Multi-Trade · Specialty Materials · Lancaster County, PA
Custom Construction
& Renovation
Lancaster County
Not every project fits neatly into a category. Some jobs involve multiple trades. Some require materials or methods that most contractors around here do not offer. Some are just unusual. D&E Mako Renovation handles custom construction and renovation work for homeowners and property owners across Lancaster County.
Tell Us About Your ProjectA Different Conversation
Some Projects Need a Different Conversation
Most contractor websites list a set of services and that is the end of it. If your project is on the list you call. If it is not, you move on and try to figure out who handles it.
Over the years we have taken on projects that did not fit any single category — a covered porch that needed custom aluminum detailing, AZEK trim, framing, and finish carpentry all done together. A historic property where the owner wanted the exterior restored with period-appropriate materials. A commercial space that needed a complete interior transformation plus specialty exterior work on the facade.
These projects are often the most interesting work we do. If your project feels complicated, unusual, or hard to categorize — we want to hear about it.
One Crew vs.
Multiple Contractors
You coordinate between contractors
VS
We coordinate internally
Transitions between trades get missed
VS
Details at intersections handled correctly
Finger-pointing when something is wrong
VS
One team, one responsibility
Sequencing causes rework
VS
Logical sequence, no rework
What We Mean
What We Mean by Custom Work
Projects That Combine Multiple Trades
New framing then interior finishing. Siding replacement with AZEK trim and aluminum fascia all at once. Full exterior renovation touching siding, windows, trim, and roofline details together. When one team does the whole job, the details at intersections between trades are handled correctly.
Specialty Materials
AZEK cellular PVC, copper, aluminum fabrication, historic wood profiles, fiber cement in complex configurations. These materials require specific experience. If your project involves materials that most local contractors shy away from, we are worth a call.
Unusual or One-Off Projects
Custom framing that does not follow a standard plan. Details that need to be fabricated from scratch because nothing off the shelf fits. Properties with conditions that require a non-standard approach. We like these projects — they require real problem-solving.
Phased or Complex Renovations
Large renovations that happen in stages, or projects where the full scope is not clear at the outset, need a contractor who can think ahead and plan accordingly. We manage complex projects with clear heads and honest communication about what comes next.
Representative Work
Examples of Custom Work We Have Done
01
Full Exterior Renovation
A Lancaster County home that needed essentially everything done on the outside at once — new siding, new windows, AZEK trim to replace all the rotted wood, aluminum fascia and soffit, new flashing at the roofline, and custom aluminum window capping throughout.
Projects like this require careful sequencing: windows come out before siding goes on, AZEK trim gets installed before aluminum capping wraps it, soffit and fascia work coordinates with the siding at the eaves. When one crew handles the whole scope, that sequencing happens naturally. When split between contractors, details at the transitions often get missed.
02
Historic Property Exterior Restoration
Older homes in Lancaster City, Ephrata, Lititz, and other historic communities require a different approach. The materials, profiles, and methods need to respect what is already there.
We have worked on historic properties where the goal was to repair and restore rather than replace with modern materials — sourcing period-appropriate trim profiles, working carefully around original details that needed to be preserved, and making the work invisible. If you have a historic home that needs exterior work done respectfully and correctly, we are worth talking to.
03
Custom Built-Ins & Interior Millwork
Built-in bookshelves flanking a fireplace. A full wall of built-in cabinetry in a home office. A window seat with storage below and paneled walls above. A library wall with rolling ladder hardware.
These projects require finish carpentry skills, an eye for proportion, and the ability to work from a description or rough sketch and turn it into something that looks like it was always part of the house. We have done enough of this work to be good at it.
04
Covered Porch Construction & Renovation
Covered porches involve framing, roofing integration, exterior finish work, trim, and often decking or flooring. They sit at the intersection of multiple trades and need to be detailed correctly at every joint and transition to hold up in Pennsylvania weather.
We handle the complete scope — the framing, the AZEK trim and column work, aluminum or copper flashing details at the roofline, soffit and fascia finish throughout.
05
Commercial Interior Transformations
A retail space or office that needs a complete interior transformation — new layout, new walls, new finishes throughout, custom millwork at reception or display areas, and exterior work on the facade.
Commercial custom work requires the same skills as residential but with different priorities around durability, code compliance, and schedule. We have the experience to handle it.
06
Multi-Trade Renovation Projects
Basement conversions requiring framing, insulation coordination, drywall and finishing, custom built-ins, and specialty trim work. Garage conversions to living space. Attic finishing projects. Additions that tie into the existing structure and need to match the existing exterior and interior finishes.
These projects move through multiple phases and require a contractor who thinks ahead. We map out the sequence, communicate throughout, and manage the project so each phase is done correctly before the next one starts.
How We Work
Our Approach to Projects That Are Hard to Define
01
Start With a Conversation
Before we come out, we want to understand what you are trying to accomplish — not just what work needs to be done, but what the finished result should look like, what the constraints are, and what matters most. A phone call before the site visit usually makes the visit much more productive.
02
Come Out and Look Carefully
For custom or complex projects the site visit matters more than it does for a standard job. We look at existing conditions, think through how different approaches would work, and ask questions that help us understand the full scope.
03
Think Before We Quote
We do not put a number on a custom project in twenty minutes. We take the time to think through the approach, the materials, the sequence, and the potential complications before giving you a price. That takes longer but it means the estimate reflects what the job actually requires.
04
Write a Detailed Scope
The written estimate for a custom project is more detailed than for a standard service. It describes what we will do, what materials we will use, what is included, and importantly — what is not included. Clear scope definition prevents misunderstandings later.
05
Communicate Throughout
Custom projects sometimes reveal conditions not visible at the estimate stage. When that happens you hear about it immediately and we talk through the options before we proceed. We do not make decisions unilaterally and we do not present surprises after the fact.
Materials We Work With
Materials & Methods We Bring to Custom Projects
AZEK Cellular PVC
Exterior trim, millwork, porch details, and architectural elements with the look of painted wood and far better performance.
Aluminum
Fascia capping, soffit, window and door wrapping, custom fabricated flashing, trim pieces, and seamless gutters.
Copper
Flashing, gutters, architectural details, and roofing elements. The premium material requiring specific skills we have.
Fiber Cement
HardiePlank and similar products for siding and trim where durability and a wood look both matter.
Dimensional & Engineered Lumber
Framing for custom structures, additions, and unusual conditions. LVL beams for spans and load conditions that require it.
Custom Millwork Profiles
For historic and custom projects where standard profiles do not fit — we can source custom-run molding and trim.
Who We Work With
The Clients Who Come to Us With Custom Projects
Homeowners with Older or Historic Properties
Lancaster County has a lot of 18th and 19th century housing. These properties require care, specific knowledge, and an approach that respects what is already there.
Homeowners Doing Comprehensive Renovations
When you are doing a lot of work at once, having one contractor handle multiple scopes saves significant time and coordination effort. We can serve as the primary contractor on comprehensive projects.
Property Investors & Developers
We are practical and honest about what is worth doing and what is not. For developers with multiple properties we can establish a working relationship that makes ongoing projects more efficient.
Business Owners with Unique Commercial Spaces
Retail environments, restaurants, professional offices where the interior and exterior need to reflect the brand and function well for the people using them every day.
General Contractors Needing a Subcontractor
We work as subcontractors on larger projects providing finish carpentry, aluminum and AZEK work, framing, and interior finishing. If you are a GC who needs a dependable specialty crew in Lancaster County — we are worth knowing.
Common Questions
Questions About Custom Work
If it involves more than one trade, uses specialty materials, requires fabrication of components that don’t exist off the shelf, or just feels complicated when you try to describe it — it probably fits in this category. The best approach is to call us and describe what you are thinking. We will tell you honestly whether it is something we can help with.
Not necessarily more per unit of work, but custom projects often involve more planning, more detailed scoping, and sometimes materials that cost more than standard products. We are transparent about all of that in the estimate process. You will know what you are paying for and why before anything starts.
Longer than a standard job. For a complex multi-trade project we typically need the site visit plus a day or two to think through the approach and put together a detailed written scope and price. We would rather take the time to get the estimate right than rush a number that turns out to be wrong.
For projects that require licensed trades outside our own scope — like electrical or plumbing — we can help coordinate those subcontractors and sequence the work correctly. We are upfront about what we handle directly and what we would bring in additional help for.
For custom and larger projects we are flexible about location. We have traveled to Lebanon County, Chester County, and Berks County for the right projects. Contact us and describe your project and location and we will tell you if it works for us.
Custom projects sometimes evolve once conditions are revealed during construction. When that happens we stop, talk to you about what we found and what the options are, and get your direction before proceeding. We document any scope changes in writing and update the contract accordingly. No surprises.
Coverage
Custom Work Across Lancaster County & Beyond
Based in Ephrata, PA 17522 · Larger projects: Lebanon, Chester, Berks & beyond
Ephrata
Lititz
New Holland
Manheim
Elizabethtown
Lancaster City
Leola
Akron
Denver
Mount Joy
Columbia
Strasburg
Quarryville
Millersville
Marietta
East Lampeter Twp
Clay Township
Penn Township
Brecknock Township
Warwick Township
Contact us to discuss your location — we travel for the right projects.
Have a Project That Is
Hard to Categorize?
Let Us Hear About It.
The best thing to do is call us and describe what you are thinking. If it is something we can help with we will tell you. If it is not, we will tell you that too and try to point you in the right direction.
We do not take on projects we cannot do well. But we have a broader range of experience than most contractors in this area.