About Innovative Custom Builders

In order to bring our client’s dreams to reality, we have perfected a process that has been the key to our success in creating happy clients. ICB provides seamless integration between all relevant parties- Architects, Designers, Engineers, and Consultants- in order to help our clients receive an excellent product and service that exceeds their expectations.

Being selective during our process of taking on new clients, it helps us ensure that we are the exact fit for you and your project as well as our companies process and work. 

Our story begins in Germany with a young man named Hans Armbrust, or Opa as we know him. Hans had a good life as a master carpenter in Germany, but he longed to see firsthand why so many had made the trip to America – this land of opportunity.

Hans immigrated to the United States in 1964 and began working for Challenge Homes in California. Though his country of residence had changed, he carried on his Old World commitment to exceptional work and careful attention to customers’ needs.

After building hundreds of homes in the Bay Area, in 1974 Hans decided to pursue the ultimate American dream: Opening his own business. Han’s success paved the way for those who followed in his footsteps. The values he had learned in the old country – and established in his own company in 1974 – are still carried on by his family and successors today.

Bill Fitzpatrick met Hans’ daughter in the early ’70s; little did he know at the time that he would marry the daughter of one of the most highly regarded home builders in the area. Hans became Bill’s mentor in the building trades; from Hans, Bill learned the importance of patiently walking step-by-step through the builder process with all clients, accepting nothing less than the highest quality craftsmanship and treating every customer with care and compassion.

Bill spent more than 10 years with Hans, building single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes. Bill obtained his own contractor’s license in 1988, founding Fitzpatrick & Sons General Contracting shortly after.

Dan quickly learned from father Bill the meaning of hard work. He also inherited the standards handed down in the family, to ensure every client receives the same, high quality service that made Fitzpatrick & Sons the market leader in home building. Starting at a young age with his father, Dan worked his way into company management in 2008.

When Bill retired in 2013, Dan took over the day to day operations. Since that transition, Dan has tripled the size of the company and established its status as the go-to custom home builder. Dan empowers clients with an engaging and interactive customer experience, understanding that building a home is one of the biggest decisions a family can make.

Most highschool boys spend their weekends chasing girls and wreaking havoc, but James had a different idea of what his youth should look like. Instead he spent his weekends working at Fitz & Sons with Dan; the two of them relishing at the thought that one day they could start their own home building company. Sure enough, after over 15 years of working together, the two of them evolved Fitz & Sons into Innovative Custom Builders. James lives by the creed of exceptional customer experience and diligence at every step of the building process. The hard work he demonstrates everyday has followed him from his early days at Fitz & Sons.