--- title: "JJ Cillis Builders — General Contractors | Houzz" canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/jj-cillis-builders-pfvwus-pf~1325446160 markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1325446160.md entity_type: LocalBusiness business_name: "JJ Cillis Builders" category: ["General Contractors"] image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/aa6308f40fc75f1f_8906-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg address: "83 Maple Road, Voorheesville, New York 12186, United States" latitude: 42.6431 longitude: -73.9448 phone: "(518) 749-4416" website: https://jjcillisbuilders.com rating: 5 review_count: 12 years_in_business: 35 followers: 16 last_updated: 2026-08-25 --- # JJ Cillis Builders > Building Solid, Beautiful & Unique Living Spaces in Albany Original Houzz profile: [JJ Cillis Builders](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/jj-cillis-builders-pfvwus-pf~1325446160) ## Professional summary - **Primary category:** General Contractors - **Location:** Voorheesville, NY - **Serves:** Albany, West Albany, Colonie, Clifton Park, Guilderland, Bethlehem, Rotterdam, Saratoga Springs, Niskayuna, Latham, Delmar, Westmere, Duanesburg, Westerlo, Voorheesville, Knox, Altamont, Castleton-on-Hudson, Clarksville, East Berne, Feura Bush, Glenmont, Guilderland Center, Newtonville, Saratoga, Saratoga County, Selkirk, Slingerlands, South Bethlehem - **Houzz rating:** 5.0 out of 5 (12 reviews) ## About ### Houzz Badges - Houzz Pro Software User - Recommended on Houzz - 25 Ideabook Saves - Award winning - Offers Custom Work - 35 years in business - Provides 3D Visualization ### Business highlights - 35 years in business - Award winning - Offers Custom Work - Provides 3D Visualization The company was founded well over 60 years ago by Joseph Cillis (JJ), who began building homes during summer breaks while working as a school teacher. After earning a Master’s Degree and spending nine years in education, he ultimately chose to pursue his passion for home building full time. What began as an interest quickly became a lifelong dedication to creating some of the finest crafted homes in the Capital Region. Home building was very different decades ago. Builders were hands-on in every phase of construction and worked directly alongside their crews in the field. While the industry has evolved over the years, JJ Cillis Builders continues to rely on that same foundation of craftsmanship, experience, and personal involvement to deliver high-quality homes built with care and attention to detail. Our philosophy remains simple: be involved, be available, and always stand behind the product. We believe that when you build a great home and treat people the right way, your reputation speaks for itself. After earning a four-year degree in Architecture and spending many summers working alongside his father, JJ’s son Jim joined the company full time. Combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology, updated design concepts, and hands-on project management, Jim now oversees the day-to-day operations, sales, purchasing, and design of the business. At JJ Cillis Builders, we take pride in creating homes that are not only well-built, but thoughtfully designed to reflect the families who live in them. Contact us today to discuss your project. ### Services Provided - Home Remodeling - Bathroom Remodeling - Kitchen Remodeling - Home Additions - New Home Construction - Guesthouse Design & Construction - Garage Building - Outdoor Kitchen Construction - Home Restoration - Porch Design & Construction - Pool House Design & Construction - Project Management - Custom Home Bars - Energy-Efficient Homes - Custom Home ### Areas Served - Albany - West Albany - Colonie - Clifton Park - Guilderland - Bethlehem - Rotterdam - Saratoga Springs - Niskayuna - Latham - Delmar - Westmere - Duanesburg - Westerlo - Voorheesville - Knox - Altamont - Castleton-on-Hudson - Clarksville - East Berne - Feura Bush - Glenmont - Guilderland Center - Newtonville - Saratoga - Saratoga County - Selkirk - Slingerlands - South Bethlehem ## Business Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Business Name | JJ Cillis Builders | | Address | 83 Maple Road, Voorheesville, New York 12186, United States | | Phone | (518) 749-4416 | | Website | https://jjcillisbuilders.com | | Years in business | 35 | | Followers on Houzz | 16 | **Social profiles:** - Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/JJCillisGroup ## Contact - **Houzz profile:** [JJ Cillis Builders](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/jj-cillis-builders-pfvwus-pf~1325446160) - **Website:** https://jjcillisbuilders.com - **Phone:** (518) 749-4416 ## Credentials **Affiliations** - [National Association of Home Builders](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/schools-and-organizations/national-association-of-home-builders-pfvwus-pf~562065019) ## Reviews **Overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 — 12 reviews** *Aspect averages:* - Work Quality: 50.0 - Communication: 50.0 - Value: 50.0 ### Featured Review **★★★★★ — Tanya Richvalsky, March 2026** > I cannot recommend Jim highly enough. From start to finish, the entire experience was exceptional, and what truly set him apart was his unwavering commitment to customization and a genuinely personal approach. > > Jim took the time to understand not just what we wanted in a home, but how we live as a family. Every detail—big and small—was thoughtfully tailored to our needs, including the secret door between our boys closets. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach, Jim embraced customization at every stage, allowing us to create a home that feels uniquely ours. > > Equally impressive was his flexibility. Building a home inevitably comes with changes and evolving ideas, and Jim handled every adjustment with professionalism, creativity, and a positive attitude. He was solutions-oriented, accommodating, and always willing to collaborate to achieve the best outcome. > > What made the experience even more meaningful was how personable and approachable Jim was throughout the process. Communication was consistent, transparent, and responsive, making us feel supported and confident every step of the way. > > The end result exceeded our expectations in every sense. If you are looking for a builder who combines high-quality craftsmanship with true customization, flexibility, and a personal touch, I would recommend Jim without hesitation. ### All 12 reviews **★★★★★ — Richard Shea, May 2026** > Working with Jim to build our custom home was a great experience. He took our custom plans and turned them into our dream home. His communication was timely and kept us informed through the entire project. **★★★★★ — rebajane, April 2026** > Building a custom home was a major undertaking, but working with James Cillis was an absolute pleasure. He truly listened to our vision and translated it into a layout that fits our lifestyle perfectly. He was incredibly helpful, guiding us through the decision-making process with expertise and patience. The attention to detail in our new home is impeccable. James is not just knowledgeable, but honest, proactive in solving problems, and truly cares about the quality of his work. We love our new home and are so thankful for the hard work and craftsmanship that was put into building our dream home!" **★★★★★ — Clinton, April 2026** > Working with Jim and his team was a great experience. Jim quickly adopted the vision my wife and I had for our new build. He encouraged us to be as involved as we wanted - but were able to trust him to make choices that fit us. In addition, he used his experience to coach us into making decisions that have turned out to be some of the best features of the home. > > The build quality of the home is excellent. Jim took care to ensure all parts of the home were well constructed (from foundation, to framing, to finishing, to landscaping). I was often impressed at the care he gave to all parts of the project. > > Jim was always communicative about his progress. He was transparent about the hurdles that he faced or the cost impacts of certain decisions. > > Overall, we are very happy with our home and with the process of building it with JJ Cillis. **★★★★★ — Gary McDermott, March 2026** > Jim Cillis is a joy to work with! > He listens and understands what homebuilders and home remodelers (we've done both with him) are asking for. He maintains constant oversight for the wants and needs of the homeowners. > When changes are necessary, he works closely with you to get the desired results in a timely manner with as little extra cost as possible. He's always available to offer advise if you're unsure of which direction to go - there are so many choices to make when building/renovating! > Jim and his contractors use quality materials, and their craftsmanship is superb. Our home turned out exactly how we wanted and it will stand the test of time for quality construction and styling. > Thanks Jim! **★★★★★ — Mike Murray, March 2026** > Jim was a pleasure to work with. We had complete trust in him throughout the entire building process. He did a great job setting realistic expectations around both cost and timing, and he offered thoughtful guidance that helped us prioritize/maximize the parts of the project that mattered most to us. > > JJ Cillis utilizes best in class working teams. The quality of the craftsmanship and products exceeded our expectations. We truly enjoyed the experience, and even two years later, we couldn’t be happier with the results. > > As a final endorsement - I think that my dog is a great judge of character and he ran over to the job site every day to see his buddy Jim! **★★★★★ — Murray, March 2026** > Jim has a deep knowledge about house design and the build process. His expertise allowed us to have very productive collaboration meetings during the design phase. As we made changes, he was able to show us the dependencies that would be impacted. He balanced our big ideas with our budget expectations. > > Jim was readily available throughout the entire process. He was able to communicate complex ideas in a way that we - first time home owners - could understand. > > We trusted the materials Jim sourced and the people he contracted. He kept a tight timeline and was onsite frequently to oversee all the work being done to ensure high quality. His attention to detail was instrumental in the overall success of the project. > > We love everything about our home and thoroughly enjoyed the design and build process. I’d consider Jim a friend after everything and would recommend him to anyone. **★★★★★ — New Home Construction - Moss Road, March 2026** > Jim came highly recommended from a number of friends, colleagues and associates. A few of my favorite things about working with JJ Cillis Builders. > > 1\) He understood our budget and had thoughtful recommendations on how best to maximize value. > 2\) He was flexible, the occasional change order was easily incorporated into our build. > 3\) Trustworthiness, very early on in the process he earned our trust, which carried through to project conclusion. > 4\) He seemed to personally care about our home's construction, he "owned" the process from start to end. > 5\) Quality of vendors - all of the vendors (flooring, kitchen/bath, appliances, etc.) were top notch and easy to work with. This was critical as it was our first time building a home and we relied on these vendors. > 6\) The inclusion of some interior designer time in the contract to help with selections. We enjoyed working with this individual and engaged her beyond the original scope of the project to assist with our home. > 7\) Timeliness - we set a one year timeframe for our custom build and this was achieved. > > We've just come up on the three year anniversary of our new home and are entirely satisfied. It's our forever home. **★★★★★ — R. Kavanaugh, March 2026** > Jim was great to work with, and he did an excellent job helping us get what we really wanted in our house while still making practical suggestions for keeping costs down. He was good at communicating and responding to our questions, and also followed up with any minor issues we had even after construction was completed (fixing some siding that came off in a windstorm and a bit of loose grout in a shower). > > I would (and have) recommend Jim Cillis to my own friends and family. **★★★★★ — Bill Wolfgang, March 2026** > Jim did a fantastic job from helping with the design of the house through construction. Communication was excellent and it was great to be able to walk through the construction site at anytime with him to have things explained. Some modifications from the original plan we requested were seamlessly accommodated during the construction. The craftsmanship, subcontractors and materials were all outstanding and the project was completed in the initially proposed time frame. All in all it was a pleasure to work with Jim on our new home and watch its construction unfold. **★★★★★ — brian burke, March 2026** > There are many options out there, however JJ Cillis is the best. Honest, reputable, straight forward. You deal direct with them, thru the entire process. They make it a comfortable experience, and communicate with you daily. Very happy **★★★★★ — Helen Vu, July 2021** > JJ Cillis Builders built our new home 20+ years ago and the house is still just as sound and beautiful! We had a flooding in our basement 1 year ago and they actually came to help us locate the drainage pipe they had placed 20+ years ago! (which we had failed to keep clear). Now that's service! ## Selected projects - [Built to Suit](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/built-to-suit-pj-vj~6635081) - Location: Voorheesville, NY - Photos: 6 - [Built for Owner](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/built-for-owner-pj-vj~7072143) - Location: Voorheesville, NY - Photos: 22 - [Built on their Lot](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/built-on-their-lot-pj-vj~7157271) - Location: Voorheesville, NY - Photos: 13 - [Built for Customer](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/built-for-customer-pj-vj~7815310) - Location: Slingerlands, NY - Photos: 14 - [Built on Owner's Land](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/built-on-owner-s-land-pj-vj~7816631) - Location: Voorheesville, NY - Photos: 14 - [Show House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/show-house-pj-vj~72988) - Location: Brunswick, NY - Photos: 8 - [Model House](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/model-house-pj-vj~6649857) - Location: Voorheesville, NY - Photos: 7 - [Lodge Room Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/lodge-room-addition-pj-vj~65797) - Location: Voorheesville, NY - Photos: 5 - [Pool House Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pool-house-addition-pj-vj~5826786) - Location: Brunswick, NY - Photos: 5 - [Garage Addition](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/garage-addition-pj-vj~330581) - Location: Voorheesville, NY - Photos: 3 - [Individual Home](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/individual-home-pj-vj~1583344) - Location: Voorheesville, NY - Photos: 4 [See all 11 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/jj-cillis-builders-pfvwus-pf~1325446160) ## Video - [Company video](https://player.vimeo.com/external/840719109.m3u8?s=8d9040dfee1c878b8e9a5b466fbb72cf87c537a2&oauth2_token_id=1384357804) ## Frequently Asked Questions **Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?** Yes, we are licensed contractors, as indicated on our Houzz profile, ensuring we operate with the proper credentials in the Capital Region. While our current online information doesn't explicitly detail our bonding or insurance status, we are committed to professional and responsible operations for all our projects. **What kind of projects you specialise in?** We specialize in building solid, beautiful, and unique living spaces, focusing on custom home construction, new home builds, and significant renovations. This includes home additions, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, garage building, guesthouse design, and even outdoor kitchen and pool house construction. We build homes 'Built for Owner,' 'Built on their Lot,' and 'Built to Suit' in the Capital Region. **Do you handle full home additions and major renovations?** Absolutely, we have extensive experience with full home additions and major renovations. Our services include home additions, home remodeling, home restoration, and specific additions like lodge rooms, pool houses, and garages. We are equipped to transform and expand your living space significantly. **Can you help with design and material selection?** Yes, we certainly can! Our team, led by Jim who oversees design, combines traditional craftsmanship with modern technology and updated design concepts. We pride ourselves on creating thoughtfully designed homes that reflect the families who live in them, and we assist with design and material selection to achieve your vision. **What makes your general contracting services different from others locally?** What sets us apart is our deep-rooted history, founded over 60 years ago by Joseph Cillis, and our unwavering commitment to craftsmanship and personal involvement. We deliver high-quality homes with care and attention to detail, believing that our reputation for building great homes and treating people right speaks for itself in the Capital Region. *FAQ content may be generated based on the Pro's Houzz profile and website.* --- *Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-25.*