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…
Home remodeling in Orinda, CA, is about enhancing the comfort, functionality, and overall quality of your living space while preserving the character of your home. At Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, we specialize in well-crafted renovations that combine thoughtful design, durable materials, and attention to detail.
With over 40 years of experience, we help homeowners improve their homes through kitchen remodels, bathroom upgrades, home additions, and full-home renovations. Our focus is on creating spaces that feel cohesive, comfortable, and built to support everyday living.
Whether you’re updating a single area or planning a larger transformation, we deliver remodeling solutions that are carefully planned, well-executed, and designed to last.
Home remodeling in Orinda, CA requires a careful, thoughtful approach that prioritizes comfort, functionality, and long-term quality. At Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, we bring over 40 years of experience helping homeowners improve their living spaces through well-planned, high-quality renovations.
Our work focuses on enhancing how a home feels and functions without disrupting its natural character. Whether updating a kitchen, improving a bathroom, or planning a full-home remodel, we take the time to ensure every detail is considered and every decision supports a cohesive final result.
We emphasize clear planning, steady communication, and dependable execution so homeowners can feel confident throughout the entire remodeling process.
At Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, we care about your home, about safety, and quality workmanship. Talk to us today about your home remodeling needs. Request a no-obligation quote and consultation, and let us show you why Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights are the right home remodeling contractors to take on your Orinda, CA home remodeling project. Call us today.
As a home remodeling contractor serving Orinda, CA, we understand the importance of creating homes that feel comfortable, functional, and well-balanced. Our experience in the area allows us to deliver remodeling solutions that respect the character of each home while improving everyday livability.
We also serve nearby Lamorinda communities, including Lafayette and Moraga, as well as surrounding East Bay areas. Each community has its own housing styles and homeowner expectations, and we tailor our approach to ensure consistent quality and thoughtful execution across every project.
Whether you’re updating a kitchen, improving a bathroom, or planning a full-home renovation, we focus on delivering reliable craftsmanship and a smooth, well-managed process.
Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your dream project into reality.
We design kitchens that feel warm, functional, and easy to use. Our kitchen remodeling services focus on improving layout flow, increasing storage, and selecting materials that enhance both comfort and durability.
Our bathroom remodeling services are designed to create calm, comfortable spaces with practical layouts and high-quality finishes. We focus on durability, usability, and a clean, timeless feel.
We help homeowners transform their entire home into a more cohesive and comfortable living environment. Our whole-home remodeling approach improves flow, updates outdated areas, and enhances everyday livability.
When additional space is needed, we design and build home additions that integrate naturally with the existing structure while improving comfort and functionality.
Our design-build approach streamlines the entire process by combining planning and construction under one team, ensuring better coordination, fewer delays, and a more consistent final result.
Since 1983, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights has proudly served the East Bay with dependable, high-quality residential remodeling. Our decades of experience mean we’ve seen nearly every type of home, layout, and construction challenge—especially in cities like Orinda with a mix of older properties and newer builds. We understand local permitting, neighborhood styles, and homeowner expectations. This experience allows us to anticipate issues before they arise and deliver solutions that stand the test of time.
You deserve peace of mind when hiring a contractor. Our team is fully licensed in the state of California, bonded for your financial protection, and insured to cover every aspect of your project. We follow strict building codes, local safety requirements, and industry best practices to ensure that every project is done right, legally, and safely. When you hire Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, you’re working with professionals who stand behind their work.
Why juggle designers, architects, and contractors when you can work with one team from start to finish? Our design-build model means we handle every stage of your remodel—planning, permitting, designing, and building—under one roof. This integrated process reduces miscommunication, cuts down on delays, and helps control your budget. You’ll have a single point of contact throughout your entire project, simplifying the process and improving your experience.
We’re proud to be certified installers for top-tier brands like James Hardie siding, Grip-Tite foundation systems, and VELUX skylights. These certifications mean we meet rigorous training and installation standards, giving you added confidence in our workmanship. You’ll also benefit from manufacturer-backed warranties and the latest product innovations when you work with a certified contractor like us.
As a Bay Area company, we’re committed to sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact and support long-term efficiency. Whether we’re installing energy-efficient windows, using durable fiber cement siding, or upgrading insulation during a remodel, our team looks for ways to make your home greener and more cost-effective. Sustainability isn’t just a trend—it’s part of our core values.
Trust is everything in our industry. That’s why we’re proud that more than half of our new clients come to us through referrals from satisfied homeowners. Our clients know we show up when we say we will, we communicate clearly, and we treat their homes with respect. When neighbors in Orinda recommend us to friends and family, we know we’ve done our job well. That reputation is what drives us, and we work hard every day to earn it.
A successful home remodeling project in Orinda depends on careful planning, clear communication, and thoughtful execution. At Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, we follow a structured process designed to keep your project organized, predictable, and aligned with your goals from start to finish.
We begin by understanding your home, your goals, and how you want the space to feel and function. This helps us define a clear and realistic project scope.
We develop a detailed plan that includes layout considerations, material selections, and design direction. This ensures every detail is thought through before construction begins.
Our team manages construction with a focus on organization, communication, and attention to detail. We maintain steady progress while ensuring the work remains consistent and well-executed.
Before completion, we conduct a detailed walkthrough to ensure everything meets expectations and is finished to a high standard.
We’ve completed a variety of home remodeling projects in Orinda, CA, and throughout the Lamorinda area, helping homeowners enhance comfort, improve functionality, and create more cohesive living spaces. Each project reflects our focus on thoughtful design, careful execution, and long-term quality.
Our work is centered on improving how homes feel and function—whether that means updating key living areas, improving layout flow, or refining outdated spaces into more comfortable and usable environments.
We’ve redesigned kitchens to improve layout efficiency, enhance usability, and create warm, functional spaces for everyday living.
Our bathroom remodeling projects focus on comfort, durability, and clean design, with layouts that improve both function and relaxation.
We’ve completed full-home renovations that improve flow, modernize interiors, and create more cohesive and comfortable living environments.
View our portfolio of home remodeling projects in Orinda, CA, to see examples of our completed work.
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!
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Home remodeling is a major investment, and Orinda 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 Orinda, 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 Orinda, including kitchen and bathroom remodels, whole-home renovations, room additions, garage conversions, siding upgrades, skylight installations, and structural improvements.
Yes. Orinda has many hillside and higher-end properties that require specialized planning and construction expertise. We’re experienced in enhancing home functionality, value, and design while respecting the architectural style of the area.
Absolutely. Our design-build approach allows us to manage your project from initial design and planning through permitting and construction, ensuring a seamless and efficient remodeling experience.
Costs vary depending on project scope, materials, and the existing condition of the home. Orinda remodeling projects can range from smaller updates to full-home renovations. We provide transparent, detailed estimates so you know what to expect before work begins.
Timelines depend on the size and complexity of the remodel. Smaller projects may take several weeks, while larger renovations or additions may take a few months. We provide a clear project schedule as part of the planning process.
Yes. We manage all required permits and coordinate inspections with the City of Orinda to ensure your remodeling project meets local building codes and regulations.
In many cases, yes. We work with Orinda homeowners to phase construction, minimize disruption, and maintain a clean, safe worksite throughout the remodeling process.
Getting started is simple. Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights to schedule a free consultation. We’ll discuss your goals, assess your home, review budget and timeline options, and help you move forward with confidence.
If you’re planning a home remodeling project in Orinda, CA, working with an experienced and detail-focused contractor can help ensure a smooth and well-executed result. At Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, we bring over 40 years of experience helping homeowners improve their spaces with thoughtful design, quality craftsmanship, and careful project management.
Whether you’re updating a kitchen, renovating a bathroom, or planning a full-home remodel, we focus on delivering a structured process that prioritizes comfort, functionality, and long-term value.
Let’s create a home that feels more comfortable, more functional, and better suited to the way you live.
Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights today to schedule your consultation.