I’m Kevin Ruiz. I started Salem Builders because I wanted to build the kind of contractor the industry doesn’t produce enough of.
Before Salem Builders, I spent years in residential construction across the NC Triad. I saw what good contracting looks like — and I saw what happens when it’s done poorly. What I saw too often on the poor side: mistakes that got buried instead of owned, vague contracts with wide latitude for contractors to re-price mid-project, and homeowners who ended up absorbing cost overruns they didn’t cause.
I decided if I ever ran my own company, that wouldn’t happen under my name. That’s why Salem Builders exists. We write contracts that put the risk where it belongs — on the contractor who signed them, not on the homeowner — and we communicate honestly when the project runs into anything unexpected.
Salem Builders is the company I wished existed when I was learning this trade. We show up with integrity. We price fairly. And we treat every homeowner the way I’d want my own family treated.
Integrity over impression. We don’t hide mistakes. We don’t shift blame. If something goes wrong on your project, we tell you the moment we know — with photos, options, and what it costs.
Fair, transparent pricing. Our pricing is itemized and fixed in writing before you sign, so you know exactly what your project costs. We don’t use vague contracts with room to re-price mid-project.
Treat people the way you’d want to be treated. We answer the phone. We send weekly photo updates without being asked. We clean up every day. The craftsman’s golden rule applies to every project, from a $15,000 bathroom to a $500,000 custom home.
Integrity → Fixed-price written contracts, not open-ended time-and-materials. 2-year workmanship warranty included in every project. $500/week completion-date credit on delays within our control (subject to your signed contract’s specific terms, which carve out weather, permit delays, homeowner-initiated changes, and documented unforeseen conditions).
Real value → Pre-construction investigation so old-house surprises get priced into the contract up front — not sprung on you mid-project. Licensed subs and specialists we’ve worked with for years, not rotating day labor.
Golden-rule treatment → A dedicated project manager with a direct cell phone number. Weekly Friday photo updates with what’s done and what’s next. Daily site cleanup. A final satisfaction walkthrough before your last payment is due.
Every remodel carries the possibility of hidden conditions — rotten framing behind drywall, outdated or unsafe wiring, undersized plumbing, subfloor damage, mold, or structural issues that weren’t visible at the time of bid. We do everything we can to catch these up front through a thorough pre-construction investigation, so they get priced into the original contract.
When something genuinely unforeseen does surface — a condition we couldn’t reasonably have known about without opening a wall or floor — here’s how we handle it:
This process is spelled out in your contract before day one. It’s not a surprise. Change orders are used only for (a) scope you add or modify, or (b) genuine unforeseen conditions documented at the time they’re discovered. They are never used as a way to re-price work that was already covered.
NC General Contractor License #L.86773. Full general liability and workers’ compensation insurance on every project. Certificates of insurance available before your consultation.
136 projects completed since 2021 across Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Lewisville, Pfafftown, Kernersville, King, and Bethania.
5.0★ average rating on Google across 39 verified reviews. Read them all here.
8 years of hands-on residential construction experience before founding Salem Builders — across custom builds, full renovations, and additions in the NC Triad market.
Kevin Ruiz — Founder & General Contractor. Licensed NC GC. Directly on-site for most consultations and active in day-to-day project oversight.
Juan — Project Manager. Juan ran his own construction company for years — including a strong focus on high-end kitchens and bathrooms — and brings broad, hands-on experience across every phase of residential construction. Multiple client reviews mention Juan by name for keeping projects moving and communication on-point.
Our trade partners. We work with an established roster of independent specialists — Ivan (painting, cabinets, finish carpentry), Logan (repairs, small-scope work, customer liaison), Johnathon (flooring), plus tile installers, plumbers, electricians, and HVAC trades. Every trade partner is independently licensed, insured, and has been vetted through years of direct working relationships with Salem Builders.
Architectural partners. We work with three local Winston-Salem architects on custom builds and additions. Design coordination is folded into the same fixed-price contract so you have one team, one point of contact, and one completion date.
Homeowners across the NC Triad — Winston-Salem, Clemmons, Lewisville, Pfafftown, Kernersville, King, Bethania, and surrounding Forsyth / Davie County — with project budgets from $15,000 to $500,000+ who want a real contract, real guarantees, and a contractor who actually answers the phone.
If you’ve been burned by a contractor before — or heard enough horror stories that you’re hesitant to hire again — we’re the ones who built this company specifically for you.
You want the cheapest bid. We’re not the cheapest, and we won’t pretend to be. If a contractor is bidding well below us, there’s usually a reason — and it typically shows up mid-project as a change order or a corner cut.
You expect to keep changing scope without affecting the price. Our fixed price covers what’s in the signed contract. When you add or modify scope — or when we encounter genuine unforeseen conditions at the time they’re discovered — we use written change orders with your signed approval before work continues. That’s a feature, not a bug: it keeps contracts honest in both directions.
You want a contractor you can push around on craftsmanship standards. We’re happy to work with you on finishes, schedule, and scope. We don’t compromise on waterproofing, structural, electrical, plumbing, or code compliance — those protect the homeowner and the long-term value of the home.
A note on the reviews below: Salem Builders was previously operated as Contractor Kev LLC. The team, license, and quality of work carried over unchanged when we rebranded in 2026. Some older reviews reference the prior business name.
“We interviewed six contractors. Kevin provided a detailed fixed-price bid, which we appreciated. We also like how thorough he was determining structural needs. Everything turned out beautifully and we expect to use Contractor Kev for bathroom remodels in the near future.” — David S., full renovation client
“Working with Contractor Kev was the best decision we made about our project. His crews did a great job making the added space blend seamlessly with the existing house. We were still living in the house with four kids during the project and everyone was very courteous.” — Brittany S., farmhouse addition
“Kevin is an awesome contractor. His level of professionalism, communication, and efficiency were outstanding. As an architect, I truly appreciate Kevin’s thoughtfulness to his work and his transparency. I would highly recommend Kevin and his team to both my commercial and residential clients.” — Nisha Mary Prasad, architect
Free on-site consultation. Written fixed-price estimate within 48 hours. No sales pressure. No obligation. You decide — no pestering follow-up if the fit isn’t right.
Within 2 business hours of your request, Kevin or your dedicated project manager calls you back personally.