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General Contractor in San Francisco, California

Our home turf. 12+ years, 500+ projects, and the deepest knowledge of DBI permitting in the city.

Or call (650) 771-5817
0+Years in Business
0+Projects Completed
0.0Star Rated
0Surprise Bills
0%Client Satisfaction
0+Years in Business
0+Projects Completed
0.0Star Rated
0Surprise Bills
0%Client Satisfaction

San Francisco is where Gadget Construction was founded, where we've completed the majority of our 500+ projects, and where we know the construction landscape better than anywhere else. From the Victorian rowhouses of the Mission to the Edwardian flats of the Richmond, from the steep slopes of Twin Peaks to the fill-soil challenges of the Marina — we've built in every neighborhood.

SF's construction environment is uniquely complex. The Department of Building Inspection runs one of the most rigorous permitting processes in the country. Soft-story retrofit is mandatory for thousands of buildings. Seismic codes are among the strictest in California. And the housing stock — much of it 80–120+ years old — presents challenges that only experience can navigate.

This is our city. We know the soil conditions by neighborhood. We know which DBI plan checkers review which types of projects. We know the contractors who cut corners and the ones who don't. And we've built our reputation here, project by project, for over a decade.

Population

870,000

Median Home Value

$1.5M

Permits

SF Department of Building Inspection (DBI)

Housing

Victorians from 1850s–1900s

Local Insight

Nobody Knows DBI Like We Do

San Francisco's Department of Building Inspection is notoriously complex to navigate. We've processed hundreds of permits through DBI — for remodels, ADUs, foundations, and seismic retrofits. We know the submission requirements, the review timeline expectations, and the inspection standards. When you hire us, you don't touch a single permit form.

Exterior Repairs in San Francisco

What San Francisco's Weather Does to Your Home

San Francisco's housing stock punishes exterior finishes. Fog-belt neighborhoods like the Sunset and Richmond sit in a permanent moisture envelope — Doelger rowhouses from the 1930s–50s with their stucco-over-shiplap sheathing are the classic failure case, where water finds every missed kickout flashing around bay windows. Victorian and Edwardian homes carry their own dry rot risks at cornices, bay trim, and ground-floor water tables. We've repaired stucco, dry rot, and siding on every housing type this city has built.

Dry Rot, Stucco & Siding Repair

San Francisco Construction FAQ

SF's mandatory program requires owners of wood-frame, multi-unit buildings (typically 3+ stories with ground-floor parking) to seismically retrofit their structures. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake could render 90% of unreinforced soft-story buildings uninhabitable. We handle the engineering, permitting, and construction for soft-story retrofits.
Yes — SF specifically allows ADU construction as part of the soft-story retrofit process. This lets you offset retrofit costs with rental income from the new unit. We coordinate both projects simultaneously to minimize disruption and cost.
Victorian remodels in San Francisco typically run $250–$500 per square foot. Complex rooflines, balloon framing, plaster walls, and original details require specialized knowledge. Kitchen remodels average $100,000–$200,000. Whole-home renovations: $300,000–$700,000+ depending on scope.
All of them. Mission, Sunset, Richmond, Noe Valley, Pacific Heights, SOMA, Potrero Hill, Bernal Heights, Twin Peaks, Glen Park, Bayview, Excelsior, the Marina, and everywhere in between. We've completed 500+ projects across San Francisco.
Simple remodel permits: 4–8 weeks. Kitchen/bath with structural changes: 8–16 weeks. ADU permits: 12–20 weeks. Full renovation or new construction: 16–24+ weeks. SF's permit timeline is longer than most Bay Area cities, but our experience with DBI helps minimize delays.
Significantly. Homes in the Marina and SOMA sit on fill soil with high liquefaction risk. The Sunset and Richmond have expansive clay that shifts with moisture. Hillside neighborhoods (Twin Peaks, Noe Valley, Pacific Heights) face slope and drainage challenges. We assess your specific site conditions before recommending a solution.

Ready to Start Your San Francisco Project?

Get a free estimate for your San Francisco project. We respond in minutes — and we know San Francisco County construction inside out.

Or call (650) 771-5817 — talk to a real person, not a call center.
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