Our History
Karnage Construction has been in business since 2014.
Karnage Construction is experienced working with local building inspectors, realtors, the Richmond Citywide Architectural Review Board as well as the State Department of Historic Resources on historic properties, buildings in historic districts, and historic tax credit projects.
We are able to assist homeowners in navigating the various hurdles and challenges that come with the joys of owning historic property.
We are also experienced working as a subcontractor on larger projects for Commercial Contractors throughout Virginia.
Mo Karnage, the founder and owner grew up in Hanover County just north of the City of Richmond. Mo’s father and grandfather owned and ran cabinetry and millwork companies, and Mo’s great grandfather started the regionally famous Caravati’s Architectural Salvage business which is still in the family, being run by Mo’s cousin Ben.
Our Mission
Karnage Construction is a disruptive force in the residential and historic preservation construction industry.
We’re a growing business with a solid track record of quality historic preservation and residential construction work across the state.
Karnage is dedicated to growing their in house workforce of skilled tradespeople who are offered a living wage, in house training, and continuing education in the historic preservation and construction fields.
Our Values
We are proudly queer and nonbinary-owned, and we hire LGBTQ folks, creating career opportunities that are far too rare in the construction industry.
We’re a safe space.
Karnage Construction is very familiar with the stress, fear, and frustration that many women, LGBTQ and POC may feel when engaging with contractors and construction workers.
We love being available to provide a safe option that won’t mansplain, be homophobic, transphobic, sexist, or racist.
We understand that when you need someone to come work on your home it’s important for you to feel comfortable around them.
We’re skilled and certified.
Karnage Construction is a small business with credentials. We’re SWAM certified by the VA SBSD as a small, micro, and woman-owned business. That’s not all, we’re also LGBT certified by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
We take care of our own.
We pay a living wage to our employees and provide paid sick leave as well as paid holidays. We believe that there is no point in existing as a business if we are exploiting people. We hire felons, hobos, punks, and queers.
Our Amazing Team
The KC Team are as sweet as they are skilled and as funny as they are professional
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Mo Karnage
Captain of Chaos, Owner, Licensed Contractor
Mo Karnage, they/them, is a local rabble rouser and entrepreneur. Since 2014 Mo has owned and run Karnage Construction, a Class A Licensed contractor specializing in historic preservation work, but also providing home renovations, butch for hire small jobs, and new construction projects. Mo's great grandpa started Caravati's architectural salvage, and Mo's dad and grandpa were in the millwork and cabinetry business. Sawdust runs in their blood, as do old Richmond houses. Mo is a parent to a rambunctious 7 year old, and has 3 dogs and 2 cats. Mo splits their time between Cuckoo in Louisa County and Highland Park. Mo is a vegan and into punk, zines, diy, and generally always has 14,000 projects going on. Mo loves thrift stores, free stuff, running, and hoarding building materials (its genetic). When Mo isn't building or painting, Mo is probably reading a trashy romance or murder book, but can be coaxed to get their nose out of the book to hangout at a local dive bar, coffee shop, or swimming hole.
Email: Mo@karnageconstruction.com
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Derek
Site Super
Derek has been doing trim carpentry since they could walk. They have worked on numerous new construction homes that have been featured in the Williamsburg parade of homes.
sitesuper2@karnageconstruction.com
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David
Site Superintendent
David has been with the Karnage crew for the longest of anyone, other than Mo. He is an irreplaceable part of our crew who specializes in historic windows and historic restoration.
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Ike
Construction Worker
Ike comes to the Karnage crew with a great enthusiasm for busting ass and a willingness to do what it takes. Whether it’s restoring historic windows or building out projects for homeowners, Ike brings his A-Game.
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Brandon
Construction worker
With the mind of an artist and an eye for detail, Brandon strives to always leave everywhere he goes better than he found it. In his free time, Brandon can be found at the gym picking up heavy things and putting them back down. Going on long walks near the river downtown. And taking photos of sunsets, skylines, and graffiti covered train cars along the way.
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Pete
Construction worker
Pete is a Queer Navy Veteran with 11 years experience in home improvement and maintenance. His focus in the construction field is framing, trim carpentry, and handyman services. He loves building tool sheds, garages, and other small buildings. He is also a loving father to his two kids and nightclub/private event DJ in his free time.
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Savanna
Savanna comes with a background in the automotive industry and her mechanic’s mind is a whiz at understanding houses and carpentry. Savanna brings a focus a positivity daily that makes her fit right into the Karnage crew.
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Mike
Description goes here -
June
June comes from a family business founded in northern virginia. She has spent many years of
her childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood immersed in contracting work. She mainly
worked in residential and agricultural environments. She finds satisfaction in a job well done. goes here
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Casey
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OMLette
OMLette is our shop dog
Our company has a Class A Contractor’s License with HIC and RBC specialties. But don’t take our word for it!
You should always verify that your contractor is, in fact, a contractor. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scammers out there who perform construction work without the proper knowledge, skill, or licensing.
To check and see if a company is actually a contractor, you can go to the DPOR License Lookup Page. Search for the name of the company or the individual. If they don’t pop up, they might not be licensed at all!
Aside from a contractor’s license, we are certified by various entities and organizations to ensure we are qualified for the work we do.
We are a certified Responsible Land Disturber.
We are a Lead Safe Certified Firm by the EPA. Which you can
verify by clicking on this image and searching for us by name or copy and paste the link below:
https://cdxapps.epa.gov/ocspp-oppt-lead/firm-location-search
