When’s the Right Time to Remodel After Buying a House?
The right time to remodel after buying a house depends on your goals, budget, and the condition of the property. Others rush into renovation projects…
Homeowners in El Cerrito, CA, who are ready to remodel deserve expert craftsmanship, premium materials, and clear, honest pricing. At Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, we bring decades of experience and a trusted reputation throughout the Bay Area. As a licensed and insured team, we proudly serve El Cerrito residents with professionalism and care.
Whether your El Cerrito home needs a simple refresh or a complete renovation, we’re here to help bring your vision to life. Our team is known for dependable service, open communication, and delivering high-quality results that exceed expectations.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights offers a comprehensive range of home remodeling services in El Cerrito and surrounding communities. Our services include:
Whether you have a clear plan or need help shaping your ideas, our experienced team is here to guide you from start to finish. With over 30 years in business, we’ve built a strong reputation for quality, service, and integrity.
What improvements would make your house feel more like home? Let’s discover the possibilities together. Call Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights today to schedule your free, no-obligation in-home estimate in El Cerrito. We’re ready to bring your remodeling project to life with expert craftsmanship you can count on.
Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your dream project into reality.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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!
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
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!
The right time to remodel after buying a house depends on your goals, budget, and the condition of the property. Others rush into renovation projects…
The best way to remodel a home for a growing family is to focus on utility. These spaces need to be flexible enough to transform…
Smart lighting is an easy, practical upgrade for home remodeling, rolling convenience into energy efficiency and customizable ambiance. You can easily control brightness levels, color…
Home remodeling is a major investment, and El Cerrito homeowners often have important questions before starting the process. To help you plan with confidence, we’ve answered the most common questions we hear from homeowners in El Cerrito, CA, when working with Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights. These FAQs provide a clear understanding of what to expect, how our team works locally, and how we help create homes that are more functional, comfortable, and built to last.
We provide full-service home remodeling in El Cerrito, including kitchen and bathroom remodels, whole-home renovations, room additions, garage conversions, siding upgrades, skylight installations, and structural improvements.
Yes. El Cerrito has many older and hillside properties that require careful planning and specialized construction techniques. We’re experienced in handling structural challenges, preserving character, and bringing homes up to current building codes.
Absolutely. Our design-build approach allows us to manage the project from initial design and planning through permitting and construction, providing a streamlined remodeling experience.
Costs vary depending on project scope, materials, and existing home conditions. El Cerrito remodeling projects can range from smaller updates to full-home renovations. We provide clear, detailed estimates so you know what to expect before construction begins.
Project timelines depend on the scope and complexity of the remodel. Smaller projects may take a few weeks, while larger renovations or additions can take several months. We provide a realistic timeline before work begins.
Yes. We manage all required permits and coordinate inspections with the City of El Cerrito to ensure your remodeling project meets local building codes and regulations.
In many cases, yes. We work with homeowners to phase construction and minimize disruption, allowing you to stay in your home safely throughout the remodeling process.
Getting started is simple. Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights to schedule a free consultation. We’ll review your goals, evaluate your home, discuss budget and timeline options, and help you move forward with confidence.