Last updated on May 21st, 2024 at 03:33 am
Best known for its picturesque shores prominently used on the silver screen, the 27-mile long strip of paradise that is Malibu has, time and again, been regarded as one of the most beautiful communities in the Los Angeles area. Malibu’s population of 20,000 enjoys an excellent range of amenities including shops, movie theaters, schools, parks, and—of course—the beach. Residents looking to move into the area can expect a diverse and extensive variety of real estate—from modest, canyon homes to luxurious beachfront and mountain top estates. The area is divided into distinct neighborhoods and offers many exclusive, gated communities for clients looking for a bit more privacy.
Our editorial team curated this list of the best general contractors in Malibu. These are the minds behind some of the country’s most beautiful homes and spaces. These firms were chosen for their experience, skills, and business acumen. Each offers unique services and many have had the honor of being featured in various publications.
Allen Construction
1545 Sawtelle Blvd, Suite 22 Los Angeles, CA 90025
The project pictured below is of an entire house remodel and an accessory dwelling unit provided by Allen Construction. This remodel features a timeless Montecito Spanish Colonial theme and spans 4,300 square feet, while its addition is 800 square feet. The firm’s team was tasked with updating the main entry, making several small additions, and providing all new finishes throughout the main house. The firm also provided new landscaping and hardscaping. Inside, you’ll see bold wallpaper accents, amazing high gloss paint finishes, and unique plumbing and light fixtures. It was completed in collaboration with The Warner Group and Earthform Design and is only one of the firm’s numerous excellent spaces. Its portfolio also depicts several other estates rendered in a variety of architectural styles. Some of these include Andalusian-inspired mansions, French chateaus, and modern beachfront homes.
The firm’s work has been published in magazines such as Qualified Remodeler. It is also the proud recipient of a multitude of awards and is proud to have been listed in noteworthy articles highlighting the nation’s best, including Pro Remodeler’s National 40 Under 40. The firm also employs several sustainability efforts in its projects, making its homes both environment-friendly and efficient.
Armfield Design & Construction
28990 Pacific Coast Highway #109 Mailbu, CA 90265
Founded in 1983, Armfield Design & Construction offers a complete and comprehensive range of services. It specializes in designing and building high-quality, sustainable, green buildings. At the firm’s helm is Mark Armfield, the firm’s founder and a California native. He is a former Chamber of Commerce director and served three terms as president of the Malibu Association of Contractors. He also participated in Malibu’s Sustainable Building Committee. His leadership has guided the firm towards its green building and design efforts. He also founded the non-profit organization RainCatcher, which advocates for communities to harvest and filter rainwater.
The renovation above is the firm’s Morning View Drive project. It is located across from the famous Zuma Beach and features several balconies and custom windows that provide wonderful views of the water. Some of the more unique additions also included a rainwater harvesting system, which allows the homeowner to use reclaimed water for all of its landscape maintenance.
Babineau Construction
24955 CA-1 #A203, Malibu, CA 90265
With a history dating as far back as the 1800s, Babineau Construction is one of the oldest, most reliable contractors on this list. The company offers a full and comprehensive range of services and is experienced in all phases of construction, from concept to completion, and specializes in home remodeling and renovation. The firm is fully insured and bonded and has worked in some of the area’s best communities: Bel Air, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood. Prior to its focusing on residential projects, some of its founders had the opportunity to work on building on motion picture sets, particularly for director Victor Fleming’s “Gone With the Wind.” Now on its second generation of builders, the firm’s team assists with the nitty-gritty details: carpentry, electrical systems, and material selection. The firm strives to include various green building techniques in its processes.
Showcased above is one of the firm’s best Malibu estates. It is a six-acre estate that overlooks the ocean. The firm’s team remodeled the entirety of the main house, about 9,100 square feet. The firm also revitalized the 1,400-square-foot guest house. The entire property was re-landscaped in a tropical theme.
Dana Benson Construction
31826 Village Center Rd. Suite B Westlake Village, CA 91361
Dana Benson Construction (DBC) is a Los Angeles-based company that offers a full range of construction services spanning high-end new construction, renovations, remodels, and green building for residential and light commercial projects. Dana Benson leads its team. He holds a degree in Geography with an emphasis in Cartography from the University of California and Berkeley. While studying at university, Mr. Benson had the opportunity to work on several construction projects on campus and developed his skills as a result. Later on, he would launch DBC and since then, he has worked on over a hundred projects, varying in size and scale, in both residential and commercial construction throughout Southern California.
The firm’s process emphasizes the importance of crafting seamless project environments. It achieves that effortless feel through coordinating with its clients throughout the duration of the project as well as tight scheduling and careful prioritization of the budget and planning phases. The firm’s portfolio depicts a diverse range of spaces, varying from the most traditional to the latest contemporary architecture.
Forest Construction
3302 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Westlake Village, CA 91362
Now in its third generation of builders, Forest Construction is led by Ernesto Sepulveda as a family-owned and operated business that specializes in luxury new home construction, home additions and large-scale home remodels. The company draws from nearly four decades of experience and has secured a solid reputation for itself with an excellent clientele list and has collaborated with numerous leading architects and sub-contractors throughout Malibu and the surrounding Ventura and Los Angeles counties of Southern California.
Featured here is an ongoing Forest Construction project that has gained attention in Malibu for its modern contemporary flair. The company collaborated with Douglas Burdge and Anna Mattioli from the award-winning team at Burdge Architects to bring this dream home to life. The 6,407-square-foot estate has an Olympic-sized pool and floor-to-ceiling folding doors that open the home to magnificent views of the ocean from Catalina to the Santa Cruz Islands.
Greenworks Construction & Design
20301 Ventura Blvd. #222 Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Greenworks Construction & Design assists throughout the building process, from conception to completion. The firm specializes in large-scale residential remodels and has been particularly noted for its excellent kitchen, bathroom, exterior, and interior renovations. It extends these services throughout Southern California and is regarded as a leading builder. The firm is a family-owned and operated business that is insured and bonded, with coverage up to $12M. The firm employs its own team of in-house interior designers who employ 3D design methods to ensure accurate plans; that process lessens the possibility of major revisions during the process. The firm provides detailed proposals and always finishes all of its homes and spaces on time and within the agreed-upon budget. Greenworks’ projects have been featured in various publications, as well as on television. Some of its most notable features include being on Bravo TV’s “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” and HGTV’s “House Hunters Renovation.”
The master bathroom remodel above showcases the firm’s skill and expertise in traditional themes. For this space, the Greenworks team opted for clean marble finishes and flooring. Beautiful custom cabinetry can also be observed.
Jones Builders Group
21323 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90265
The Jones Builders Group is a premier residential contractor that operates out of its office in Malibu. It extends its services throughout the Los Angeles metro area and employs a highly personalized approach. It draws inspiration from over two decades of industry experience and has secured a name for itself for constructing and designing some of the most beautiful homes in Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Venice, Santa Monica, and Brentwood. Nathan Jones and Charvet lead the firm’s team. Originally from Wales, Jones has been living in the area since 2001 and has crafted countless bespoke homes. As for Charvet, people may remember him from his work on television and film particularly for his work on “Melrose Place” and “Baywatch.” He is, however, multifaceted and is a top-tier developer of high-end homes. He offers the firm’s clients extensive experience in terms of boutique home construction, which has resulted in numerous excellent spec and custom homes.
The firm’s projects have been featured in several publications including Malibu Magazine and the Los Angeles Times. The firm’s work is often distinguished by its impressive ability to infuse modern touches into otherwise classic designs. Its portfolio also depicts an extensive range of architecture: Spanish Colonial, contemporary, Cape Cod, and modern-themed homes are all represented. The firm has, on occasion, taken on commercial projects.
Kavin Construction
3814 Willat Avenue Culver City, CA 90232
With nearly five decades of industry experience, Kavin Construction takes great pride in being one of Los Angeles’s premier residential contractors. The firm provides exceptional service and since its inception the firm has developed long-lasting relationships with its interesting clientele. Kavin offers a variety of home remodeling services that encompass large-scale home remodels, kitchen and bathroom renovations, pool construction, and accessory dwelling units. The firm is capable of taking on projects regardless of scale or complexity. Its portfolio depicts an extensive range of homes and spaces, ranging from complex homes that sit on the hills of Los Angeles to beachfront properties along the Pacific coastline. It comes as no surprise that the firm has been recognized multiple times in Architectural Digest, Harper’s Bazaar, and InStyle Magazine.
Michael Kavin leads the firm. He ensures that all of the firm’s projects receive the benefit of his experience and assists throughout the entire process. He and his team follow a highly meticulous process best suited to California’s architectural scene. The firm’s portfolio depicts a variety of designs: traditional, classic craftsman, transitional, Spanish Colonials, and contemporary.
RL Remodeling
20812 Ventura Blvd Suite #210, Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Headquartered in Los Angeles, RL Remodeling specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodels, backyard revamps, home additions, garage conversions, and accessory dwelling units. It also, of course, works on new home construction projects and, from time to time, commercial spaces. The firm provides its services at competitive prices and provides homeowners with direct access to its contractor discounts at various wholesale suppliers. That access allows for a 40% discount on materials, including appliances, tiles, flooring, countertop slabs, and fixtures. All of the firm’s projects are overseen by a project manager who will be there for clients 24/7. The firm also employs its own in-house team of professional architects and designers, allowing it to keep the entire process in the company.
The firm’s projects have graced the pages of numerous publications and have also been featured several times on TV. Showcased above is one of the firm’s best remodels. For this large-scale renovation, the firm opted for a modern design underlined by a recurring theme of straight lines. The clean minimalist black and white palette is complemented by the concrete exterior finishes.
SES Builders
15643 Sherman Way # 120 Van Nuys, CA 91406
SES Builders provides clients a complete range of home remodeling services but is perhaps best noted for its excellent kitchen and bathroom remodels. The firm adheres to the highest standards and uses the latest methods to ensure the quality of its work. Interested clients can take advantage of the firm’s free consultation services. SES is noted for its excellent and comprehensive planning phases that are fool-proof and allow for minimal to zero revisions. The firm is meticulous throughout the entire process and assists with the smallest of details, including the all-important material selection.
In the complete remodel above, the firm’s team crafted an open-concept floor plan. It features wood-paneled floors, various overhead studio-like fixtures, and clean finishes. Tiled backsplashes can also be observed, as well as a unique kitchen island that features several compartments and also serves as a breakfast bar.
