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General Contractor in Berkeley, California

Craftsman home renovations, seismic retrofits, and ADU construction in one of the Bay Area's most architecturally significant cities.

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0+Years in Business
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0.0Star Rated
0Surprise Bills
0%Client Satisfaction

Berkeley's housing stock is a history lesson in Bay Area architecture. Craftsman bungalows from the early 1900s. Stucco Mediterranean villas from the 1920s. Brown-shingle masterpieces nestled in the hills. These homes have character that new construction can't replicate — and structural challenges that new construction doesn't face.

Renovating a Berkeley home means working with wood-frame construction that's 80–120 years old, navigating one of the most progressive building codes in California (Berkeley was the first city in the US to ban natural gas in new construction), and often dealing with the Hayward Fault running through the eastern hills.

We approach Berkeley projects with the respect these homes deserve. We don't gut a 1910 Craftsman and install generic finishes — we preserve what matters, upgrade what's needed, and engineer what the original builders couldn't. Foundation bolting. Proper drainage. Energy-efficient systems that meet Berkeley's stringent green building requirements.

Population

122,000

Median Home Value

$1.4M

Permits

City of Berkeley

Housing

Median construction year 1944 — one of the oldest in the Bay Area

Local Insight

Craftsman Homes Need Craftsman-Level Care

Berkeley has one of the highest concentrations of Craftsman-era homes in California. These homes feature old-growth timber framing, original millwork, built-in cabinetry, and details that would cost a fortune to reproduce today. Renovation should preserve these elements while upgrading the structure, systems, and seismic resilience. It takes a contractor who sees the difference between a detail worth saving and a problem that needs fixing.

Exterior Repairs in Berkeley

What Berkeley's Weather Does to Your Home

Berkeley's Craftsman and brown-shingle homes are some of the most beautiful in the Bay Area — and some of the most moisture-vulnerable. Original redwood and cedar shingles were built to last 50+ years with proper maintenance, but by the third or fourth coat of paint, dry rot behind the trim and at the foundation water table is often already advanced. Stucco homes across north Berkeley and the hills carry their own failure patterns at parapet walls and chimney flashings. We've worked on homes from the 1910s through mid-century across every Berkeley neighborhood.

Craftsman Home Dry Rot & Siding Repair

Berkeley Construction FAQ

Craftsman renovations in Berkeley typically run $250–$450 per square foot. Preservation-focused projects that maintain original millwork, built-ins, and character details cost more than gut-and-replace approaches. Kitchen remodels average $90,000–$180,000. We provide itemized estimates that separate preservation work from modernization.
Yes. Berkeley has some of the most progressive energy and building codes in California. Remodels above certain thresholds trigger Title 24 energy compliance, and Berkeley was the first US city to ban natural gas in new construction. We're fully current on Berkeley's requirements and build to code every time.
Very serious. The Hayward Fault runs through the Berkeley Hills. Homes on or near the fault face significant seismic risk, especially pre-1940 homes with unbolted foundations. Seismic retrofitting is one of our core services — we assess, engineer, and install foundation bolting and cripple wall bracing.
Berkeley is one of the top ADU-building cities in the Bay Area. Detached ADUs up to 1,200 sq ft are permitted on most residential lots. Note: Berkeley currently requires owner-occupancy for ADU properties. We handle the full design-build process including Berkeley's specific requirements.
Berkeley permit review typically takes 8–16 weeks for remodels and 12–20 weeks for ADUs and new construction. Berkeley's building department has specific green building and historic preservation requirements that can extend review. We prepare code-compliant submittals that minimize back-and-forth.
Yes. The Berkeley Hills are designated WUI fire zones, requiring fire-resistant roofing, siding, and defensible space. We install fire-rated materials and design projects that meet the Hills Overlay requirements. Retaining walls and decks in the hills are built to fire-zone standards.

Also Serving

Nearby Cities We Serve

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