About Southern Sawdust LLC
Craftsmanship, Integrity, and Attention to Detail.
For over 25 years, Master Carpenter Alexander Henry Koby has brought unparalleled craftsmanship to custom home builds, high-end hardscapes, and detailed renovations across Houston, Texas. As the founder of Southern Sawdust LLC, Alexander specializes in designing and constructing premium custom decks, pergolas, and outdoor living spaces that stand the test of time.
Working alongside top landscape architects, interior designers, and custom home builders, Alexander is a hands-on builder who believes that true quality cannot be rushed. He operates on one unyielding core philosophy: "Pay attention to details."
The Southern Sawdust Standard
While Alexander’s expertise spans a vast array of construction trades—from complete home renovations to specialty painting and concrete work—his true passion lies in high-end exterior carpentry.
Southern Sawdust LLC is Houston's premier custom deck building service, known for:
Premium Materials: Extensive expertise in building with Western Red Cedar and IPE (Brazilian Ironwood).
Flawless Execution: Utilizing concealed fastening methods and modern stainless steel cable systems for seamless, elegant finishes.
Custom Hardscaping: Having built over 30 custom decks of all shapes and sizes, and more than 60 arbors, trellises, and freestanding structures.
Traditional Craftsmanship: A deep love for old-school hand tools, traditional hand-plane methods, and custom lumber milling, ensuring every cut is purposeful and perfect.
A Foundation Built on Mastery
Alexander’s passion for woodworking began as a teenager working in various cabinet shops around Houston, Texas. He spent two formative years apprenticing under Master Carpenter Russel Robins in Houston, where he learned the art of milling stock, building fine furniture, and applying high-end lacquers for million-dollar homes. It was during this time—helping execute a nationwide remodel for the Olive Garden restaurant chain—that he discovered a talent for bending wood and a lifelong passion for carpentry.
Working his way up through house framing crews to Journeyman Carpenter, Alexander eventually launched his own construction businesses, bringing decades of versatile experience to the Houston area. His mechanical and technical knowledge is vast: he can single-handedly gut a home to the studs and rebuild it entirely, managing the electrical conduit, plumbing, sheetrock, and specialty faux finishes.
Career Highlights & Signature Projects
Alexander’s portfolio spans decades of high-profile and complex builds throughout the Houston area, including:
The Four Seasons (Downtown Houston): Constructed the stunning rooftop deck and arbor using premium Brazilian Hardwood.
Downtown Houston Parks: Managed the concrete pouring, slab installation, and bench installations for public park spaces across downtown Houston.
Premier Houston Estates: Served as Lead Carpenter for a massive 3-story concrete block home featuring 22-foot ceilings, complex curved walls, and chauffeured ceilings with massive beams. He flawlessly bent 1x12 16-foot poplar around tight radiuses with zero joints and custom-built 8-foot-tall, 2-inch-thick Old World interior doors.
Mass Door Installations: Installed over 1,200 doors throughout his career, including contracting for Doors by Design and installing 910 doors (front entries and French patios) for a massive 3-story apartment complex in Galveston.
More Than Just Power Tools
Alexander believes that to truly master power tools, you must first know how to do it by hand. Whether he is turning wood on a lathe, building an acoustic guitar from scratch, or constructing a multi-level deck, Alexander is dedicated to his trade. At Southern Sawdust LLC, he accepts nothing less than perfection—because your complete satisfaction is the only goal that matters.
