Most custom builders in the Triangle start their conversation at a million dollars. CH Gilliam Construction put two custom homes on the 2026 Franklin County Parade of Homes at $560,000 and $565,000, both on rural land outside any subdivision.
CH Gilliam Construction LLC is a family-owned builder in Louisburg run by Cameron “Cam” Gilliam, a Franklin County native and second-generation custom builder. The company builds custom homes and additions, remodels kitchens and baths, and takes on light commercial work.
That price point and that land model are why buyers find him. This guide lays out what the company publishes, what its Parade homes show, and what a buyer should verify before the first draw.
Who Is CH Gilliam Construction?
CH Gilliam Construction is a Louisburg custom home builder founded and run by Cameron Gilliam. The Franklin County Home Builders Association lists the company at 718 Grey’s Mill Road in Louisburg under the categories Builders and Residential Contractors, with the description “Custom Residential Home Builder.”
Cam Gilliam’s background, in his words
The company’s About page is written in the first person by Cam. It says:
- He is a second-generation custom home builder who grew up learning the trade.
- He began working full time as a carpenter at 18.
- He became a lead carpenter and licensed contractor in 2008.
- He started CHGC as a side business in 2003, working nights and weekends.
- In December 2019 he began operating full time under his own company, as his father neared retirement.
- His passion is finish and trim carpentry.
The logo on the Parade guide pages reads “Est. 2020,” which lines up with the full-time launch at the end of 2019. The 2003 side-business date and the 2008 license date come from the same About page. Ask Cam which entity holds the current general contractor license, and confirm it with the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors.
The HBA listing names two contacts: Cameron Gilliam and Scarlet Lowry. Cam says he stays “closely involved in every project” and participates in the local Home Builders Association.
Where CH Gilliam builds
CH Gilliam says it serves Franklin County and nearby communities, and lists Louisburg, Youngsville, Franklinton, Bunn, Zebulon, Spring Hope, Henderson, and Nashville. Of those, zebulon is the closest to Wake County’s eastern edge. Henderson sits in Vance County and Nashville and Spring Hope in Nash County.
Both 2026 Parade homes have Louisburg addresses and are marked “Not in a Subdivision.”
What Does CH Gilliam Construction Build?
CH Gilliam builds custom single-family homes tailored to the owner’s land, along with additions, kitchen and bath remodels, and light commercial build-outs. The company describes its range as running “from open-concept modern farmhouses to timeless rural estates.”
| Buyer question | What the public record shows |
|---|---|
| Product type | Custom homes and additions; kitchen and bath remodeling; light commercial. |
| Land model | Homes “tailored to your land”; both Parade homes are on individual rural tracts. |
| 2026 Parade prices | $560,000 (2,227 sq ft) and $565,000 (2,076 sq ft). |
| Price per listed square foot | About $251 and $272. |
| Design firm on Parade homes | Kathy Pickens Residential Designs. |
| Owner’s specialty | Finish and trim carpentry. |
| Published price list or warranty | Neither appears on the website. |
The website’s project gallery shows eight named homes: Philbeck, The Kendall, Williams, Mitchell, Garrett, Brantleytown, Green, and Otto. The gallery is photos only. It does not list sizes, prices, or locations.
Parade entry 29: The Kendall
The Kendall is a modern farmhouse at 1175 NC-561 Highway, Louisburg, listed at $560,000 with 2,227 square feet. The Parade guide describes it as a four-bedroom, two-bath home “set on peaceful open farmland.” Listed features:
- An open layout with custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, and stained wood accents
- Detailed trim work throughout
- A primary suite with a porcelain walk-in shower
- LVP and tile flooring
- A board-and-batten exterior and stained tongue-and-groove porch ceilings on front and rear porches
- A two-car garage and an unfinished second-floor storage area on the plan
Parade entry 31: The Kelly
The Kelly is a three-bedroom, three-bath home at 300 Whitetail Lane, Louisburg, listed at $565,000 with 2,076 square feet. The guide says it sits on a secluded 11-acre wooded lot. Listed features:
- A black exterior with stained wood accents
- Quartz countertops throughout and a full quartz kitchen backsplash
- A zero-entry tiled primary wet room
- A 43’1" x 12’ screened porch on the plan
- A two-car garage connected by a breezeway, with a recreation room and bath above it on the plan
The Kelly’s 11 acres are the headline. Ask whether the $565,000 includes that land. The Parade guide labels both entries “Custom Build” in the spot where other builders list a selling agent, so these may be client homes rather than homes for sale.
How Does CH Gilliam’s Building Process Work?
CH Gilliam says it guides clients “through every phase—from planning to final walkthrough,” but its website does not publish a step-by-step process. Ask for one in writing. For a build on your own rural land, it should cover at least these stages:
- Land review: survey, soil and perc evaluation, well location, driveway, and power.
- Design: plans drawn with the design firm and a specification sheet.
- Pricing: a fixed price or cost-plus proposal with an allowance schedule and exclusions list.
- Permits: county building, septic, and well permits.
- Site work: clearing, grading, driveway, foundation.
- Construction: framing through finish carpentry, with scheduled walkthroughs.
- Completion: final inspection, punch list, certificate of occupancy, warranty start.
On acreage, step one decides the budget. A long gravel drive, a deep well, a pump septic system, or a power run from the road can each move the number before framing starts. Read our guides to buying land to build a house and North Carolina septic systems before you buy the tract.
What Should You Verify Before Signing With CH Gilliam?
Before signing with CH Gilliam Construction, verify the license, the scope of the price, the warranty, and the references. Trim-carpenter builders tend to show their best work in the finish. Your job is to check the parts you can’t see.
Confirm what the price includes
Ask whether a quoted number includes land, survey, well, septic, driveway, power connection, landscaping, and appliances. The Kendall at $251 per listed square foot and The Kelly at $272 are useful benchmarks only if you know what they cover. Also confirm whether the unfinished storage over The Kendall counts in its square footage.
Get the warranty document
The CH Gilliam website does not describe a warranty. Ask for the written warranty, the claim process, and response times, and compare them using our home builder warranty guide.
Check references and reviews
The site quotes one Houzz reviewer whose home was finished in June 2023 and who praises Cameron, Carrie, and the team. One review is a start. Ask for three recent clients with homes like yours, and ask how close the final cost came to the contract.
Confirm insurance and the contracting entity
Your contract should name CH Gilliam Construction LLC, the entity in the HBA directory. Ask for certificates of general liability and workers’ compensation coverage, and a lien-waiver process for each draw.
Clarify the remodel and commercial split
CH Gilliam also does remodeling and light commercial work. Ask how many new homes are under construction at once and who supervises yours on days Cam is on another site.
How Does CH Gilliam Compare With Other Building Options?
CH Gilliam competes on rural, owner-supervised custom building at a price well below most Triangle custom firms.
| Building model | Typical land | Plan flexibility | Owner access | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Production builder in a Franklin County subdivision | Builder’s lot, HOA | Low | Low | Buyers who want a known price and a move-in date |
| CH Gilliam-style rural custom | Your acreage, no HOA | High | High | Buyers with land who want a custom farmhouse near $560K |
| Triangle luxury custom | Infill or estate lot | Highest | Varies | $1M+ budgets |
If you are weighing a builder’s spec home against a ground-up build, our spec vs. pre-sale guide covers the trade-offs.
Who Is a Strong Fit for CH Gilliam Construction?
CH Gilliam fits a buyer who owns or is buying land in Franklin County or the next county over and wants a custom home of about 2,000 to 2,300 square feet with real trim work.
The strongest candidates usually have:
- a tract already identified, with perc and well questions answered or underway;
- a budget near the 2026 Parade homes, plus land and site costs;
- an interest in modern farmhouse or rural design;
- a willingness to work directly with the owner on decisions;
- their own agent and attorney on the land purchase and the construction contract.
It is a weaker fit for a buyer who wants a neighborhood pool, an HOA-maintained street, or a large design center.
Final Thoughts About CH Gilliam Construction From Tim Clarke
CH Gilliam is what a lot of buyers picture when they say they want to build in the country. A Franklin County native who started as a carpenter at 18, a full-time company since December 2019, two 2026 Parade homes at $560,000 and $565,000, and one of them on 11 wooded acres.
The work you can see is the finish. The money you can lose is in the dirt.
I have spent 17+ years in Triangle real estate. On rural builds, the expensive surprises come from the land, not the cabinets. A perc test that forces a different septic system. A well that has to go deeper. A driveway that needs 400 feet of stone. Settle those before you sign, then put the allowances, warranty, and change-order terms in the contract.
Our team builds and sells. We review land, site plans, and builder proposals, and we represent the buyer. If CH Gilliam is on your list, bring us the tract and the proposal and we will tell you what the number really covers. Call (919) 355-8462 to set up a review or a tour.
Sources
- https://chgilliam.com/
- https://chgilliam.com/about
- https://chgilliam.com/projects
- https://members.franklincountyhba.com/member-directory/Details/ch-gilliam-construction-llc-4688667
- https://franklincountyhba.com/parade-of-homes/
- https://growthzonecmsprodeastus.azureedge.net/sites/2621/2026/09/2026-Parade-Map-compressed.jpg (2026 Franklin County Parade map and entry list)
- https://issuu.com/circamagazine/docs/2026_franklin_county_parade_of_homes_guide (2026 Franklin County Parade of Homes guide, pages 58 and 62)
