When I sat down with Dave Kirkendall, Founder of Admiral Custom Home Builders, to learn more about his company, I assumed we would focus on his background, how he found his passion for his work, his family and personal interests. I quickly discovered that Dave prefers to turn the conversation to his team and the partnerships and relationships they’ve built by standing by their word. “You are only as good as your people,” Dave says. And he truly means that.
For more than two decades, Admiral Custom Homes has quietly built a reputation for excellence in craftsmanship and service in East Tennessee by investing in people and process rather than volume or flashy marketing. The Farragut-based builder produces a limited number of homes each year, focusing on planning, collaborating, educating and developing long-term relationships.
Kirkendall says the approach is deliberate.
“We’re a custom design builder in the truest sense,” Kirkendall says. “Eighty-five to 90 percent of our clients design their home with us from the ground up. That requires time, communication and trust. “I genuinely enjoy getting to know our clients and the relationships that grow throughout the design and build process. Custom home building is a deeply personal business, and the connection between builder and client is essential. I have been fortunate to work with incredible clients over the years, many of whom I still stay in touch with nearly 20 years after their homes were completed.”
Design is central to that process. Admiral works exclusively with designer Jim Weaver and his son, Ryan Weaver, whose independent firm provides home design services for Admiral clients. Kirkendall has known the Weaver family since college in 1989.
“I met Jim in college, and we’ve worked together in different ways ever since,” Kirkendall says. “That kind of continuity matters when you’re building highly customized homes.”
Kirkendall grew up in Ohio and earned a degree in ceramic engineering. His early career was in manufacturing, including positions with Acme Brick and, later, General Shale. He says that experience provided a strong foundation in materials, quality control and process management—skills that translated naturally to residential construction.
After moving to Knoxville in the early 2000s and entering the homebuilding industry, Kirkendall founded Admiral Custom Homes. His father also worked in construction, making the transition a familiar one.
Today, the company builds roughly 10 large, fully custom homes per year, many in lakefront or planned communities such as Rarity Bay and Tennessee National, all around the lake. Kirkendall says limiting production allows the team to remain deeply involved in every project.
“We don’t want to be big,” he says. “We want to be consistent.”
Process-driven planning
One of Admiral’s defining practices is its budgeting and selection process. Before construction begins, clients participate in a four-day selection period with the Admiral team and vendor partners, deciding on cabinetry, plumbing, lighting, flooring and more.
“We design to a budget, not budget to a design. Most builders rely on allowances,” Kirkendall says. “We don’t. We want real numbers, not guesses.”
The upfront process allows the company to create more accurate budgets and construction plans, incorporating vendor input before final drawings are completed. While it requires a significant time commitment early on, Kirkendall says it reduces frustration later.
“Most frustration in building comes from unknowns,” he says. “We try to address those before construction starts.”
Sarah Green, Admiral’s estimation and warranty manager, oversees the selection process. She manages client meetings, prepares detailed estimates and assembles Design Review Board submittals for regulated communities. Kirkendall participates in many meetings but says the system relies on teamwork.
As director of operations, Julie manages the behind-the-scenes details that keep the company running smoothly. She has played an integral role in the firm’s success over the years, bringing organization and consistency to every project. Together with her assistant, Alina Komerzan, she oversees invoicing, insurance, monthly draws and the countless moving parts involved in custom home building.
“No one person carries this,” he said. “It works because everyone knows their role.”
Once construction begins, projects are managed by a team led by Senior Project Manager Blayne Howard, along with Project Managers Alex McCartney, Eric Edwards and Glenn Burchfield. Kirkendall says the company’s consistent quality is a direct result of team effort and long-standing relationships with trade partners.
“A company is only as good as its team,” he says. “Our employees and our trades are the reason we’re successful. We’ve worked with many of the same people for years, and they know what’s expected. And we know what quality we will receive.”
Long-standing trade partnerships improve accountability and ensure craftsmanship remains consistent from home to home. That emphasis on relationships also extends to clients. Admiral’s work comes primarily from word-of-mouth referrals and repeat business, reflecting the company’s service-focused philosophy.
“Our official bumper-to-bumper warranty is one year, with a four-year structural warranty,” Kirkendall says. “But we often address issues well beyond that.”
Clients frequently call years after construction, asking for advice or assistance with problems outside any warranty coverage.
“If someone calls and says something isn’t working right, we don’t start by saying it’s not our responsibility,” Kirkendall says. “We help where we can.”
Flexibility during construction is another hallmark. Admiral avoids nickel-and-diming clients for minor adjustments, reserving additional charges for significant scope changes such as finishing bonus rooms.
Portfolio and next generation
Admiral’s completed homes reflect a range of architectural styles, from traditional residences to modern builds. Projects Kirkendall highlights include the Shemansky home, which showcases modern construction capabilities, and the Herbert, Carter and Robichaud homes, which reflect more traditional approaches.
Kirkendall’s son, Justin, has joined the company after working in supply chain management for SC Johnson and Harley-Davidson. He manages Admiral’s website and social media, develops educational content and spends time learning the construction process on-site.
“We want clients to understand how their home is built,” Kirkendall says. “Education helps everyone communicate better.”
Professional development remains a priority. Admiral team members attend the International Builders’ Show and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show annually—a tradition Kirkendall has maintained since 2005.
“It’s about learning and staying current,” he says. “But it’s also about strengthening the team.”
“West Knoxville is still changing,” he says. “What feels new now will feel established before long.”
Despite exponential growth in the area, Admiral Custom Homes remains intentionally small. For Kirkendall, the company’s success is measured not by scale but by the strength of its people and relationships.
“At the end of the day, it’s the team that makes this work,” he says. “Without them, none of this happens.”
Learn more at AdmiralCH.com.
“At the end of the day, it’s the team that makes this work; without them, none of this happens.”
“We help where we can, even beyond warranty, because service and relationships come first.”