D. D. Ford Construction was not always a Santa Barbara custom home builder....Back in 1979, in a small garage in downtown Santa Barbara, Doug Ford could be found earnestly crafting fine furniture and cabinetry for a few select clients. Those clients appreciated Doug’s eye for detail so much, they persuaded him to take on bigger and bigger projects. And so D.D. Ford Construction was born.

Doug Ford, our founder and president majored in Industrial Arts with an emphasis in Fine Woodworking, at California State Long Beach University. While attending school Doug built furniture and cabinets to offset his college expenses. During the summer months, Doug worked in the housing industry framing homes for a large production builder. After receiving his B.A. in Industrial Arts and earning his Journeyman Carpenter designation from the Carpenter's Trade Union, Doug moved to Santa Barbara to fulfill his student teaching requirements at Santa Barbara Junior High School. However, Doug eventually left teaching behind to venture out into the construction field, working for a general contractor in town.

Shortly after that, Doug became a sole proprietor tradesman. The first few years were spent building cabinets and furniture in a single car garage with just one employee. Doug’s growing list of clients saw how his meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail set Doug apart. Their persistence saw Doug taking on bigger and bigger projects. Until ultimately, the demand for his skills led to Doug obtaining his general contractors license in 1980.

By 1990, this two-man-band had become a thriving business, with ten full-time employees performing various tasks, from general labor, to framing & finish carpentry on projects all over Santa Barbara. Steady growth prompted Doug to incorporate the business in 1994 and by May 2003, D.D. Ford Construction relocated to its current home on the corner of Garden and Gutierrez Street, downtown Santa Barbara.

Now employing 50 people, we are able to offer the range of skills and services necessary to handle any construction project. Including new construction, remodels of every size,  home maintenance services, finish carpentry and custom cabinetry & furniture. In addition to every D.D. Ford project, we meet the finish carpentry needs of a select group of general contractors on the central coast.

Thinking of building or remodeling a home away from home? Let us know. If you value the relationship that we built while working together locally, we may be able to help you build another home for you out of town too.