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…
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights offers a variety of home remodeling services in the Berkeley, CA area. Whether you want basement waterproofing, to finish your basement, add room onto your home, or upgrade kitchens, bathrooms, and windows and doors, we would be more than happy to offer you a free estimate. Find out why homeowners in the Berkeley, CA area have relied on us as preferred home remodeling contractors for so many years.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights have been partners, offering a variety of construction and renovation services for more than thirty-three years. We credit our success to our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Every member of the Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights team cares about the result and the happiness of our customers.
Whether you want to upgrade a room or your entire home, you want to work with professionals. When you put your home in our hands, you can rest assured that we never take safety for granted. We leverage the best materials and best practices to bring about results that look great and that last.
Whether it’s an upgrade or a repair, contact us for a free estimate.
Whether you want to make your home more livable for you and your loved ones or you are ready to sell and are hoping for top dollar, we would be pleased to offer you an estimate and to help you learn more about why you should put your Berkeley home in our capable hands. Call today for an appointment.
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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Home remodeling is a major investment, and Berkeley 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 Berkeley, CA, when working with Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights. These FAQs give you 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 Berkeley, including kitchen and bathroom remodels, whole-home renovations, room additions, garage conversions, siding upgrades, skylight installations, and structural improvements.
Yes. Berkeley has many older, historic, and hillside homes that require careful planning and specialized construction knowledge. We’re experienced in navigating structural considerations, accessibility challenges, and code requirements unique to Berkeley properties.
Yes. Our design-build approach allows us to manage the entire process — from design and planning to permitting and construction — creating a more efficient and coordinated remodeling experience.
Remodeling costs vary based on project scope, materials, and existing home conditions. Berkeley projects can range from targeted upgrades to full-home renovations. We provide clear, detailed estimates so you understand your investment before work begins.
Timelines depend on the size and complexity of the remodel. Smaller projects may take several weeks, while larger renovations or additions can take several months. We provide a realistic project schedule as part of the planning process.
Absolutely. We manage all necessary permits and coordinate inspections with the City of Berkeley to ensure your remodeling project complies with local building codes and regulations.
In many cases, yes. We work with Berkeley homeowners to phase construction when possible, minimize disruption, and maintain a safe and organized worksite throughout the project.
Getting started is easy. 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.