Our Team
Joshua Rutt, Owner & General Contractor
Joshua Rutt is a second-generation builder with more than two decades of hands-on experience in residential construction. Raised in Pacific Grove, in a home built by his father Hugh, he grew up surrounded by the craftsmanship and work ethic that shaped his vision for Eighteen Oaks Construction. From childhood through early adulthood, he was on the jobsite for Hugh Rutt Construction.
After years working on projects across the peninsula, along with a series of custom builds on the Big Island of Hawaii with Hugh Rutt Construction, Josh founded Eighteen Oaks Construction to bring a more personal, client-centered approach to building to his neighbors. His expertise spans everything from ground-up construction and additions to detailed remodels and ADUs, always with a focus on quality, integrity, and long-lasting value.
Josh believes that building is about more than structures. It’s about creating welcoming spaces for our neighbors. When he’s not on the job site, he’s at home in Carmel Valley working on homesteading projects with his wife Lily and their children.
Hugh Rutt, Consultant & General Contractor
Hugh has built hundreds of homes on the Monterey Peninsula over a career spanning nearly fifty years as a general contractor. His most memorable projects include ground-up custom homes in Pacific Grove’s Beach Tract with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, as well as a series of luxury spec homes in Kona, Hawaii.
Over the decades, Hugh has worked in every corner of the Peninsula: Carmel, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, Monterey, and beyond, and has collaborated with many of the region’s most respected architects, designers, and engineers. This deep local experience allows him to anticipate challenges, navigate jurisdictional nuances, and deliver craftsmanship that reflects the character of each neighborhood.
As a lifelong builder, Hugh brings a rare combination of technical knowledge, intuition, local permitting insight, and personal investment to every project. Neighbors often joke that he’s “the guy who built half the block,” thanks to the many additions and redesigns he’s completed over the years on his own street. Outside the jobsite, he’s often found cultivating palms, avocados, and a wide range of subtropical and native plants.
Of all his accomplishments, Hugh is proudest of watching his sons enter the trades and carry forward the family’s commitment to quality construction and honest workmanship.
Lily Rutt, Office Manager
Lily Rutt serves as Office Manager for Eighteen Oaks Construction, overseeing all aspects of communication to ensure each project runs seamlessly from concept to completion.
In her role, Lily coordinates communication with clients, architects, designers, and suppliers, helps to manage project timelines, and ensures that every administrative process supports the high standards of quality and professionalism that define Eighteen Oaks.
A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College in New York, with a Master’s degree from California State University, Monterey Bay, she uses her management experience to blend strategic oversight with a hands-on, practical approach, ensuring that both clients and team members have an exceptional experience at every stage of the build.
When she’s not keeping Eighteen Oaks the business running smoothly, Lily is hands-on at home, where she and Josh are remodeling their own fixer-upper from the ground up, designing every detail themselves. Their homestead includes chickens, goats, and bees, creating a property that blends thoughtful design, simple living, and a love for Carmel Valley.