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Expert General Contractor, Home Remodeling, & Skylight Services

If your property could benefit from remodeling, or you have a structural problem that needs to be fixed, finding an experienced general contractor that can deliver dependable results on your project is absolutely essential.

Home Remodeling
General Contracting

Skylights

Serving San Francisco and East Bay Since 1983

With more than three decades of successful trading behind us, we are an established building firm that has worked on jobs of all shapes and sizes. Our wide range of trade expertise and commitment to doing the very best job possible ensures we’re the preferred residential general contractors for many local homes.

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Our Services

We can work on homes, domestic properties, and most business premises, providing a responsive remodeling service that enables you to transform your workspace to better meet your business needs. To find out more about our wide range of services, or to discuss your project with us in more detail, you can call us at (925) 671-9500 (East Bay office) or (415) 447-6136 (San Francisco office).

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Home Remodeling Services

With a wealth of expertise for over 40 years, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights is your reliable partner in home remodeling. We’ve worked with residences of various ages and architectural styles, and we’re dedicated to helping you create exquisite and energy-efficient home renovations.
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Kitchen Remodeling Services

General Contracting

Whether you want a new deck, a retaining wall, or need foundation repair or basement waterproofing, you want a general contractor with experience and integrity. Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights offers both, with over 40 years experience and great reviews, you can be sure your project is completed efficiently and on time.
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Skylights

You can’t go wrong with your commercial or residential skylight installation or replacement project if you go with Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights. As a VELUX 5-Star Skylight Specialist, we offer many innovative and high-quality skylight solutions that can impact your property’s lighting and ambiance.
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40
Years of Experience

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area for 40 Years

Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, Inc. is a longstanding partnership of 40 years between Archie Mares, Dennis Dow and hundreds of great customers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. We are a general contractor, building custom homes, additions, home remodeling, skylights, retaining wall construction and commercial remodeling.

Maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction, we are proud to have provided our customers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area with quality construction and home improvement services for 40 years. With half of our new clients coming to us from referrals, it’s no secret that our customers/friends are truly pleased with the work we do.

  • Over 40 Years of Bay Area Expertise
  • Hands-On Leadership
  • Dual Licensed Expertise
  • VELUX 5-Star Skylight Specialists
  • Referral-Driven Reputation
  • Seismic-Safe, Design-Focused Construction
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Philosophy

Quality and service come first. We approach every job, big or small, with the same care and attention to detail we’d give our own homes. Our team combines time-tested building practices with modern innovation to deliver results that stand the test of time.

Get In Touch

Ready to start your next project? Whether you’re planning a home remodel, skylight installation, or foundation repair, our team is here to help.

Reach out to us for a free consultation. We’ll listen, offer expert guidance, and provide a detailed estimate tailored to your goals.

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Our Mission

To enhance the lives of Bay Area homeowners through expert construction, thoughtful design, and dependable service. For over 40 years, our mission has remained simple: build with integrity, serve with pride, and create spaces our clients love to live in.

Values

We believe in integrity, craftsmanship, and lasting relationships. Every project is built on honesty, transparency, and respect - for our clients, our partners, and the homes we’re entrusted to improve.

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Excellence in Every Build

Every project tells a story of craftsmanship, collaboration, and care. From custom home additions to elegant skylight installations, our gallery showcases the quality and attention to detail that define Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights.

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Our Service Area

  • Alameda
  • Alamo
  • Albany
  • Benicia
  • Concord
  • Berkeley
  • Danville
  • Dublin
  • El Cerrito
  • Hercules
  • Lafayette
  • Martinez
  • Moraga
  • Oakland
  • Orinda
  • Pinole
  • Piedmont
  • Pleasant Hill
  • Pleasanton
  • Richmond
  • San Francisco
  • San Ramon
  • Walnut Creek
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Benefits of Going with Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights

Experience & Accreditations

Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights is certified and accredited by the best manufacturers in the industry. From Grip-Tite Foundation Systems, to James Hardie Siding, to VELUX Skylights, you can be sure to get the highest quality products for whatever your project.

Knowledge & Expertise

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area for over 40 years with quality general contracting, home remodeling, and skylight installation means you'll get the benefits of our expertise for every project.

Proven Customer Satisfaction

Maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction, we are proud to have provided our customers throughout the San Francisco Bay Area with quality construction and home improvement services for 40 years. With half of our new clients coming to us from referrals, it’s no secret that our customers/friends are truly pleased with the work we do.

Ready to bring your vision to life?

Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your dream project into reality.
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Words of Appreciation from Our Valued Clients

At Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, we believe great service is its own reward. Every satisfied client, glowing review, and lasting relationship reminds us why we’ve dedicated over 40 years to building with integrity, craftsmanship, and care.

Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights installed a large Velux skylight for me in August 2017. The entire experience was wonderful and the skylight is beautiful, both functionally and aesthetically. Janet made sure the work was scheduled to be completed before a trip I had planned. Jimmy measured carefully when he quoted the work and even accommodated a last minute change on the location when he arrived to do the work. They protected my new floors and were careful to keep dust to a minimum. Archie came by to ensure that all was going smoothly. Freddy helped matched the stain on my nearly 70 year old tongue and grove ceiling that really took some effort and he even matched some a few small spots that a previous contractor had sanded and removed the original stain. EVERYONE was cheerful and knowledgeable. Now, my little mid century house has emerged into the light!

Norma B. San Francisco, California

Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights replaced two aging skylights in our bedroom and installed automatic blinds on four skylights. This was not an easy job, since our bedroom has very very high cathedral ceilings. In fact, one other skylight installer refused to do the job altogether, and a second made a bid that was almost twice as expensive as Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights. Janet Mares, who was our main contact for the job, was a pleasure to work with. Her son, Jimmy, who led the installation, was fearless climbing the ceiling, and he eally knew his stuff. We’re thrilled with our new and improved skylights, and we appreciate Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights’ solid, reasonably priced, work. Thanks guys!

Aaron R. Concord, California

I’ve had Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights install 3 sun tunnels in my home and most recently, 2 skylights in my garage/art studio. I couldn’t be more satisfied with the quality of their work and professionalism! All my communications with their office and installers have been extremely pleasant. I would use them again (and again) and highly recommend them to anyone looking to install Velux skylights/sun tunnels in their home!

Myla L. Concord, California

Being a new homeowner, i really did my research before having someone come out and give me a quote on a skylight. You never know what to believe when you read yelp reviews. So, i went ahead and had Jimmy from mares and dow come out and give me an estimate. He was right on time, came out and measured and was very professional while he was here. Janet called me a few days later and sent me over an estimate. I went them them and couldn’t be happier. It arrived in the time frame she had told me, and they were out that week. The workers came out on time, and were very friendly and professional. Dennis ( one of the owners) came out as well and checked on the job. The went above and beyond with their work. The skylight looks beautiful! Night and day from the old one. If you are wanting a skylight, i strongly reccomend going with mare and dow

Chris W. Walnut Creek, California

We had Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights install a Velux skylight in our new master bathroom. The space was small and dark, so Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights suggested a big skylight to add in lots of natural light. They built in a double crown molding to beautifully frame the skylight, and now the space is open and airy with wonderful natural light. We can open the skylight during warm months to let in fresh air. It was a superb addition to our bathroom renovation and a great suggestion from Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights. They did a fantastic job and were great to work with! Thanks guys!

Jennifer S. Walnut Creek, California

Building Knowledge: Insights From 40 Years of Craftsmanship

At Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, sharing knowledge is part of our commitment to great service. Our blog offers expert tips, project insights, and inspiration drawn from decades of experience building and remodeling homes across the Bay Area.
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Historic Home Remodeling Contractor

Why Is Experience Critical When Hiring A Historic Home Remodeling Contractor In San Ramon, CA?

June 28, 2026 No Comments

Experience is critical when hiring a historic home remodeling contractor in San Ramon because the risk profile is totally different than normal home remodeling: the materials are touchy, the structure is full of oddball assemblies, the safety hazards are real, and the approval path can quietly bully your scope, your schedule, and your budget. A lot of people start this search with the same assumption: “A good general contractor is a good general contractor.” In

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Can A Historic Home Remodeling Contractor In Danville, CA Add Space Without Ruining Proportions?

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Yes, a historic home remodeling contractor in Danville can add space without wrecking the proportions, but only if the addition is treated like a supporting actor, not the main character. That usually means pushing new square footage to the rear or a less-visible side, matching roof pitches and window rhythms, keeping the massing quiet, and refusing to “supersize” details that used to be delicate. People get this wrong because they think “more room” automatically means

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What Siding Options Does A Historic Home Remodeling Contractor In Walnut Creek, CA Recommend?

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In Walnut Creek, a historic home remodeling contractor will usually recommend keeping the original wood siding if it can be saved, repairing it in place before touching full replacement, and only swapping in a substitute like fiber cement or engineered wood when you can match the original profile, exposure, and trim details closely enough that the house still reads like itself from the street. Because that’s the whole game. Not “new siding.” Continuity. And yeah,

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