Why Brethren Builders
The Contractor Who Shows Up
Class A licensed. Fully insured. Owner on the job. Here is everything you need to know before you hire us -- or anyone else.
Virginia's highest contractor license
Issued by DPOR
Projects permitted and inspected
No shortcuts, ever
On every job site, every day
Not a sub you've never met
Serving all of Northern Virginia
Fairfax - Arlington - Loudoun - PWC
Every Job Site
The Owner Shows Up
Class A Licensed -- Northern Virginia
The Man Behind the Work
You Hire Gibby. Gibby Shows Up.
Most contractors send a crew. Brethren Builders sends the owner. Michael "Gibby" Gibson built this company on a simple principle: if your name is on the truck, your boots should be on the job site.
Gibby has spent his career in the trades across Northern Virginia -- framing houses, building decks, finishing basements, and managing projects from permit application to final inspection. He knows the work because he does the work. That is not a marketing line. It is how Brethren Builders operates every single day.
When you call Brethren Builders, you get Gibby. When you have a question mid-project, you call Gibby. When the inspector shows up, Gibby is there. There is no project manager buffer, no call center, no "I will have someone get back to you." The person who gave you the estimate is the person building your project.
That level of accountability is rare in this industry. It is the reason Brethren Builders clients refer their neighbors, their family members, and their colleagues -- and why we have built a reputation across Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun, and Prince William Counties that we are proud of.
Licenses & Insurance
The Credentials That Protect You
Before you hire any contractor, ask for these four things. Brethren Builders has all of them -- and we will hand you the paperwork before we pick up a single tool.
Class A Contractor License
DPOR VerifiedVirginia's Class A license is the highest contractor classification the Commonwealth issues. It requires demonstrated financial stability, a qualifying party with verified field experience, and passing a rigorous state examination administered by DPOR. There is no higher bar for a contractor to clear in Virginia. When you hire Brethren Builders, you are hiring a contractor who has met that standard -- not someone who picked up a business card and called themselves a contractor.
Required for unlimited project value. Most contractors only hold Class B or C.
General Liability Insurance
GL InsuredEvery project Brethren Builders takes on is covered by full general liability insurance. This protects your property and your investment against accidental damage during construction. You should never hire a contractor who cannot provide proof of GL coverage -- and Gibby will hand you his certificate of insurance before any work begins, no questions asked. If a contractor hesitates to provide this document, walk away.
Certificate of insurance provided before work begins on every project.
Workers' Compensation Insurance
Workers' CompBrethren Builders carries workers' compensation insurance covering every member of our crew. This means that if anyone is injured on your property during the course of our work, you are not exposed to liability. Many contractors -- especially smaller operations -- skip workers' comp to cut costs and win bids. We do not. Your protection matters as much as our crew's. Ask every contractor you interview for their workers' comp certificate.
Covers all crew members. Homeowners are NOT protected if an uninsured worker is injured on their property.
Permit Management
Fully PermittedBrethren Builders pulls all required permits and manages the inspection process from start to finish. Permitted work protects your home's resale value, satisfies your homeowner's insurance requirements, and ensures the work is inspected by an independent third party. If a contractor tells you permits are not necessary -- or asks you to pull them yourself -- that is a serious red flag. We handle it all, from application to final sign-off.
Unpermitted work can void homeowner insurance and kill a home sale.
The Honest Comparison
Brethren Builders vs. The Other Guy
We are not going to tell you we are the cheapest option. We are going to tell you what you actually get when you hire a contractor who does it right.
The Process
How Every Brethren Builders Project Works
No mystery, no runaround. Here is exactly what happens from your first call to final inspection.
Free On-Site Estimate
Gibby comes to your property, walks the scope with you, and gives you a straight answer on what the project will cost. No call centers, no junior estimators -- the owner shows up.
Detailed Written Proposal
You receive a written proposal with a clear scope of work, materials, timeline, and price. No verbal quotes, no vague line items, no surprises buried in the fine print.
Permits Pulled & Scheduled
We handle all permit applications with the local jurisdiction -- Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, or wherever your project is located. We schedule inspections and manage the process.
Construction Begins
Gibby is on your job site. Not a subcontractor you've never met -- the owner. Work proceeds according to the agreed schedule, and you have a direct line to the decision-maker at all times.
Inspections & Final Walkthrough
All required inspections are completed and signed off. We do a final walkthrough with you to confirm every item on the punch list is resolved before we consider the job done.
What We Build
Experience Across Every Project Type
From a deck repair to a full commercial build-out, Gibby's team has done it -- and done it right.
The Full Picture
What It Actually Means to Hire a Class A Contractor
Virginia issues contractor licenses at three levels: Class C (up to $10,000 per project), Class B (up to $120,000), and Class A (unlimited). A Class A license is not just a higher number -- it requires a qualifying party who has passed a comprehensive state examination covering business law, project management, and trade-specific knowledge, plus demonstrated financial stability and a clean regulatory record.
When you hire a contractor without verifying their license class, you may be hiring someone who is legally prohibited from taking on your project at its actual cost. Unlicensed or under-licensed work creates serious problems: your homeowner's insurance may deny claims related to the work, the work may not pass inspection, and you may have limited legal recourse if something goes wrong.
Brethren Builders' Class A license means we are authorized to take on projects of any value in Virginia. Combined with our general liability and workers' compensation coverage, you have the full protection that a properly credentialed contractor provides.
We also believe in transparency about what permits are required and why. Some contractors skip permits to move faster or avoid scrutiny. Permitted work is inspected by the county -- which means an independent set of eyes confirms the work meets code. That protects your home's value, your insurance coverage, and your family's safety.
Northern Virginia has some of the most active building departments in the state. Fairfax County, Arlington County, the City of Alexandria, Loudoun County, and Prince William County all have their own permit offices, inspection schedules, and code interpretations. Gibby knows these jurisdictions because he has worked in all of them. That local knowledge translates directly into fewer delays and smoother project delivery for you.
Ready to Work with a Contractor You Can Trust?
Call Gibby directly or request a free on-site estimate. No pressure, no obligation -- just a straight answer from the owner.