7,000-square-foot Camden Residence custom smart home in Beverly Hills Flats, designed as a forever home with smart home integration and professional music studio ADU.
• Perry HillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on second renovation of 5,500-square-foot Paul R. Williams home in Brentwood, with refined updates including new paneling, crown molding, and refreshed fireplaces.
• Martin/Poon Architects (Anthony Poon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Doheny Residence project involving addition and remodel of iconic Gordon B. Kaufmann sunroom with panoramic views and 2,200 gold leaf polka dot ceiling.
• KAA Design GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 3,800-square-foot two-story guest house in Bel Air featuring reclaimed hand-hewn beams from New York, custom steel doors, and solid marble soaking tub.
• Ward Jewell, AIAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on extensive renovation of Paul Williams-designed Beverly Hills home taken down to studs, resulting in new living room, dining room, kitchen, and three bathrooms.
• Kristen Panitch Design / InteriorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterior design collaboration on historic Hancock Park Mediterranean Revival residence maintaining original steel casement windows, mouldings, paneled doors, and intricate ironwork.
• Jackson Harlan (Architect)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on extensive custom renovation of traditional masterpiece residence in Brentwood Park featuring six bedrooms, spa bath, and resort-style pool.
• Cindy GrantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on 3,850 square foot gut renovation and second floor addition to Spanish Colonial Revival home in Brentwood, maintaining Spanish Colonial Revival style.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Toll Brothers: National luxury homebuilder with significant Southern California presence. While operating at much larger scale and in production homebuilding, it competes for the same high-net-worth custom home buyer in select LA-area markets - serving as a broader incumbent comparable to DGC's luxury positioning.
• Shea Homes: Large Southern California-focused homebuilder with decades of regional experience and a portfolio that includes luxury attached and detached product. Broader incumbent peer to DGC given overlapping LA-area luxury market exposure, though operating at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• Wylan James: Los Angeles-based luxury custom home builder serving high-net-worth clients with bespoke residential projects. Comparable to DGC in market positioning, geographic concentration in LA, and project complexity in the ultra-luxury segment.
• Matt Construction: Established LA-area general contractor with multi-decade history serving commercial, institutional, and luxury residential clients. Comparable to DGC in geographic focus and project complexity, though operating at larger scale with broader market reach.
• HartmanBaldwin Design/Build: Pasadena-based design-build firm specializing in luxury custom homes in the LA area. Direct comparable to DGC given shared LA geography, ultra-luxury custom home focus, and integrated design-build approach serving high-net-worth clientele.
• Bowden Development: LA-based custom home builder focused on luxury residential construction in affluent neighborhoods. Comparable to DGC in custom home focus, geographic concentration in LA, and ultra-luxury clientele with bespoke project requirements.
• Argue Construction: LA-area general contractor with track record in custom residential and luxury home projects. Comparable to DGC in custom home focus and Los Angeles market presence serving similar high-end clientele.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drake-general-contractors-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drake General Contractors Inc