LEE ALWARD
Co-Founder & Construction Manager
Born with a natural talent for construction, Lee has been passionate about building for as long as he can remember—starting with helping his dad restore the family’s classic wooden ski boat. His love for creating extends well beyond the job site; in his free time, you’ll often find him designing grown-up treehouses or lending a hand to friends on home restoration projects.
JENS NORDAL
Co-Founder & Business Manager
Originally from Norway, Jens (pronounced “Yence”) has spent his career immersed in construction—both in the U.S. and his home country. He graduated from Seattle Central College in 1994 with a degree in Marine Carpentry, where he and Lee first crossed paths. Following graduation, Jens began his career building wooden boats, while Lee pursued residential construction. Over the years, Jens worked as a boat builder, rigger, and occasional designer before eventually transitioning into home building and remodeling, where he continues to bring and eye for precision and craftsmanship to every project.
OUR STORY: BUILDING DREAMS
Craftsman Builders is a Seattle-based general contracting company founded by Lee Alward and Jens Nordal—two master craftsmen who met while studying traditional wooden boatbuilding at Seattle Central
College in 1992. Their shared background in marine craftsmanship laid the foundation for a business rooted
in precision, integrity, and timeless design. From the keel up, they’ve brought their boatbuilder’s mindset—
where every joint matters and every finish counts—into the world of custom residential construction.
Established in their hometown of Seattle, WA, Craftsman Builders specializes in high quality remodels, new home construction, and thoughtful renovations that respect architectural heritage while embracing modern function.
Whether it’s a whole- home transformation or a finely detailed built-in, Lee and Jens approach each project
with exacting standards, clear communication, and deep respect for the craft.
NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO WORK HARDER.
WE’RE NOT EVERYONE.
When you choose a General Contractor you should feel confident that you’re partnering with a professional who is committed to performing at the highest level possible. Make certain your builder measures up.
We are driven by developing caring, long-term relationships with our clients and we’re excited about the opportunity to bring your vision to life in a space you and your family will truly love for years to come. We believe transparency and open communication are the backbone of our business, and we value the trust we’ve built with not only our clients but also with the best local contractors and vendors. Whether it’s consulting on a design with one of our favorite local architects or heading up a major remodel or new construction we’ll work tirelessly to bring your dreams to life as quickly and efficiently as possible.
We pride ourselves on our many trade associations and on our A+ rating with the BBB.
Here are just some of the organizations we work with
Just Some of What We Do
Provide Education and Work Experience, including professional designations.
Comply with a Superior Code of Conduct.
Provide Greater Insurance Coverage.
Offer Homeowner Warranties in Excess of Industry Standards.
Use Clear Contracts that clearly define the construction agreement.
Agree to Mandatory Binding Arbitration.
Provide a Homeowners Guide to all homeowners to help with the care and maintenance of their homes.
LICENSED AND BONDED GENERAL CONTRACTOR
WHY HIRING LICENSED AND BONDED CONTRACTORS MATTERS IN WASHINGTON STATE
Our WA License: #CRAFTBS827QE
In Washington State, ensuring that your contractor is licensed and bonded is essential for protecting homeowners and the community. Here’s why it is critical:
License
Competence: A license signifies that the contractor possesses the necessary skills and knowledge to perform quality work.
Legality: In Washington State, contractors must be licensed to legally bid on, advertise, and carry out construction projects.
Customer Protection: Licensing ensures that contractors are registered and subject to state regulations and oversight, providing reassurance against fly-by-night companies (according to Washington State Department of Labor & Industries).
Bond
Financial Security: A bond offers a financial guarantee that the contractor will complete the work as agreed and cover any damages resulting from their actions.
Homeowners: If a contractor fails to complete a job or delivers substandard work, the bond can be utilized to compensate the homeowner for losses incurred (per Washington State Department of Labor & Industries).
Protection for Suppliers and Workers: The bond also safeguards suppliers and workers who provide materials or services for the project in case the contractor defaults on payments.
OUR PROCESS
OUR 8 SIMPLE STEPS
Working with Craftsman Builders means that all of the key aspects of your project are carefully coordinated, with a single team -- from design selections to construction through warranty. You have one main point of contact which means quick, on-the-fly changes, consistent and complete communications, and uniform oversight of your investment.
Below is an overview of how the remodeling process with Craftsman Builders works for you.
01. Lets Talk!
1 - 2 WEEKS
During this phase, we’ll get acquainted to see if we are a fit for each other. We’ll do a deep dive into your vision and make sure we “get it.”
02. The Design Agreement
6 - 12 WEEKS
Prior to entering into a Construction Agreement together, there will be pre-construction processes for which there will be fees. These pre-construction processes will be handled with what is called a Professional Services Agreement or PSA. The PSA will usually cover selection services and sometimes some demolition and discovery work if required to create an estimate for your project that is as accurate as possible.
03. Project Development
3 - 8 WEEKS
We will take all the time you like in order to feel comfortable and confident. We’ll go over the scope of work, project plan, progress payments, timelines, logistics and any other questions or concerns.
04. Construction Agreement
2 - 4 WEEKS
We will provide an Agreement for your review. We will go over and explain every detail of our straightforward, cost plus construction contract.
05. Project Management
DURATION VARIES WITH SIZE AND COMPLEXITY
During the building phase we will handle all the details of ordering materials, scheduling, oversight and coordination. We will diligently keep you up to date on progress and inform you of any issues that arise in a timely manner.
06. In-Process Changes
THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS
No matter how carefully we plan your project together, you will probably want to make some changes along the way. We are prepared to make any changes you want to make. Our Agreement will explain how costs associated with your changes will be handled.
07. Project Completion
DURING THE LAST WEEK
During this completion phase we will meticulously inspect our work to ensure that the levels of craftsmanship we expect from our team have been maintained throughout the project. Then it’s your turn. We will walk the entire project with you and inspect it floor to ceiling. If there are any details you feel may have been missed we will make them right.
08. Enjoy Your Home!
2 - 4 WEEKS
Now it’s time to enjoy your beautifully transformed home! Rest easy knowing that we stand behind our work and offer a full 5 year warranty on our workmanship, this is 4 years longer than required by law and much longer than industry standards
Explore our Expertly completed home remodeling projects
Crimson Luxury
Whole Home Remodeling in Magnolia, Seattle
Capital Hill Home Expansion
Room Addition in Capital Hill, Seattle
Contemporary Kitchen
Kitchen Remodel in Madison Park, Seattle
COMMON QUESTIONS
- Show AnswerWhat is a Professional Service Agreement?It is very difficult, if not impossible to give you an accurate bid for a large job when there are no designs or plans... YET. A Professional Service Agreement, or a PSA will allow us to create those design selections and work with an architect on plans. We’ll help you walk through the selection process for materials, fixtures, etc., which helps us understand your vision for your project, as well as the investment level you’re comfortable with. This enables us to give you an accurate estimate for your project. PSAs are priced based on the size of the project. If you decide at the end of the PSA that
you don’t want to move forward with the project, you keep all of the designs, selections, and the estimate. You’re welcome to take our estimate and the selections list we create together and shop it around with other contractors. - Show AnswerWe can shop for other contractors?Yes, you can take our selections list and shop for other contractors. Then at least you’ll be comparing apples to apples knowing that other contractors are pricing the same selections and options we did. That’s good news for you and good news for us. To be honest, we are confident in our ability to set a fair price for the level of quality workmanship and heart we put into our projects.
- Show AnswerCan I continue to live in my home during the remodel?Remodeling can be dusty and noisy during construction. We do out best to minimize the effects and impacts the process has on you. If you are remodeling a single bathroom or kitchen we can set up a temporary area for you to utilize during the work. If we are touching multiple areas in your home we recommend vacating during construction. If you have no space where you can find peace and quiet, a remodel can get tiresome very quickly. We’ve worked with homeowners in all of the above situations so let’s talk before we decide.
- Show AnswerShould I get multiple bids and pick the lowest price?There are plenty of ways to cut corners to create lower prices. Competitive bidding rewards the lowest price and offers absolutely no advantage to good workmanship. We prefer to do things the best way. “Best” means, in our opinion, the most effective combination of price to performance – getting you the most bang for your buck.
- Show AnswerHow will you finish up the project?We have a 4 step process where we will:
1) Walk through the project ourselves looking at every square inch for anything that could be improved. We mark these areas carefully and make any necessary changes.
2) Once we feel good about the overall results, we’ll ask you to identify any items that need attention.
3) We will follow up with you at the 3 month and also the 11 month mark, just before the standard 1 year materials warranty is up.
4) We’ll check in from time to time to see how things are going. If at any time, there are any issues, we ask you to let us know right away so we can make any necessary repairs. Sooner is always better. Our workmanship carries an unheard of 5 year warranty and we honor all manufacturer’s materials warranties (these are usually 1 year, sometimes longer). - Show AnswerWhy should I hire a General Contractor, when as the homeowner I can act as my own contractor?It depends on the size of the project and your personal experience with construction, but many homeowners lack the experience necessary to act as a general contractor for their projects. We also offer a network of connections, so if we call in a Sub-Contractor (Trade Partner), you can be rest assured that they are high quality and not just the only, or first available subcontractor. Being a General Contractor is a job with a very high stress level and is a full-time job. If you already have a day job, the level of time management required to be a General Contractor is just not available to you. Many homeowners mistakenly believe that being their own GC is going to save them time and money. You may start out with a project that is going to cost you less than hiring a GC, but time investments can quickly build. Your time is valuable as is your piece of mind. Why not save both and hire someone who can focus 100% on your project.
- Show AnswerCan I buy the materials and just have you install them?No. We need to be able to control the ordering process to ensure proper material style, size, hardware, and accessories are ordered for delivery. We also cannot offer you any warranty on materials we do not supply. All of this also helps us ensure materials are delivered on time and without damage.
- Show AnswerHow long is my remodel going to take?Our team members are often asked how long a residential remodel will take. The answer to that varies depending on the size and complexity of the project. Typically, a whole home remodel which involves the kitchen, at least one bathroom, and other parts of the home takes a minimum of three (3) months from start to completion. Before we start your project, we have a project specialist put together a calendar laying out exactly what to expect and a reliable timeline for the completion of your project.
- Show AnswerIf the contract is signed, when can you start?The first question we usually get from our clients after they sign the contract is when can our team start the project. We are excited to start and we know you are as well. There is a sizable amount of planning and organization so that we can successfully execute your project. A good rule of thumb, especially for kitchen remodels, would be six (6) to eight (8) weeks from signing the contract. When there are cabinets involved, the wait time is typically twelve (12) weeks, as we like to visually inspect the cabinets beforehand to make sure there is no damage.
- Show AnswerWho will I communicate with during my project?You will be assigned a Project Manager who will be your main point of contact once your project starts. You will be introduced to your Project Manager early on in the process so you will know them well long before demo day. Lee and Jens, our company founders will remain available to you for the duration of your project and beyond. The best order to follow regarding communication is your Project Manager, then Lee, who is our company’s lead Construction Manager and finally Jens, our Business manager. Also know that our project management software tracks all messages so Lee and Jens have constant access to information and all messages about your project.