Passion to

build the best.

Building homes since 1975.

Shelter was founded in 1975, and is owned by John Diven, known as JD. JD graduated from the University of Virginia and has lived in Charlottesville for over fifty years.  

From the early days when we began with small remodeling jobs until today, Shelter has concentrated on unique residential construction. Along the way we have built and renovated many of the area’s most significant homes. Some of these homes are listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register and date from the time of Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. Recipient of awards for contemporary architecture and energy efficient design, Shelter has built homes on top of the Blue Ridge Mountains and by the banks of our streams and lakes.
Our Services

We work with our clients to build homes which create memorable places and moments in a child’s, a guest’s and a family’s life. We perform full-scale new construction of homes, estates, & pools. We also perform renovations and additions, including historic restoration. 

For 50 years Shelter has brought remarkable enthusiasm for the building process to the construction of fine homes. We bring a tradition of caring for the environment, our long-standing commitment to craftsmanship, and our belief that design and workmanship deeply affect the quality of family life. 

  • Our Clients have the freedom to work with the architect of their choice, removing barriers of in-house design and enabling truly unique projects. Our team specializes in studying plans obsessively, determining the right methods, and assembling the right people to build even the most complex & state-of-the-art homes. We are adept problem-solvers trusted by architects to create distinctive architectural achievements.

  • Shelter has been honored to restore a number of Central Virginia’s most important historic residences & estates, several on the Virginia and National Historic Registers. Shelter’s carpenters have a deep appreciation for historic architecture & methods and the keen attention to detail required for restoration work.

  • Shelter performs renovations and additions of various sizes. We can recommend an architect or draftsperson if needed, and can apply the type of creative project planning required when making changes to an existing structure. Our team has vast experiential knowledge to ask the right questions out front and prepare for the unknowns, in order to make your renovation or addition a success.

OUR TEAM

  • Allan Hatcher

    PROJECT MANAGER

  • Bill Carswell

    ESTIMATOR

  • Bill Johnson

    FIELD SUPERVISOR

  • BrianFaison

    SUPERINTENDENT

  • Chris Bradshaw

    ESTIMATOR

  • Chris Curcio

    SUPERINTENDENT

  • David Tyson

    CARPENTER

  • Devin Bigler

    SUPERINTENDENT

  • Doug Koutek

    SUPERVISOR

  • Emma Short

    CARPENTER'S HELPER

  • Erich Dass

    PROJECT MANAGER

  • Greg Benish

    SUPERINTENDENT

  • Jason Tinnell

    SUPERINTENDENT

  • John Diven

    PRESIDENT

  • Kim Beckwith

    AP & AR COORDINATOR

  • Laina Hanchak

    OFFICE MANAGER

  • Rose Zavada

    PROJECT MANAGER / ESTIMATOR

  • Tim Mucherino

    CARPENTER

  • Tim Symington

    CARPENTER

  • Tyler Baird

    CARPENTER'S HELPER

  • Wendell Bingler

    CREW LEADER

TESTIMONIALS FROM CLIENTS

  • “Anyone who has built or renovated, or talked to anyone who has, knows that project management—getting the right people and supplies on the job in the right order, and managing the complexity of communication among everyone, is a key to success. Shelter’s project managers—some of the best in the business—make the process work smoothly.”

  • “… Inevitably Allan already had everything we could find on his punch list. He was so good it became a challenge for us to find something he had not already picked up on…When changes came up, he was always accommodating. He was not afraid to speak up if he thought we were making a mistake, for which we were most grateful. Allan made our experience a pleasure. If we were to build again, we would look for him no matter where we were.”

  • “Brian, as site supervisor, allowed us to enjoy the building of our dream house without any nightmares.”

  • “The people Shelter uses certainly know their jobs and, on top of that, they are inordinately pleasant to work with.”

  • “Things will always go wrong in complex construction. What I appreciated about Shelter was how everyone was able to hold up the problem in full view for scrutiny, without wasting time blaming anyone. That let everyone dig in and come up with creative solutions.”

  • “With the unique character of Shelter’s homes, it is inevitable that problem solving is among the most challenging responsibilities of the Shelter staff. The ability to find elegant yet practical and cost-effective solutions is Shelter’s greatest asset.” 

TESTIMONIALS FROM ARCHITECTS

  • "I always love working with Shelter – their passion for the craft of building is evident in every project!”

    - Joseph Chambers, AIA | Dalgliesh Gilpin Paxton Architects

     

  • “I am happy to recommend JD and the Shelter team. I have worked with them for decades. Their truly incredible experience, professionalism and willingness to help in any situation makes them more than great builders.”

    - Bethany Puopolo, Architect 

     

  • “I have worked with Shelter on numerous projects over the last decade and hope to continue. Their expertise and honesty are top notch, and they are very easy to work with. JD always keeps the whole range of aspects of a project in mind – from feasibility to budget, quality and the best design solution. They have earned and maintain the name ‘master builders’.”

    - David Day, Architect 

     

     

  • “Shelter Associates was chosen from the submittal of four proposals, not because their fee percentage was lower, but in evaluating the fee along with all other proposal information, they seemed to provide the best overall package for the owner. From the start of their involvement, through the completion of the job, Shelter proved themselves over and over again. Having worked with a wide variety of residential and commercial contractors in the past, I am convinced that Shelter is one of the finest.” 

GIMME SHELTER
Here we outline sample project documents, estimates, construction agreement,design decisions, billing, and more.

Check out our Client Guidebook