About Duane:

     For over 35 years Duane Clayton, LEED AP has provided his expertise as a home builder. He works one-on-one with his customers to build their dream home. He also renovates existing homes and builds additions or outdoor living spaces.  As a state certified building contractor and owner of Classic Homes by Clayton, Inc. he personally assists in home site evaluation and selection, home design and oversees construction from start to finish.  Duane insists on forming a solid relationship with his customer, establishing open communication from the very beginning.  A trusting relationship between builder and customer is a must.

 

     His passion for creating unique home designs began at the young age of fifteen while drafting plans for his father's construction company.  At age seventeen he was asked to supervise the construction of his first home, a custom designed Acadian style home with wrap around porches, elevated on brick piers with french doors, hardwood floors and a metal roof. This project began his inspiration to create and build innovative homes.

 

     Duane attended Louisiana State University and graduated in 1982, with a Bachelor degree in Finance, Majoring in Real Estate.  After graduation Duane was the sales manager for a a family owned real estate company and licensed general contractor building town homes, office buildings and custom homes.  Married in 1983 Duane and his wife Linda relocated from Baton Rouge, LA to Sarasota, FL in 1987. Their daughter Ashley was born and raised in Sarasota, FL and she is currently attending LSU Veterinary School in Baton Rouge, LA.

 

     His first venture in the Sarasota area was the development of Ashley subdivision, a 100 acre parcel of 50 one acre home sites surrounded by lakes and preserves, located on Proctor Road east of I-75 in Sarasota, Floirda.  Completed in 1989, Ashley, which was named after his daughter, was a great success.  Duane built his first Sarasota custom home there in 1990.  He has since built homes in Ashley, Turtle Rock, Timberlake, Cherokee Park, Myakka Valley Ranches, The Paddocks and other West of Trail locations, many designed by him and several by local Architects.   Duane was also employed by two national home builders and one prominent local builder and in that time he built 100's of homes in the Sarasota area.

 

     In 2007, Duane founded Classic Homes by Clayton, Inc., a full-service construction company primarily involved in new home construction and remodeling.  Duane also attained the LEED AP credential (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional) from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).  His knowledge of green construction led to the building of the "Duval" model, his first Platinum Certified green home, through the Florida Green Build Coalition (FGBC). Completed in late 2010 the "Duval" was featured in the 2011 Parade of Homes winning Best Floor Plan, Best Kitchen Design and the Overall Green Home Award presented by the Sarasota-Manatee Home Builder Association.  The "Duval" also received an Aurora Award by the Southeast Building Conference.

 

     In 2013, Duane began construction of The Sonoma in Sarasota, FL.  The Sonoma was featured in the 2014 and 2015 Parade of Homes receiving the Overall Green Award, Best Curb Appeal and Best Pool. 

 

     The Indie, was finished in July of 2016.  It features 4 BR, 3 full & 2 half baths, wine cellar, an outdoor living room with fireplace, summer kitchen, large game room with balcony overlooking pool and spa with linear fire pit. It won a Gold for Best Overall Home $1 to $2 Million in the 2017 SRQ Home of the Year. The master bath also won the best feature in the 2017 Sarasota-Manatee Parade of Homes.

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       Our newest model was completed in May of 2020. It features 4 BR, 4 baths, bonus room with wet bar, large covered outdoor living area with fireplace, summer kitchen along with a large pool, spa and two fire pits.

 

Associations:

Member of the Manatee-Sarasota Building Industry Association (MSBIA)
Member of the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA)
Member of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)