Tusk Builders co-owners sitting in a cozy, renovated Craftsman home living room in South Minneapolis with large windows. The room has indoor plants, wooden accents, and a desk in the background.

We’re Rich and Sara Knapp.

Together we own and operate Tusk Builders. We’re also married (to each other) and have four kids, six chickens and one dog. Our family is firmly rooted in South Minneapolis, and we love this city and its homes to our core. 

Tusk Builders owners, Rich and Sara, sitting on buckets inside a room under construction, smiling and looking at each other.

Rich grew up with a hammer in his hand.

And when he was 18, he started apprenticing with his dad, building custom homes in New England.

Tusk Builders owner Sara standing in a hallway, laughing, with one hand on her hip and the other raised, wearing a black outfit and sneakers.

Sara spent her childhood drawing floor plans and rearranging her bedroom for fun.

She still does that, by the way.

A little girl's cozy bedroom remodeled in South Minneapolis. The room is styled with a few personal touches like dolls and books. The wall behind the bed has a framed painting, and two windows with white curtains allow natural light into the room.
Family having breakfast in their mid-century modern dining room

Our winding career paths eventually led us back to helping people love their homes. 

As a licensed contractor, Rich started Tusk Builders in 2017 and Sara joined as a full-time partner in 2022, bringing a focus on design, operations and creating the best possible experience for our clients.

Get in touch
  • A man with a beard and tattoos on his arm, smiling with arms crossed, standing indoors with a painted fish and plant in the background.

    Richard Knapp

    GENERAL CONTRACTOR

  • A woman smiling indoors near a window with plants in the background.

    Sara Knapp

    DESIGN & OPERATIONS

  • A young woman with long, wavy brown hair, wearing a dark teal satin blouse, standing in front of a blackboard and a wooden shelf with a potted plant.

    Elli Honzay

    PROJECT COORDINATOR

About our name

The name Tusk Builders was inspired by the beautiful elephants Rich and Sara met while on a trip to Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in northern Kenya.

It’s a symbol of the strength and family bonds that elephants are known for—we imagine the same strength and family bonds it takes to run a business with your spouse.

Tusk Builders elephant brand logo

  • “Rich truly listened and offered invaluable feedback tailored to our vision and concerns. We felt more like partners than clients, which is a testament to his professionalism and thoughtfulness.”

    Karl P.
    Minneapolis, MN

  • "They made our house so much more liveable."

    Bernice H.
    Minneapolis, MN

Our Story

Get to know the Tusk team little bit better.

The logo for Winc organization, Women in Construction.
NARI logo with the text 'Remodeling Done Right,' indicating membership in the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Make space for more of everything (and everyone) you love.

Let’s talk.

contact us