Last updated on May 21st, 2024 at 06:46 am
Woodside is an interesting place to build in: widely varying terrain and all of the beauty the Bay Area has to offer. It takes a skilled contractor to navigate the challenges that come with that variety, whether it’s a tight lot orientation or a sloped site. And of course, you want to build in such a way that you take full advantage of the scenic views. Our editorial team decided to list some of these contractors who have a proven track record of serving the area.
Many of these companies are long-standing members of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). Many of these firms are headed by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professionals (LEED AP), Certified Green Building Professionals (CGBP). And many are led by or employ Certified Interior Decorators (CID). The people heading these firms and staffing their teams have spent many years learning the ins and outs of building.
Mulhall Construction
1654 24th Ave. San Francisco, CA 94122
Mulhall Construction has been building and remodeling homes in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area since 2004. Principal Adrian Mulhall is a third-generation carpenter who started working with both his father and grandfather in the family trade at an early age in his native Ireland. He went on to work in New York, remodeling bars, nightclubs, and hotels. He was a project manager for a large construction firm in San Francisco before starting Mulhall Construction. The company also works on multifamily and commercial projects and is known for its seismic retrofitting work across California.
Mulhall built this kitchen and breakfast area in Potrero Hill with a semi-open layout. The crisp neutral tones make the space look even wider, as light floods in through large glass windows, which also offer great views of the city. The intimate breakfast nook for four sits at the end of the bar that bridges to the kitchen, with a wine rack built into its other end.
Matthew W. Johnson General Contractor
724 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont, CA 94002
Matt Johnson, NKBA, started in the construction industry in 1974 as a laborer before earning his Journeyman Carpenter’s certificate in 1981. From his apprenticeship till after his graduation, he worked with different firms in California, in a variety of roles from foreman to superintendent, on projects such as the Simpson Bible College remodel and the construction of Pier 39 at Fisherman’s Wharf. He started his own practice in 1983.
Johnson completed this addition of a new driveway, sidewalk, gutter, and curb to a home in San Carlos in 2019. He also lit up the façade of the house with recessed lights and installed step lights. Other updates include clerestory and shuttered windows along the front room for privacy and muted light, a new peninsula bar to expand the kitchen and create more room to entertain guests, and a refurbished hallway.
Best Construction
2386 Maywood Ave. San Jose, CA 95128
The owners of this San Jose home wanted a warm atmosphere in what they called the “heart of the house,” so Best Construction remodeled the kitchen in a Mediterranean style. Organic materials were used, such as the raw wood that lines the cabinets, window toppers, and range hood. These were combined with iron accents in the handles, chandelier, faucet, and table and chair set. The heavy elements are set against a light Tuscan yellow wall and granite countertop bordered by brick backsplash.
President Sergiu Deac founded the company in 2003, a couple of years after earning his degree in Science and Engineering of Materials from the Technical University of Cluj Napoca in Transylvania. Together with his wife, Anamaria, Best Construction’s chief designer, Deac and his team provide a wide range of construction services for both residential and commercial clients in Santa Clara and San Mateo.
Bruch Construction Co.
2995 Woodside Rd. Ste 400, Woodside, CA 94062-2448
Martin Bruch studied to become a general contractor after moving from Memphis to San Francisco in 1988. He started his own practice in 1991. He has since worked on many residential projects, from remodels to additions to restorations. He has also done commercial and industrial work, including projects for BART and Caltrans.
Bruch Construction has worked on this three-story San Francisco home multiple times over ten years. The latest project was a sunroom addition, with intricate moldings, a gold-leaf ceiling, leaded glass window panels, custom lighting, and retractable awnings. Above it is a roof deck with custom wrought iron guardrails. Bruch also built an outdoor fireplace and a custom pergola with a 22-foot span for the property.
W.H. Hendry Company
2995 Woodside Rd. Suite 400, Woodside, CA 94062
W.H. Hendry Company has been building and remodeling homes in the Bay Area for over 35 years. The LEED AP company has been creating efficient homes that mesh well with the environment even before green building became popular, and it’s a member of Build It Green. Bay Area native Principal Wallace Hendry brings this experience and attention to detail to every project, whether it’s a small kitchen or a new residence.
The light wood finish of this master bath in Menlo Park brightens up the space. Large windows and skylights bordering the tub allow even more light into the room. Tube and recessed lights are placed in front of the wide mirror above the double vanity, which features a kids’ sink and custom drawers and cabinets.
Ryan & Ryan Construction
423 Littlefield Ave. South San Francisco, CA 94080
Ryan & Ryan Construction completely renovated this 1922 five-bedroom corner lot San Francisco Edwardian house, removing interior walls to create an open layout for the kitchen, dining room, and family rooms. The kitchen was also fitted with new custom cabinets, marble tops, and a center island. Walls were also removed and door openings were expanded in the master bedroom to bring in more light and space. New oak hardwood floors, electrical and lighting systems, plumbing, audio, and visual systems, and a gas-powered fireplace were also installed.
Ryan and Ryan Construction was started by Gary Ryan as a painting business in 1985. Gary’s brother Chad soon came on board, and the business expanded to building and renovating homes. Aside from serving homeowners in the Bay Area, the company also does commercial work, including the complete renovation of a Kate Spade store in New York.
Norwell
960 North San Antonio Rd. #121, Los Altos, CA 94022
Norwell provides residential construction services throughout the San Francisco Peninsula, focusing on whole house remodels, room additions, and new homes. Partners Michael Sullivan and Ian Wheeler—both graduates of the Savannah College of Art and Design—listen closely to each client and collaborate with them to tap into their home’s full potential through thoughtful and innovative design.
This remodel of a San Carlos home is true to the Craftsman style, from its dramatically low-pitched roof to the small covered porch. The centerpiece of the living room is the stone-clad fireplace, flanked by built-in display and storage cabinets. The kitchen’s U-shaped layout offers a lot of room to move around and includes a small center island, cabinets, and a back door all painted white against a soft turquoise wall. It’s lit by a radiant ceiling.
Dimensional Construction
220 Todo El Mundo, Woodside, CA 94062
Fourth-generation builder John Merwin was passionate about building even before starting high school. He always dreamt of having his own construction company, and for over 30 years, he has led Dimensional Construction in building homes for the Bay Area.
Dimensional Construction remodeled the bathroom of this Palo Alto home to an Arts and Crafts style. A stone-clad wall serves as the backdrop to the wood-framed freestanding tub, in keeping with the dark wood finish of the cabinets and drawers below the double vanity, which lend a subtle Asian aesthetic, along with the encased warm tube lights. The shower area is bordered by a glass wall and door and supported by a white cement half-wall for some privacy. The dark wood tones continue in the enclosing room and the rest of the house.
Springs Construction
881 Hurlingame Ave. Redwood City, CA 94063
In the process of adding 1,000 square feet of new living space to accommodate family visits, a new master bedroom suite, reading room, workshop, and laundry room, this Palo Alto home was restored to its original 19th-century Victorian design. Springs Construction uncovered the original millwork as they peeled back the walls, which they had replicated with one of their millwork houses. Double-glazed windows designed to look like the originals were also installed, along with other green building solutions, such as a whole house fan, built in a muffler box to reduce noise, Title 24-compliant kitchen and bath lighting, and new energy-star rated appliances.
Modern restoration of California homes is just one of Springs Construction’s specialties. The team has been building and renovating homes from San Jose to San Francisco and throughout the Peninsula since 1959. At the helm is third-generation home builder Jim Adkins, who currently sits as president. Adkins learned construction from the ground up, starting as a journeyman carpenter, and has built over 400,000 square feet of custom homes in his thirty years of building. He remains hands-on on Springs’ different projects, whether it’s a fire restoration or a new green home.
Alftin Construction
2995 Woodside Rd. #400-550, Woodside, CA 94062
This Central Woodside home offers magnificent views of the mountains and bay across its 2.97-acre park-like grounds. The contemporary remodel includes five bedrooms with 5.5 bathrooms, an office, a bonus room, and a wine cellar. It has an open floor plan from the kitchen to the dining room and is bridged to the outdoors by four glass wall systems. The 1.5-acre flat backyard area includes a pool, a spa, a large lawn, an al fresco dining patio, and a tennis court.
Jenine Alftin and her team at Alftin Construction completed this remodel in 2017. The family-owned company has been building in the Bay Area for over 30 years, collaborating with clients for custom estate homes or complex custom remodels. Alftin Construction builds select projects each year, always maintaining a commitment to quality and attention to detail and working closely with architects and engineers.
Silicon Valley Custom Homes
682 Villa St. Suite #C1, Mountain View, CA 94041
This home in Mountain View was rebuilt from an 877-square-foot, three-bedroom, one-bath residence to a 1,925-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-bath property. A new concrete foundation was poured with 16”x16” rebar, making the home earthquake-resistant. Energy-efficient features were also added, such as LED lighting, hybrid gas and electric hook-up for the kitchen stove and laundry room, and a two-stage thermal control unit for the air conditioner and furnace. Other features include walk-in closets in the two master suites, a jacuzzi corner tub, and a built-in entertainment system.
Silicon Valley Custom Homes completed this project in 2017. Founders Jenny Kang and Min Lee work with a team of builders and designers to produce top-quality homes in the Bay Area. Kang has lived on the South Bay for 15 years and found her passion in designing and building for the area; Lee is a building contractor and project manager who worked on his first project in Pacifica 15 years ago.
SEA Construction, Inc.
1009 S. Railroad Ave. San Mateo, CA 94402
Third generation custom home builder and remodeler Steve Albert founded SEA Construction, Inc. in 1989 to be a deviation from the traditional “design to production” model rife with the misuse of time and resources. Together with his team—many of whom have been with the company for over 20 years—Albert makes sure to minimize waste and scheduling delays even as he ensures the quality and safety of each project. SEA Construction has since built over 3,500 homes in the San Francisco Bay Area. Albert also founded Peninsula Siding Company two years later in 1991.
Winner of the Regional Chrysalis Award, SEA Construction’s contemporary remodel of this Belmont kitchen features custom cabinetry all-across, including the fridge front, matching the bar stools, as well as the color schemes of the living and dining room on either side. A panoramic view of the city can be seen from the windows above the granite countertops.
Greenberg Construction
904 Industrial Ave. Palo Alto, California 94303
Greenberg Construction reimagined this mid-century modern Mackay home to provide the clients the space they wanted to entertain guests. The team took down a center wall and brick fireplace between the kitchen and dining areas, recreating an open floor plan and creating space for a seven by four-foot island brightened by a skylight. Custom white and navy blue cabinets were added to help maximize the space, a complement to the combination of silvery gray and white tones, and dark wood used throughout the structure as well. Large glass panels along the entryways—most notably leading to the open back patio—light up the rest of the home.
Founder and CEO Maor Greenberg, NARI, NAHB, has been in the construction industry for over 15 years and has led Greenberg Construction in building for the modern lifestyle in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles since 2010. Clients especially appreciate Greenberg’s project managers for their responsiveness and efficient work. This earned them a spot among US Building News’ Best of the Best California Contractors in 2019.
Timeline Design + Build
14401 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070
Winner of multiple NARI and NKBA awards over the last decade, Timeline Design + Build has been building homes on the San Francisco Peninsula since 1990. President Matthew Harrigan, CGBP, CID, has been working in construction from the age of 16, later taking up electrical and civil engineering. His hands-on experience gives him a deep understanding of building, architecture, and interior design—experience he and his team bring to every project. Harrigan also served as NARI San Francisco Bay Area chapter president from 1999-2000.
Timeline is currently building this contemporary lodge-style home in Woodside. Artful landscaping will line the steps up the single-story structure’s covered porch, as stone cladding accentuates its base and wraps around the rest of the exterior. Broad windows will bring light into the interior, as well as the garage on the far right.
Home Quality Remodeling
1070 Concord Ave. Suite 125, Concord, CA, 94520
Trusted by homeowners in the Bay Area and San Jose since 2004, Home Quality Remodeling (HQR) has completed over 500 projects from kitchen and bath remodels to additions and full home renovations. The full remodel of this uniquely steep-pitched Arts & Crafts-style home in Danville features a traditional interior, yet offers a unique character adapted for each room’s dweller. Victorian design defines the sitting rooms, dining room, kitchen, and master’s bed and bathroom. That adult tone is contrasted in the children’s rooms, which feature bright colors and statement pieces such as a wooden sliding door and window sill beds with built-in drawers. A lot of room for movement is noticeable in each space, even those bordered by the steep ceilings.
HQR has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and ranked 192nd in Qualified Remodeler’s 2020 Top 500 list. Clients appreciate the team’s quick and proactive response to challenges that come up in building. Clients often have their expectations surpassed by HQR’s skilled and professional project managers.
