A busy and populous city in the East Bay region of San Francisco Bay, Oakland is home to more than 400,000 individuals who enjoy its contrasting but beautiful landscape and environment. It is a city where hills and flatlands, houses and offices, and ocean view and cityscape blend well together, creating stunning scenery. Despite being prone to high-intensity earthquakes, Oakland has preserved many of its historical structures with architectural styles inspired from the neoclassical and gothic eras. Although the city has maintained its old buildings, Oakland constructed new modern buildings that give life to the cityscape as well — an example of which is the Oakland Cathedral that features modern architecture built entirely in the 21st century.
For homeowners who live a modern lifestyle and are in search of general contractors who can repair, rebuild or upgrade their existing home, below is a list of remodelers who have been serving the SFBA for many years. Each have delivered outstanding results, and many have received awards or recognitions from prestigious organizations and magazines. See which among them suits your needs the most.
If you are thinking about doing a construction project, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.
14) Oliver Builders, Inc.
1428 Stannage Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94702
Oliver Builders, Inc. is a remodeling firm that provides kitchen and bath remodeling, second story additions, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), and whole house remodeling services. The company offers these services to clients in Berkeley and other cities along the East Bay. For more than 20 years, Oliver Builders has completed big and small projects with price ranges of $55,000 up to $1 million. It has developed a reputation for providing excellent craftsmanship with precise time management and clear communication.
With a team of skillful project managers, designers, and carpenters, owner and operator Severin Oliver works hand in hand with his builders to give their clients a smooth remodeling experience. Oliver started his career as a builder himself, who specialized in stair building and finish carpentry. Today, he is a GreenPoint Rated Builder who runs an EPA Lead Certified company that handles high-end projects in the area. An example of his notable work is a 2015 whole house craftsman remodel located in Berkley City. The single-family home showcases the intricate woodwork designs of its cabinets and staircase which was combined with contemporary light colored furnishing to give the home a young and cozy atmosphere.
13) Rasmussen Construction
1118 Grant Avenue, Novato, CA 94945
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 34 years, Rasmussen Construction is one of the most preferred general contractors in the area. The firm provides a variety construction services, including home remodeling, custom home building, new home construction, and home additions. Whether clients are need of a single bathroom remodel or new custom home construction, Rasmussen Construction offers the latest design ideas and high-quality customer service. The company has experience in working on high-end projects that are worth $500,000 to upwards of $5 million.
David Rasmussen, owner and president of the firm, continues the family tradition in construction that was started by his grandfather. His 30 years of experience in construction and high-class designs has helped him earn recognitions from several publications, including The Farmhouse, Sunset and Remodeling Magazine. An example of his notable work is a Victorian home remodel worth $2 million. The upper floor the house was reorganized to make space for a brand new master bedroom with a light-filled master bath and dressing room. Its kitchen was given a makeover by updating new appliances, cabinets, and countertops. The project was a successful masterpiece with the help of one of the city’s respected architects, John Clarke.
12) Lorick and Martinez Design Build, INC.
5052 Woodminster Lane, Oakland, CA, 94602-2614
Lorick and Martinez Design Build, INC. is a design-build firm that was established by Gigi Lorick — a successful Scenic Designer and Art Director for prestigious film studios including Paramount, Disney, Universal, Lion’s Gate, Sony, and MGM. After several years of working for these well-known studios, she discovered a new passion for building and improving homes that are designed to be durable, functional, and aesthetic. Under the leadership of Lorick, the company has been providing new home construction, home repair, and home remodeling services in multiple cities, centered in Alameda County and SF East Bay.
The company specializes in full design civil engineering services and general contracting construction services. Over 25 years, the company has completed more than 1,500 projects that vary between $10,000 to $1.5 million.
11) Douglah Designs
3586 Mt Diablo Blvd, Suite B, Lafayette, CA, 94549
Founded in 1997, Douglah Designs is a Lafayette-based interior design-build firm that focuses on luxury home remodeling. The company offers home additions, facade improvements, custom cabinets, kitchen/bath remodeling, and whole house remodeling services across SF East Bay. Its team — headed by owner Leila Douglah — has over 20 years of experience remodeling homes in traditional, contemporary, modern, and Mediterranean styles. Douglah guides her team to show remarkable quality, magnificent craftsmanship, and extraordinary customer service in all the projects they work on. The positive impact to their clients has earned glowing testimonials and numerous referrals and recommendations. Douglah Designs is a respected member of national remodeling and design organizations such as National Kitchen and Bathroom Association, NARI, and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) of North CA.
10) Black Creek Builders
1033 Yerba Buena Ave, Oakland, CA 94608
Based in Oakland City, Black Creek Builders is a full-service general contractor that specializes in residential remodels, tenant improvements and commercial restaurant build-outs. The company also provides home additions, kitchen and bathroom remodels, structural repairs and seismic upgrades to homeowners located in Oakland and neighborhoods within Alameda County. Under the supervision of its owner, Travis Wirt, the company has completed several projects that cost up to $4 million. One of Black Creek Builders’ outstanding projects is a two-story addition and a whole house remodel of a single-family home on Rio Vista Ave, Oakland. The interiors of the old home was transformed into a more youthful look by blending vintage designs to modern and retro-inspired finishes.
9) DLR Custom Builders
2160 41st Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94601
Among the few general contractors based in Oakland that has been serving Berkeley, Oakland, Piedmont, and the East Bay Area for over 30 years, is DLR Custom Builders. DLR Custom Builders specializes in residential restoration and construction, home remodeling, home additions, and in-house design. The company was founded by Daniel Lazaro Ramirez, who had been working in the construction industry since the 1970s. He is a hands-on supervisor leading a team of experienced, competent, and trusted professionals. The company only serves a limited number of clients every year to ensure that full attention is given to each home they build or remodel.
An example of the company’s work is a whole home restoration that was built in the 1940s. The hillside home was last remodeled in the 1970s and needed a master suite, bathroom, and kitchen upgrade. In just three months the house was transformed into a contemporary-style home with unique features such as bamboo kitchen cabinets and slab stone countertops, while a new jacuzzi and a vanity double-sink area were installed in the master bath.
8) Integrity Remodeling, Inc.
PO BOX 3508, Oakland, CA, 94609
Since its establishment in 2001, Integrity Remodeling has been providing home renovations, restorations, new construction, home additions, and other general contracting services in neighborhoods within Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area. The company is owned by Eli Israel, an expert builder who studied Landscape Architecture at the University of Rhode Island. Learning about classical architecture and building designs of New England were some of his inspirations to pursue a career in construction. For 17 years he has maintained the company’s reputation for consistently delivering big and small projects on time and within budget.
An example of his work was featured in Sunset — a local lifestyle magazine. The home was a 100-year-old bungalow that was transformed into a mid-century modern home with a slight touch of Danish theme and style. Integrity Remodeling has also received an award from the city of Piedmont for Best Renovation in 2012.
7) DC Construction, Inc.
1068 44th Avenue, Oakland, CA, 94601
DC Construction, Inc. is one of Oakland’s preferred general contractors, serving multiple cities in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1986. The company provides historical home restoration, ground-up constructions, kitchen and bath remodeling, and seismic upgrading services. The company is capable of building and remodeling small projects worth $40,00, to large projects that are $5 million. It is owned by Donny Chu, a multi-licensed general contractor for building, electrical and plumbing work. His 36 years of experience in the construction industry has helped him provide his clients exceptional project management service and high-quality craftsmanship. One of the company’s most notable projects is a complete renovation of an old home in San Francisco.
The Gordon House renovation cost more than $350,000 which included the custom detailing of wood doors and trims, window replacement, thermal retrofitting, roof replacement and a full bathroom remodel. The company earned a ‘Best of Bay Area’ award from the Alameda Times-Star from 1991 to 2003, and Oakland Tribune in 1999 and 2001.
6) Wolfe, Inc.
544 58th Street, Oakland, CA, 94609
Wolfe, Inc. is one of a small number of design-build remodeling firms based in Oakland City. The company provides residential remodels, exterior installations, commercial renovation/construction, and design and consulting services. Wolfe is owned and operated by Spencer Wolfe, who established the company in 2003 when he discovered his passion for building and creating custom furniture and cabinetry. With 30 years of experience in designing, building and remodeling different types of structures, he has had the opportunity to work on such complex projects as tree houses, Buddhist Temples, large restaurants and tiny cottages.
The skills he acquired from working on various architectural styles makes him a reliable and competent general contractor. His impressive work has earned numerous awards from NARI, including the 2016 REMMIES Award for Residential Bath worth $75,000 to $100,000, and another REMMIES Award for Best Commercial Interior.
5) Design Set Match
825 Page Street, Suite #203, Berkeley, CA, 94710
One of California’s award-winning kitchen and bathroom remodelers and designers is Design Set Match. The company is based in Berkeley but extends their services to multiple cities along the San Francisco Bay Area. It is operated by Alisa Hoffman — the company’s founder and principal designer — along with her senior designer, Irma Harris-Horne. Alisa is a graduate of Academy of Art University with a degree in Interior Design and Architecture. Since the year 2000, she has been remodeling outdated kitchen and baths that were built as old as the early 1900’s.
Many of her clients compliment her excellent listening skills which has become the key to her success in creating designs that impress her customers. Design Set Match has worked on several projects that have received awards and recognition from multiple respected organizations, including the 2012 Best Outbuilding Chrysalis Award, 2017 Regional Winner of NARI’s Contractor of the Year Award, and a community award for Best Remodeling in 2018.
4) Alward Construction Company, Inc.
1035 Carleton Street, Berkeley, CA, 94710-2638
Alward Construction Company, Inc. is a multi-awarded full-service home remodeling and renovation contractor based in Berkeley that serves all areas of the San Francisco Bay Area. With 35 years of experience in the remodeling industry, the company has developed excellent skills in delivering quality craftsmanship, strict cost control, and high attention to detail; attributes that Alward Construction is well known for. The company’s ability to remodel high-end projects — as expensive as $3.5 million — along with its impressive customer service, are the reasons why many of its clients request its remodeling services again and again.
CEO Keith R. Alward believes that giving importance to employee development, maintaining client relationships, and having open communication with everyone involved in a project are key factors in managing a successful business. With his in-depth and practical knowledge in remodeling and renovating homes, Alward Construction has completed several award-winning projects that gained local and national recognition from home improvement organizations and publications such as NARI and the San Francisco Business Times. An example of his work is the rebuild of a 1949 residence which was completely destroyed due to a catastrophic fire. The Orinda Frank Lloyd Wright House was reconstructed into a mid-century modern home with special features such as gold leaf coffered ceilings with custom copper lighting fixture blends and a double fireplace in the dining area. The house won multiple awards, including San Francisco Bay Area NARI Grand Award and the NARI National Contractor of the Year award.
3) HDR Remodeling, Inc.
2952 Sacramento Street Berkeley, CA. 94702
For over 30 years, HDR Remodeling, Inc. has been providing design-build remodeling services in the Berkeley, Alameda, Oakland, Piedmont, and the greater East Bay areas. The company offers kitchen and bathroom remodeling, garage and basement conversions, room additions, outdoor decks, and living spaces, whole-house remodels and accessory dwelling units (ADU). The company works on projects that usually cost up to $90,000 for kitchen remodels, while full house remodels normally cost $100,000 to $500,000. HDR Remodeling has developed a reputation for recreating living spaces through innovative and creative ways to suit the modern lifestyle of homeowners today.
Founder Philip Anderson worked many years for several well-known companies until 1987, when he decided to start his own home remodeling business, which he named Honey Do Repair (HDR). Today, HDR Remodeling is a multi-awarded remodeler by NARI and was named by Remodeling Magazine as one of the Big 50 remodelers in 2011. For two consecutive years, the company was listed as one of the top 550 full-service remodelers by Remodeling 550. In addition, HDR won the 2017 NARI Bay Area Remodeling Award (Judges’ Choice) for Best Residential Kitchen worth $100,001 to $150,000. For this project, HDR installed new luxury fixtures and finishes, more cabinets for storage, and plenty of counter space, which improved the area’s appearance and its functionality as well.
2) Gordon Reese Design Build
3021 Citrus Circle #170, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Gordon Reese Design Build is a home remodeling company with over 33 years of experience in the industry. The firm offers its kitchen, bathroom, whole house remodeling, and room addition services in several cities within the San Francisco East Bay area. The company focuses on transforming existing homes into more comfortable and functional spaces that are suitable for all family members, regardless of their age and physical abilities. Its team of professionals are certified Aging-in-Place Specialists and have mastered the Seven Principles of Universal Design.
With their knowledge of these two aspects of remodeling, the company has completed numerous award-winning projects, including the 2016 1st Place Award of NARI REMMIES Universal Design Recognition for interior remodels worth $75,000 to $150,000. The project was a remodeled master suite in an old home in Concord, which was designed to fit the needs of a family member who uses a wheelchair. The room featured large doors, expansive curbless showers, and easy access closets/drawers, which are all convenient and safe for persons with disabilities. Just last year, Gordon Reese Design Build was named one of America’s Big50 remodeling companies in the country.
1) McCutcheon Construction
1280 Sixth Street, Berkeley, CA, 94710
Named by Oakland Magazine as the Best Building Contractor of Oakland and the East Bay in 2018, McCutcheon Construction is a well known first-rate general contractor in the area. For over 35 years, this company has worked on projects that usually cost up to $5 million. The firm offers several construction services including home remodeling, historical renovation, custom commercial, and specialty projects, all while focusing on environmental sensitivity and commitment to business integrity.
McCutcheon Construction was established in 1980 by Michael McCutcheon, a fourth generation builder who developed his passion for constructing and remodeling homes during his summer job at a home building company in South California. He was a former board member, president, and founding member of the local chapter of the Build It Green organization. Today, he is a member of other prestigious organizations, including NARI San Francisco Bay Area, AIA East Bay, and ASID North CA. In addition to being locally recognized as the best building contractor, national publications including Remodeling Magazine have honored the company as the #1 Full-Service Remodeler in the SF Bay Area.
Recently, McCutcheon Construction won the 2018 Bay Area Remodeling Award for Entire House Over $1M. The single-family home was ravaged by fire in 2015, then renovated by McCutcheon in collaboration with Architect Alexander Jermyn. Upon the request of the homeowner, it was transformed into an art gallery-like contemporary home that features white simple white walls balanced by high-quality materials such as wide plank oak flooring and pure marble countertops to give it a minimalist but elegant look.
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