Welcome to Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights – your premier source for top-quality skylight solutions in Lafayette, CA. We specialize in illuminating your spaces elegantly, offering expert services in Skylight Installation, Skylight Repair, General Contracting, and Home Remodeling. Contact us for a FREE Skylight Consultation to learn about our diverse range of skylights.
Enhance your surroundings with the natural radiance of our premium skylights. Designed in various sizes and styles, these skylights illuminate your space and offer ventilation choices, fostering a revitalizing atmosphere. Discover our range, including the Solar Powered Fresh Air Skylights, by contacting our experienced team.
Discover the transformative power of our skylights, especially the innovative Sun Tunnel series, which can brighten cramped areas like stairwells, hallways, and corners. Infusing your home, school, or workplace with natural light can stimulate creativity, increase vitamin D levels, and uplift spirits, fostering a more inspiring and motivating environment.
With a history of forty years, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights has built a reputation for excellence in home remodeling, general contracting, and skylight installation. Our dedicated team serves a wide range of clients, delivering professional services that enhance homes and commercial spaces with a blend of expertise and experience.
Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your dream project into reality.
Elevate the ambiance of your office, medical facility, or school with our cutting-edge commercial skylights, crafted to enhance the mood in lobbies and boardrooms. Please browse our selection, which includes skylights featuring solar-powered blinds in various contemporary colors.
Upgrade your home with our top-tier residential skylight services. Whether you’re interested in replacing outdated skylights or designing a unique solution for a naturally illuminated space, our team is prepared to assist you. With a ten-year installation guarantee and a twenty-year warranty, our skylights are built to last. Lafayette residents can also inquire about federal tax benefits, potentially saving up to 30% or an average of $850.
Known for our commitment to quality, affordability, and customer service, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights is proud to be a VELUX® 5 Star Skylight Specialist. Whether you need Skylight Installation, Skylight Repair, General Contracting, or Home Remodeling, trust us to brighten your spaces with distinction.
Velux® Skylights
“Fresh Air” Skylight features a solar panel that captures any available daylight and is the power source that opens and closes the skylight.
Velux® Skylights
Providing an excellent value and a big impact to any project makes the SUN TUNNEL skylight an excellent choice for your daylighting needs.
Velux® Skylights
Our Group has been building relationships and projects last. Serving an impressive list of long-term clients with experience.
Velux® Skylights
The natural light that is harnessed and diffused through quality commercial skylights enhances the experience of indoor spaces, and research shows it helps health.
Velux® Skylights
Modular Skylights can be combined in several rooflight configurations, creating perfect solutions for a wide variety of buildings.
Velux® Skylights
VELUX Commercial SUN TUNNEL® skylights are designed for flat or low slope commercial roofing applications that are above spaces that will benefit from more sunlight.
Velux® Skylights
VELUX Dynamic Dome, an innovative product that balances the structural demands of industry professionals with an architecturally progressive design.
Velux® Skylights
Opening up a flat roof with skylights can brighten your space and transform any room with sunlight and sky views. And the VELUX Flat Roof Exit Skylight is pleasing to the eyes.
Velux® Skylights
Fill your home with bright, natural daylight! Spanning up to 10 feet, the dramatic SkyMax skylight doubles the square footage of standard flat glass skylights.
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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Skylights are an excellent way for Lafayette homeowners to brighten interiors, improve ventilation, and enhance energy efficiency. Professional installation ensures safety, durability, and compliance with local building codes. Here are some common questions about skylights in Lafayette:
Lafayette homeowners can choose from fixed skylights for natural light without ventilation, vented skylights for fresh air, tubular or sun tunnel skylights for interior or smaller spaces, and roof window-style skylights for panoramic views. The best option depends on room size, roof type, and the amount of light desired.
Skylight installation costs vary depending on the size, type, roof complexity, and materials. On average, prices start around $1,500 to $3,000 per skylight, including professional labor and standard flashing. Custom sizes, premium models, or multiple skylights may increase costs, so obtaining several estimates from reputable Lafayette contractors is recommended.
Yes. Skylights reduce the need for artificial lighting and, when paired with energy-efficient glazing, help regulate indoor temperatures. Proper installation can minimize heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter, contributing to lower energy bills.
Skylights enhance both aesthetics and property value. Natural light makes rooms feel more spacious and inviting, which appeals to buyers. Modern features like vented or automated skylights are considered upgrades that can increase a home’s market appeal.
Standard skylight installations typically take one day for most homes with straightforward roofs. Custom designs, multiple skylights, or complex roof structures may require additional time. Licensed contractors in Lafayette plan installations to account for roof pitch, weather, and local building codes.
Yes. Building permits are usually required to ensure skylights meet structural, safety, and energy efficiency regulations. A licensed Lafayette contractor can manage the permitting process, inspections, and approvals to ensure a compliant installation.
Maintenance includes inspecting seals and flashing for leaks, cleaning debris from skylight surfaces, and checking vents on operable skylights. Proper maintenance prevents water damage, ensures proper ventilation, and prolongs the lifespan of your skylight.
Select a licensed and insured contractor experienced with Lafayette building codes. Look for manufacturer certifications, read verified customer reviews, and ensure clear communication, transparent estimates, and warranty coverage. A reliable contractor will provide safe, efficient, and high-quality skylight installation.
