Custom Home Builder on Signal Mountain

Signal Mountain sits on the south end of Walden Ridge, just above Chattanooga, with wooded lots, quiet streets and views that drop toward the Tennessee River far below. People build here for the trees, the views and the feel of the mountain, and the lots that offer those things are rarely simple to build on.

EPG Homes, LLC is a family owned custom home builder in Chattanooga, and Signal Mountain is one of the places it builds. Evan Greene is a fourth generation builder who grew up on job sites, and since 2013 EPG has finished more than 300 projects around Chattanooga.

Call or text Evan’s team at 423-646-7540 to talk through your lot and your plans.

Building on Mountain and Ridge Lots

Mountain lots come with their own set of questions. Some sites need rock removed before a foundation can go in. Others slope away from the road, sit deep in the woods or are set up to catch a long view, and each of those changes how the house, the driveway and the drainage get planned.

A builder who mostly works on large, flat lots in suburban subdivisions may not know what a steep, rocky or wooded site takes. Evan’s team looks at the lot early and plans the foundation, the grading and the schedule around it before work begins, so the surprises get handled on paper instead of in the field.

Permits, Sewer or Septic and Site Access

Inside the Town of Signal Mountain, new homes are permitted through the town’s building department. Before the town releases a building permit, the builder has to show how the home will be served: a sewer tap permit from the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority, or a septic permit from Hamilton County Groundwater Protection.

The town also asks for a land disturbance permit, a right of way permit for the driveway connection and a site plan that shows slopes, drainage and the driveway, along with a footing survey before the building permit is released. EPG works through those steps as part of planning the build, so they don’t hold up the start of construction.

Have a Builder Look at the Lot Before You Buy

Signal Mountain’s sewer system has been under a state moratorium on new connections for years, and the Hamilton County WWTA says it stays in place until the state finds the system in compliance. That means many lots on the mountain can’t tie into sewer and need a septic system instead. The home at the top of this page is one of them, and EPG built it on a septic system.

Septic often takes more room than people expect, and the soil has to pass a percolation test. Just because the house next door passed doesn’t mean the lot you’re looking at will. The septic area and the number of bedrooms it allows can shape the whole house plan.

That’s why it pays to have a builder look at a lot before you buy it. If you’re thinking about a lot on Signal Mountain, call or text Evan’s team at 423-646-7540 before you make an offer.

Renovating a Signal Mountain Home

Good building lots on Signal Mountain are hard to find, so a lot of owners choose to renovate the home they already have. EPG has done several large renovations on the mountain, including full exterior refreshes with new Hardie siding, new roofs and new windows.

Many of the neighborhood homes were built in the 1980s and 1990s, and some of the materials used back then weren’t made to last. Replacing them with fiber cement siding, a new roof and new windows protects the house and gives it a fresh look for years to come. If you’re thinking about updating a home on Signal Mountain, call or text Evan’s team at 423-646-7540.

Work Directly with Evan

With EPG, you’re not handed off to a sales team. You work one on one with Evan from the first meeting to the final walkthrough, and Evan is on site every week, some phases every day. A project manager runs the build day to day and is your go to person whenever questions come up.

Many EPG homes are designed with Evan’s wife Haley, a graduate of the interior design program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. EPG also works with several trusted interior designers and architecture firms around Chattanooga, and the team is happy to build from your own architect’s plans.

★★★★★

“Working with Johnny and Evan was the best. We now have the house of our dreams and it was built even better than we had envisioned.”

Isaac W. · Google review

A Clear Price and a Realistic Schedule

You get a clear, detailed price before construction starts. Most EPG custom homes land between $350K and $850K+, depending on size, lot and finishes. On a mountain lot, site work like rock removal, grading or a long driveway is part of that conversation from the start.

Mountain homes typically take about 8 to 12 months to build once construction starts, and larger or more detailed homes can take longer. You can follow the schedule, progress photos and change orders online in Buildertrend.

How EPG Prices a Custom Home

EPG builds custom homes on a cost plus fixed fee model. The fee is set up front based on the plans and scope of the home, and it doesn’t move when you pick finishes. If you choose a higher end stone, a bigger lighting package or a better window line, you pay the actual cost of that upgrade and EPG doesn’t make a dollar more.

EPG works on a fixed fee, so an upgrade never raises the builder’s pay.

That’s different from the usual cost plus percentage model, where the builder earns 15 or 20 percent of everything that goes into the house. With a fixed fee, nobody has a reason to push the client toward the more expensive option, so EPG’s advice is just advice based on its understanding of the client’s needs and goals.

You also see every invoice and receipt through EPG’s online client portal as the build goes. EPG and the homeowner work as one team toward the same goal: the right house at a fair cost.

Backed for 10 Years

Every new EPG home includes a limited 10 year warranty backed by Quality Builders Warranty (QBW): workmanship and materials in year 1, wiring, piping and ductwork in year 2, and major structural defects for 10 years. EPG Homes is a licensed Tennessee contractor, license 69089.

More from EPG

See how EPG approaches custom homes across Chattanooga, or explore custom homes in St. Elmo and East Ridge. EPG also takes on remodels and additions, and you can browse finished homes in the portfolio.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does EPG Homes build custom homes on Signal Mountain?

Yes. EPG builds custom homes on Signal Mountain and across Chattanooga, on your lot or with help finding one.

Can EPG build on a steep or rocky mountain lot?

Yes. Some mountain sites need rock removed before a foundation can go in, and others slope or sit deep in the woods. Evan’s team plans the foundation, grading and schedule around the site before work begins.

Do I need sewer or septic approval before building on Signal Mountain?

Yes. The Town of Signal Mountain won’t release a building permit until the builder provides a sewer tap permit from the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority or a septic permit from Hamilton County Groundwater Protection.

Can I build on any lot on Signal Mountain?

Not always. Signal Mountain’s sewer system is under a state moratorium on new connections, so many lots need septic, and septic needs enough room and soil that passes a percolation test. A lot next door passing doesn’t mean yours will, so have a builder look at the lot before you buy.

What permits does a new home on Signal Mountain need?

Inside the town, a new home needs a building permit from the Town of Signal Mountain, plus a land disturbance permit and a right of way permit for the driveway connection. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are pulled by the licensed trades.

How long does a custom home take on Signal Mountain?

Mountain homes typically take about 8 to 12 months to build once construction starts, and larger or more detailed homes can take longer. Site work on a mountain lot is planned into the schedule up front.

What does a custom home on Signal Mountain cost?

Most EPG custom homes land between $350K and $850K+, depending on size, lot and finishes. You get a clear, detailed price before construction starts.

What is a cost plus fixed fee contract?

You pay the actual cost of building your home, plus one fixed fee to EPG that’s set up front from the plans and scope. You see every invoice and receipt through EPG’s online client portal, and choosing upgrades never raises EPG’s fee.

Does EPG renovate homes on Signal Mountain?

Yes. Good lots are hard to find on Signal Mountain, so EPG has done several large renovations there, including full exterior refreshes with new Hardie siding, new roofs and new windows on homes built in the 1980s and 1990s.