99th Percentile
Out of 191,478 Florida contractors - Buildzoom
20+ Years Industry Experience
St. Pete & Pinellas County
No Work Begins Without a Signed Contract
Fixed-price. No surprises.
Why St. Pete Homeowners Hire Central Builders Group
Central Builders Group is a residential construction company based in St. Petersburg. Owner David Gayhart and his team build and rebuild homes across Pinellas County, from waterfront custom homes on Snell Isle to second-story additions on older bungalows. Every project runs through one company, one contract, and one point of contact.
01
One Contract From Design to Certificate of Occupancy
Most homeowners hire an architect, an engineer, and a builder separately — then spend months passing plans and questions back and forth. As a design-build contractor in St. Petersburg, we manage design, structural engineering, permitting, and construction under a single agreement. When something needs
02
A Fixed Price Before Work Begins
Some contractors bill time and materials and report what you’ve spent each week. We price the job before it starts. You sign a fixed-price contract, and no work begins until you do. If you decide to change the scope along the way, you approve a written change order first.
$0 in surprise billing
03
Built for Coastal Florida Code
Building in St. Pete means flood zones, FEMA’s 50% rule, wind-load engineering, and plan review with the City of St. Petersburg or Pinellas County. Out-of-town builders learn this the hard way. We plan every project around it from the first site visit, so your permit doesn’t stall in review.
What St. Pete Homeowners Say
Read All 23 Reviews on Google →“We had extensive damage from Hurricane Helene - 24 inches of flooding. Mr. Gayhart came the day after the storm and removed four dumpsters of debris. Their work was outstanding. Our home is completely restored and looks beautiful.”
“David has renovated my home twice following two separate hurricanes. His communication was clear, timelines were realistic, and the quality of work was excellent. If you need a contractor you can trust, this is the one.”
“Dave had great communication - he returns all calls and texts and addresses any questions in a timely manner. We talked weekly on what was going to be worked on. Our job is finally done and looks great.”
What We Build
Residential Construction Services in Pinellas County
From ground-up custom homes to foundation repair, every service below is handled by the same licensed team. If the job needs permits, structural work, or flood-zone engineering, it's the kind of project we build every day.
Custom Home Builder
Design-build custom homes on your lot, including waterfront and flood-zone properties.
Learn MoreHome Additions
Room additions, second story expansions, and whole-home renovations.
Learn MoreADU Builder
Detached, attached, and garage conversion ADUs fully permitted.
Learn MoreSecond Story Additions
Add a full second floor without moving. Structural evaluation included.
Learn MoreRoofing Contractor
Shingle, tile, metal, and flat roofing - licensed and permitted on every project.
Learn MoreFoundation & Crawlspace
Foundation repair, crawlspace encapsulation, and structural repair.
Learn MoreWhere We Build
Serving St. Petersburg
and Pinellas County
Based in St. Petersburg, FL. We build throughout Pinellas County - from waterfront neighborhoods like Snell Isle and Shore Acres to communities across the county.
St. Petersburg
Clearwater
Largo
Dunedin
Safety Harbor
St. Pete Beach
Seminole
Pinellas Park
Tarpon Springs
Belleair
Snell Isle, Old Northeast, Shore Acres, Venetian Isles, Carlouel - we specialize in coastal and waterfront residential construction throughout St. Pete’s most desirable neighborhoods.
Start Your Project →Free Consultation
Get a Free Project Estimate
No obligation.
Or call us directly: (813) 421-3640
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about your project, our process, or working in coastal Pinellas County? We’ve answered the most common ones below.
Ask Us Directly →-
Does Central Builders Group handle permits and inspections?
Yes. Every project Central Builders Group builds is fully permitted through the City of St. Petersburg or Pinellas County building department. We submit permit applications, manage plan review, coordinate all required inspections, and close every project with a Certificate of Occupancy.
You never interact with the building department - we handle it entirely.
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What is design-build construction and why does it matter in St. Petersburg?
Design-build means one company manages architectural design, structural engineering, permitting, and construction under a single contract. In St. Pete specifically, this matters because coastal Florida construction involves flood zone compliance, FEMA 50% rule considerations, high-wind zone engineering, and Pinellas County permitting requirements that all have to work together from day one.
When design and construction are separate, those handoffs create delays, cost overruns, and compliance gaps. When they’re unified under one custom home builder, the project moves faster and the homeowner has one point of contact from concept to certificate of occupancy.
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How much does a home addition cost in St. Petersburg, FL?
Home additions in St. Petersburg typically range from $200 to $400 per square foot depending on scope, structural complexity, and finish level. A modest room addition of 400 square feet runs $80,000 to $160,000. A full second story addition in St. Petersburg on a 1,500 square foot home typically falls between $180,000 and $350,000.
Coastal lots, flood zone properties, and homes in historic districts like Old Northeast or Kenwood add to cost due to permitting complexity and code requirements. These figures include design, permitting, labor, and materials - but not furniture or landscaping.
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What neighborhoods in St. Petersburg does Central Builders Group serve?
We build throughout St. Pete and Pinellas County. We have specific experience with coastal and waterfront residential construction in Snell Isle, Old Northeast, Shore Acres, Venetian Isles, Carlouel, and Pinellas Point. We also serve Clearwater, Largo, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Seminole, Pinellas Park, St. Pete Beach, and Tarpon Springs.
For waterfront properties, historic district renovations, ADU buildsand flood zone builds we bring experience with the specific permitting and engineering requirements those projects require.
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Can I stay in my home during a home addition or renovation?
In most cases yes, depending on the scope of work. Room additions and second story additions on the opposite end of the house from living areas are typically livable throughout construction. Whole-home renovations or additions that require work on the main living space, kitchen, or primary bathroom often require temporary relocation for 4 to 8 weeks.
We discuss livability and disruption timeline during the initial consultation and build the construction sequence to minimize the time you’re out of your space. For second story additions specifically, the roof is typically open for 1 to 3 weeks - that phase requires temporary relocation.