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…
In today’s Bay Area housing market, homeowners are increasingly choosing to enhance the comfort, beauty, and efficiency of their existing homes rather than relocating. One of the most impactful upgrades you can make is replacing outdated or poorly functioning doors. Whether improving curb appeal with a new entry door or updating interior and patio doors for better flow and usability, high-quality door installation blends functionality with timeless design.
Rather than viewing door upgrades as minor fixes, homeowners now recognize how much these improvements contribute to everyday comfort, long-term durability, and overall property value. A well-installed, modern door enhances security, improves energy efficiency, reduces drafts and noise, and elevates the aesthetic appeal of your home inside and out.
With over 40 years of craftsmanship in Bay Area homes, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights is your trusted partner for premium door replacement and installation. We work with homes of all ages and architectural styles and are committed to providing beautiful, secure, and energy-efficient solutions tailored to your space.
As homes evolve, so do the needs of the people living in them. Doors that once worked well may become drafty, outdated, or misaligned due to natural settling or daily wear. Whether you’re upgrading for style, convenience, or performance, our team collaborates closely with you to help you select the ideal door for your lifestyle and budget.
For example, if you want to brighten your living space, replacing an older solid door with a glass patio door can bring in natural light and create seamless indoor-outdoor connections. If improving security is your priority, modern steel or fiberglass entry doors can provide enhanced protection and thermal efficiency. Even interior door upgrades—such as switching to solid-core, pocket, or barn doors—can elevate privacy, aesthetics, and functionality.
As dedicated door installation contractors, we guide you through each step to ensure the process is simple, efficient, and rewarding. From evaluating your existing framing to helping you choose materials and hardware, we create a plan that balances performance, beauty, and long-term durability.
Explore the possibilities with Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights and discover how the right doors can transform your home.
Some common interior door types are:
A solid core interior door is usually used where a fire-rated door is required, but of course can be used wherever desired.
A flush door has a flat surface and can either be a paint-grade finish or a veneer face of birch, gum, oak, or mahogany.
Panel doors are traditional and have raised areas on the face of the door.
A common panel door is called a four-panel or six-panel door.
There are several types of doors:
swinging doors
pocket door
French doors
Louver doors
Bi-fold doors
café doors
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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