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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…
Uneven floors, noticeable slopes, sagging areas, and changes in the way your home feels underfoot can be more than minor inconveniences. In some cases, these issues may be connected to foundation settlement, aging structural supports, weakened framing, moisture-related deterioration, or changes beneath the home that deserve professional attention.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. provides dependable house leveling services in Albany, CA, backed by more than 40 years of construction experience throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and East Bay. Since 1983, our team has worked with homes of many ages, architectural styles, and structural configurations, giving us the practical knowledge needed to evaluate complex leveling and structural concerns carefully.
House leveling is not simply about making a floor look flatter. The goal is to understand why the structure has become uneven and determine what corrective work may be appropriate for the property.
Depending on the home, structural concerns may involve:
Because no two homes experience structural movement in the same way, our team approaches each property individually. We evaluate the visible symptoms, accessible structural components, foundation conditions, and surrounding factors before discussing potential solutions.
Albany has a diverse collection of established homes, remodeled properties, and older residential structures. Over time, aging materials, past modifications, soil conditions, moisture, and structural wear can all influence how a building settles or performs.
Our broad background in general contracting, foundation-related construction, home remodeling, structural repairs, and other residential improvements gives us the ability to look beyond the surface symptom.
For example, a sloping floor may be related to a localized joist problem, while another property may have movement involving posts, beams, or foundation components. Understanding those differences is an essential part of developing the right approach.
Our professional house leveling and structural services are focused on identifying the conditions affecting the home and helping homeowners understand their options clearly.
House leveling can involve a variety of corrective methods depending on the home’s condition. Some projects may involve reinforcing or repairing structural framing, while others may require improvements to support systems or foundation components.
Where appropriate, work may include controlled leveling, support correction, foundation stabilization, beam or joist repairs, crawl-space improvements, or replacement of deteriorated structural materials.
Rather than assuming a specific solution before evaluating the property, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. focuses on determining what the home actually needs.
Our philosophy is simple: quality and service come first. We approach structural work with the same attention to detail, honesty, and care we would expect in our own homes.
Ready to bring your property back toward a more stable, dependable condition? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. and put more than 40 years of Bay Area construction experience to work for your home. SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE
If parts of your home feel uneven, floors appear to slope, or doors and interior finishes seem to be changing, it may be time to have the underlying structure evaluated. One of the most important things to understand about house leveling is that an uneven floor is a symptom, not necessarily the entire problem.
A home can become uneven for several reasons, including foundation settlement, weakened support systems, damaged framing, moisture exposure, soil movement, or deterioration beneath the floor system. In some properties, multiple conditions may contribute at the same time.
That is why effective house leveling begins with understanding what is happening beneath and around the structure rather than simply trying to correct the visible slope.
Changes in floor elevation can occur gradually, making them easy to overlook at first. Homeowners often become aware of the problem after noticing several smaller warning signs together.
You may want to have your home evaluated if you notice:
One symptom alone does not automatically mean extensive structural work is needed. The condition, age, location, and progression of the issue all matter.
Several conditions can contribute to an unlevel structure:
In other cases, the concern may involve a combination of framing, foundation, and support conditions. A careful evaluation helps determine which components are contributing to the problem.
Structural movement does not always happen quickly. In many homes, changes occur gradually over years.
Having the property evaluated when you first begin noticing significant changes can help you better understand whether the condition appears localized or involves a larger portion of the structure. It also helps prevent guesswork. For example, replacing flooring will not correct a sagging beam beneath it. Likewise, addressing one support point may not solve the problem if foundation movement is contributing elsewhere.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. brings decades of Bay Area construction knowledge to these evaluations. Our team considers the relationship between the foundation, framing, supports, crawl space, and surrounding conditions before discussing potential corrective work.
Since 1983, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. has worked throughout San Francisco and the East Bay on structural construction, foundation-related projects, home remodeling, additions, retaining walls, and general contracting work. That broad construction background is especially valuable when evaluating an uneven home because the cause may extend beyond a single structural component.
Our house leveling services in Albany are built around careful evaluation, practical recommendations, quality workmanship, and clear communication from start to finish.
If your Albany home has sloping floors, sagging areas, foundation concerns, or structural changes that are becoming increasingly noticeable, our team is ready to help you understand what may be happening.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your structural project into a well-planned solution. SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE
When structural movement affects your home, experience matters. House leveling can involve far more than correcting an uneven floor. It may require understanding how the foundation, crawl space, beams, joists, piers, posts, drainage conditions, and surrounding soil are working together.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. has served the San Francisco Bay Area and East Bay since 1983, bringing more than 40 years of construction knowledge to residential structural projects. Our team combines hands-on building experience with a careful, property-specific approach so homeowners can make informed decisions about the condition of their homes.
Homes throughout Albany and the surrounding East Bay vary widely in age, framing systems, foundation types, and remodeling history. Decades of experience working on Bay Area properties give our team valuable perspective when evaluating why a home has become uneven and what kind of corrective work may be appropriate.
Our house leveling services are supported by broader experience in general contracting, foundation-related construction, home remodeling, retaining walls, structural repairs, and other residential improvements.
An uneven floor can be caused by several different conditions. Foundation settlement may be responsible in one home, while deteriorated beams, weakened joists, shifting supports, or moisture-related damage may be contributing in another.
Rather than assuming the cause, we evaluate the structure and look for the conditions behind the visible symptoms. This helps us recommend solutions that are appropriate for the property instead of simply addressing the appearance of the floor.
House leveling may involve foundation components, framing, piers, posts, crawl-space supports, or a combination of these systems. Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. has experience with foundation-related construction and professional stabilization solutions, including Grip-Tite Foundation Systems where appropriate. The specific method used depends on the structure and the conditions found during evaluation.
Every house moves differently over time. Age, soil conditions, past remodeling, moisture exposure, structural loading, and foundation type can all influence how a property settles. Our professional house leveling and structural services are designed around the specific needs of each property rather than a one-size-fits-all process.
Structural concerns can feel overwhelming when you do not know what is causing them. Our approach is to explain what we observe, what may be contributing to the problem, and what type of corrective work may be appropriate. We believe homeowners should understand the reasoning behind the recommendations they receive.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. has built its reputation around integrity, craftsmanship, and dependable service. Whether a project involves localized structural correction or a more complex house leveling concern, we approach the work with careful attention to detail.
If you have noticed uneven floors, structural movement, or other changes in your Albany home, contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. for experienced guidance backed by more than four decades of Bay Area construction expertise.
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!
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Every uneven home is different. Depending on the condition of the property, house leveling may involve correcting foundation settlement, reinforcing structural supports, addressing sagging floors, or repairing components that have weakened over time. Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. provides house leveling services designed around the specific structural needs of your Albany home.
Our house leveling solutions may include:
Mares & Dow brings more than 40 years of Bay Area construction experience to structural projects and provides services that include house leveling, foundation repair, concrete foundation work, dry rot repair, engineering, and related improvements. This broader expertise allows our team to consider the home as a complete structure rather than focusing only on the visible slope of a floor.
Our approach to professional house leveling and structural improvements begins with evaluating the conditions affecting your property and developing a solution appropriate for your home’s construction and structural needs.
If uneven floors, settlement, sagging areas, or structural movement are causing concern in your Albany home, put decades of Bay Area construction experience behind your project.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your project into reality.
SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. provides house leveling services for homeowners throughout Albany. From established residential streets near Solano Avenue to properties around Albany Hill and western Albany, our team brings more than 40 years of Bay Area construction experience to homes with uneven floors, foundation settlement, and related structural conc
Solano Avenue is one of Albany’s best-known corridors, surrounded by established residential streets and homes of varying ages. When properties in this part of Albany develop sloping floors or signs of structural movement, our team can evaluate the underlying conditions and recommend an appropriate approach.
Homes around Albany Hill are situated near one of the city’s most recognizable natural features. Properties around changing elevations can have site-specific structural considerations, making careful evaluation important when homeowners notice floor slopes, settlement, or other signs of movement.
Western Albany includes established residential areas near Ocean View and the city’s waterfront. Older homes in this part of the community may have raised foundations, crawl spaces, aging framing, or structural supports that warrant evaluation when floors become noticeably uneven.
San Pablo Avenue is a major north-south route through Albany, with residential streets extending throughout the surrounding area. Our professional house leveling and structural services are available to homeowners near this corridor who are concerned about sagging floors, foundation movement, or deteriorated structural supports.
Buchanan Street crosses Albany toward the waterfront and provides access to residential areas on both sides of the city. Homes around this corridor can vary in age, foundation type, and structural configuration, so leveling solutions should be based on the conditions of the individual property.
The residential streets surrounding Memorial Park include many established Albany homes. If floors begin to slope, sag, or change noticeably over time, an evaluation can help determine whether framing, foundation, crawl-space, or support conditions may be contributing.
Western Albany extends toward the Bay and Albany Bulb at the end of Buchanan Street. Properties in western Albany should be evaluated individually when structural concerns arise, particularly where homeowners notice changes in floor elevation or signs of movement.
Whether your property is near Solano Avenue, Albany Hill, San Pablo Avenue, Memorial Park, or another part of Albany, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. can help you understand the structural conditions affecting your home.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your project into reality.
SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE.
Uneven floors and structural movement can develop for many reasons, and the underlying cause may not always be obvious from inside the home. Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. provides house leveling services to help Albany homeowners address structural conditions affecting the level and support of their homes.
Common problems we address include:
A sloping floor does not automatically identify the source of the problem. Determining whether the concern involves framing, foundation settlement, structural supports, moisture damage, or another condition is an important first step toward choosing an appropriate solution.
If your Albany home has uneven floors, sagging areas, or other signs of structural movement, contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. for experienced guidance backed by more than 40 years of Bay Area construction expertise.
SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE.
When structural concerns affect your home, experience matters. Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. has served San Francisco and the East Bay since 1983, bringing more than 40 years of hands-on construction knowledge to homes throughout the region, including Albany.
Our decades of experience span general contracting, foundation-related work, structural improvements, home remodeling, additions, retaining walls, and other residential construction projects. That broad background is especially valuable for house leveling services, where the source of uneven floors may involve foundations, beams, joists, posts, piers, crawl-space components, or several structural conditions working together.
Bay Area properties vary considerably in age, architecture, foundation type, framing, and previous improvements. Having worked with homes of many styles and configurations, Mares & Dow understands the importance of evaluating each property individually rather than assuming every sloping or sagging floor requires the same solution.
Effective house leveling and structural work requires understanding how different parts of a building interact. Our general contracting experience allows us to consider the foundation, floor framing, support system, and other relevant structural components when developing recommendations for an Albany home.
For more than four decades, Mares & Dow has built its approach around craftsmanship, integrity, transparency, and respect for the homes entrusted to our team. Whether the project involves a localized structural concern or more extensive leveling work, we focus on careful evaluation, clear communication, and solutions appropriate for the property.
If your Albany home has uneven floors, sagging areas, foundation settlement, or other signs of structural movement, put more than 40 years of Bay Area construction experience behind your project.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your project into reality.
SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE.
If you notice sloping floors, sagging areas, sticking doors, gaps around walls or trim, or other changes that may indicate structural movement, it is important to determine what is causing the problem before deciding on a solution. Uneven floors can have several potential causes, ranging from localized framing deterioration to foundation settlement or inadequate structural support.
Take note of where floors feel uneven and whether the condition appears to be changing. A noticeable dip in one room may have a different underlying cause than a gradual slope extending across a larger portion of the home.
Uneven floors may appear alongside other changes, such as sticking doors, cracks around openings, separation between floors and walls, or visible movement in structural components. These additional signs can provide useful context when your home is evaluated.
If your home has an accessible crawl space, moisture, deteriorated wood, damaged beams or joists, and aging posts or supports may help explain changes occurring above. Avoid disturbing damaged structural components yourself.
Foundation settlement is one possible cause of an unlevel home, but it is not the only one. Beams, joists, posts, piers, crawl-space conditions, moisture-related deterioration, and previous structural alterations can also contribute. Professional house leveling services should begin by identifying the conditions affecting the property rather than treating every floor slope the same way.
An experienced contractor can examine accessible foundation and framing components and help determine what may be contributing to the problem. Depending on the findings, house leveling and structural improvements may involve correcting support conditions, repairing deteriorated framing, addressing foundation movement, or combining several corrective measures.
The goal should be to address the condition contributing to the unevenness rather than simply covering up the visible symptom. A solution tailored to your home’s foundation, framing, and support system can provide a more appropriate approach to the structural problem.
If something about your Albany home no longer feels level, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. can help you understand the next steps. Contact our team and put more than 40 years of Bay Area construction experience behind your project.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your project into reality.
SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE.
House leveling is structural work intended to address areas of a home that have become uneven, settled, or sagged. Depending on the cause, house leveling services may involve foundation components, beams, joists, posts, piers, crawl-space supports, or other parts of the home's structural system.
Common signs include noticeably sloping or sagging floors, sticking doors, gaps between floors and walls, cracks near doors or windows, and changes in floor elevation. These symptoms can have several causes, so an evaluation is important before determining what corrective work may be appropriate.
Potential causes include foundation settlement, soil movement, aging or deteriorated supports, weakened beams or joists, moisture-related damage, dry rot, inadequate structural support, or previous alterations to the home. More than one condition may contribute to unevenness.
No. Although foundation movement can cause floors to become uneven, problems with joists, beams, posts, piers, crawl-space supports, or deteriorated structural materials may produce similar symptoms. Professional evaluation can help identify the underlying condition.
Depending on their condition, many older homes can benefit from structural correction. The appropriate house leveling solution depends on factors such as the home's foundation, framing, support system, age, previous alterations, and the extent of movement or deterioration.
Not necessarily. Some projects involve localized corrections to particular sections of the floor or support system rather than the entire structure. The appropriate approach depends on where the movement has occurred and what is causing it.
Yes. Deteriorated beams, damaged joists, shifting posts, inadequate supports, moisture exposure, and other crawl-space conditions can affect the floor system above. Addressing these underlying structural issues may be an important part of leveling the home.
Dry rot and other forms of wood deterioration can weaken structural components such as beams, joists, and posts. If those components no longer provide adequate support, sections of the floor may begin to sag or feel uneven.
The process starts by evaluating the conditions affecting the home. An experienced contractor can examine accessible foundation, framing, crawl-space, and support components to determine potential causes. The recommended house leveling and structural work can then be tailored to the property's specific needs rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
If you are concerned about uneven floors, foundation settlement, sagging areas, or other signs of structural movement, start by having the property evaluated. Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. brings more than 40 years of Bay Area construction experience to Albany homeowners and can help you understand the conditions affecting your home and the appropriate next steps.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your project into reality.
SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. provides house leveling and structural services throughout Albany and neighboring East Bay communities. With more than 40 years of Bay Area construction experience, our team works with homeowners across a variety of property ages, architectural styles, foundation types, and structural conditions.
Whether you are in Albany or another community within our East Bay service area, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. brings decades of construction knowledge, craftsmanship, and dependable service to your project.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your project into reality.
SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE.
Uneven floors, sagging areas, and noticeable changes in the way your home sits can be signs that something beneath the surface needs attention. The right next step is to understand what is causing the issue and choose a solution that fits the condition of the property.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. provides professional house leveling services in Albany backed by more than 40 years of Bay Area construction experience. Our team works with older homes, remodeled properties, and residences with a wide range of support and foundation conditions.
Whether the concern involves settlement, weakened supports, aging floor components, crawl-space issues, or a combination of factors, we take a careful, property-specific approach. The goal is to help you understand what is happening and move forward with a practical solution.
For Albany homeowners, that means working with a local Bay Area contractor known for experience, craftsmanship, clear communication, and dependable service.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise turn your project into reality.
SCHEDULE A FREE ESTIMATE.