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When floors begin to slope, doors stop closing properly, or portions of your home seem to be settling unevenly, the problem may go deeper than what you can see on the surface. Structural movement can develop gradually, and determining why a home has shifted is an important first step toward finding an appropriate solution.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. provides professional house leveling and structural solutions for homeowners in El Cerrito, CA. With over 40 years of Bay Area construction experience, our team understands that every home has its own combination of foundation conditions, framing, structural supports, previous renovations, drainage considerations, and site characteristics.
El Cerrito homes can present particularly varied construction conditions. The community includes older residences, remodeled properties, compact homes, and hillside properties where elevation and site conditions may add another layer of complexity to structural work. Mares & Dow’s existing El Cerrito construction guidance specifically recognizes older homes, hillside terrain, foundation movement, drainage concerns, and slope-related structural demands as considerations that can affect local properties.
House leveling is not simply about making a floor appear flatter. Uneven floors are often a symptom of another condition, and the right approach depends on what is happening beneath and throughout the structure.
Potential contributing factors can include:
Our approach to professional house leveling considers the home as a complete structural system. We look at the conditions contributing to the unevenness and determine what work may be necessary to improve support, alignment, and long-term structural performance. That broader construction perspective is especially valuable when house leveling overlaps with foundation, framing, carpentry, remodeling, drainage, or other structural concerns.
A home does not need to look dramatically tilted for structural movement to deserve attention. Sometimes the earliest indications are subtle—a floor that feels slightly different underfoot, a door that suddenly rubs against its frame, or a gap that did not previously exist. Addressing these warning signs begins with understanding what has changed and whether the movement is isolated, ongoing, or connected to a larger structural condition.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. brings decades of hands-on Bay Area construction knowledge to that process. Rather than approaching every property with the same predetermined solution, we focus on the home’s existing conditions and what may be contributing to the problem. If something about your El Cerrito home’s floors or structure does not seem right, having it evaluated can give you a clearer understanding of what you are dealing with and what steps may be appropriate.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise help you address your home’s structural needs with experienced, dependable service.
House leveling problems rarely appear overnight. In many homes, movement develops slowly enough that the first signs can be easy to overlook. You might notice that the dining room floor seems to slope toward one side. A bedroom door that once closed normally may begin sticking.
Furniture may no longer sit evenly against a wall. Small gaps can develop around trim, and cracks may begin appearing around doors or windows. Individually, these symptoms do not necessarily identify the cause. Together, however, they may indicate that portions of the home’s foundation, framing, or support system should be evaluated.
Consider having your property evaluated if you notice:
One property may have a foundation-related problem, while another may have deteriorated floor supports. In other cases, moisture, drainage, aging materials, previous construction, or a combination of factors may contribute.
This distinction matters because house leveling should address the underlying structural condition—not simply the visible symptom.
Correcting a sagging section of floor without identifying deterioration in the supporting structure could leave the primary problem unresolved. Likewise, assuming every sloping floor is caused by foundation settlement can lead to an unnecessarily narrow assessment of the home.
Our house leveling and structural services take a broader view. Depending on the property, evaluation may include the relationship between the floor system, beams, posts, foundation components, crawlspace conditions, previous additions, and other relevant structural elements.
El Cerrito’s housing stock makes individualized evaluation particularly important. Mares & Dow’s existing local construction information notes the presence of older and hillside properties in the community and identifies foundation, drainage, terrain, and structural considerations as issues that can affect construction work in the area.
Older homes may have experienced decades of settlement, previous repairs, remodeling, additions, moisture exposure, or changes to structural components. Hillside properties can introduce additional considerations related to terrain and how the structure interacts with its site.
If you suspect your home has become uneven, the goal should be to understand what moved, why it moved, and what needs to be corrected.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. brings over 40 years of Bay Area construction experience to homes with a wide range of ages, architectural styles, and structural conditions. Our broader construction knowledge helps us evaluate leveling concerns in the context of the entire home rather than treating an uneven floor as an isolated cosmetic problem.
Once the contributing conditions are better understood, an appropriate plan can be developed around the actual needs of the property. You do not have to wait until an uneven floor becomes impossible to ignore. If you are noticing changes in your El Cerrito home, getting experienced guidance now can help you better understand the condition and your available options.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise help you determine the right approach for your property.
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 presents a different set of structural conditions. The right solution depends on factors such as the home’s foundation, framing, crawlspace, degree of settlement, site conditions, and previous construction work. That is why Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. begins with a careful assessment before determining the appropriate approach.
With over 40 years of Bay Area construction experience, our team provides practical solutions designed around the needs of each property. Mares & Dow’s house leveling work can range from partial leveling to broader foundation stabilization, depending on the conditions identified during evaluation.
The first step is determining where movement has occurred and what may be causing it. We evaluate relevant structural conditions and develop a plan based on the home’s specific needs rather than applying the same solution to every property.
Floors that slope, dip, or feel noticeably uneven can indicate changes within the supporting structure. Depending on the cause, corrective work may involve addressing the foundation, framing, crawlspace, or supporting components beneath the floor.
Structural shifts beneath a home can affect the floors and living areas above. House leveling solutions may include crawlspace or basement leveling when these areas are contributing to the problem.
When foundation settlement contributes to an uneven structure, leveling work may require stabilization measures. Mares & Dow’s house leveling services include options such as foundation piering and underpinning when appropriate for the property.
Posts, beams, joists, and other structural components play an important role in supporting a home’s floors. If these components have shifted, deteriorated, or become inadequate, they may need to be addressed as part of the overall leveling strategy.
Older El Cerrito properties may have undergone additions, renovations, or structural alterations over the years. These changes can influence how loads are distributed throughout a home and should be considered when evaluating uneven floors or settlement.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. has extensive experience working with homes of different ages and architectural styles, including projects involving significant structural changes. Our Bay Area construction and structural expertise allows us to consider house leveling within the larger context of the property’s existing construction.
The objective is not simply to make a floor look level. Effective house leveling should address the conditions responsible for the movement while protecting the home’s structural integrity and long-term performance. If your El Cerrito home has uneven floors, settlement, or other signs of structural movement, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. can help determine an appropriate path forward.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. and put over 40 years of Bay Area construction experience to work for your property.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. provides house leveling and structural services throughout El Cerrito. The city’s residential landscape ranges from neighborhoods near the San Pablo Avenue corridor to homes extending into the eastern hills, creating varied terrain and property conditions across a relatively compact community.
With over 40 years of Bay Area construction experience, our team understands that the needs of an individual property depend on its age, foundation, framing, site conditions, and construction history. Our house leveling and structural services are tailored to the conditions of the home rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
The Hillside Natural Area is a major El Cerrito open space containing woodlands, grasslands, trails, and varied terrain. Residential streets surrounding this extensive hillside area include homes across different elevations.
Arlington Boulevard runs through El Cerrito’s eastern residential area, with Arlington Park serving as a recognizable local landmark at 1120 Arlington Boulevard. Homeowners in this part of the city can turn to Mares & Dow when uneven floors, settling, or other structural concerns require experienced evaluation.
Centered around Cerrito Vista Park on Pomona Avenue, this established residential area contains homes of varying ages and configurations. The park itself is one of El Cerrito’s major neighborhood recreation spaces.
San Pablo Avenue is one of El Cerrito’s defining north-south corridors and an important part of the city’s development pattern. Residential streets branching away from the corridor include properties with different foundation and framing configurations that may require individualized solutions when structural movement develops.
The El Cerrito Plaza area is another recognizable part of the community, with nearby residential streets and access to Cerrito Creek and the Ohlone Greenway. City planning materials specifically identify Cerrito Creek at El Cerrito Plaza as an open-space area and the Ohlone Greenway as part of El Cerrito’s recreation network.
Homes throughout central El Cerrito represent different construction periods and may have undergone remodeling, additions, or structural modifications over the years. When an older or altered property begins showing uneven floors or other signs of movement, understanding the home’s construction history can be an important part of determining the appropriate corrective approach.
The southern portion of El Cerrito connects closely with Albany and neighboring communities. Homes in this area may differ from hillside properties in grade and site configuration, but settlement, aging structural components, crawlspace conditions, and framing concerns can still contribute to uneven floors.
Wherever you live in El Cerrito, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. can help evaluate signs of settlement or structural movement and determine an appropriate path forward.
House leveling issues can develop gradually as a home settles, ages, or experiences changes in its foundation and support system. In El Cerrito, hillside conditions, moisture, soil movement, and seismic activity can also contribute to uneven floors and shifting over time.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. focuses on identifying the cause behind the visible symptoms. With over 40 years of Bay Area construction experience, our team looks at the full condition of the home before recommending the right solution.
Signs Your Home May Need House Leveling :
If you have noticed sloping floors, settlement, recurring cracks, or other changes in your El Cerrito home, getting the property evaluated can help you understand the issue before it becomes more difficult to address.
That depth of experience matters when working with uneven floors and settlement concerns. Homes in and around El Cerrito vary widely in age, design, foundation type, terrain, and renovation history. Understanding how those factors interact helps our team develop solutions that fit the actual condition of the property rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether the issue involves an older floor system, settling supports, foundation movement, or changes related to previous renovations, we focus on identifying the source of the problem and determining a practical path forward.
Decades of working throughout the region have exposed our team to homes with many different layouts, materials, building methods, and site conditions. That experience is especially useful in communities like El Cerrito, where properties can range from relatively level lots to hillside settings.
Every home deserves an individualized assessment. We consider the condition of the floor system, foundation, crawlspace, supports, and previous improvements before recommending corrective work. Our goal is straightforward: provide clear guidance, quality workmanship, and a solution designed to improve stability while respecting the home’s existing construction.
If your El Cerrito property has developed sloping floors, settlement, or other signs that something has shifted, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. is ready to help.
If you notice sloping floors, sticking doors, new cracks, or other changes around your El Cerrito home, it is worth finding out what is causing them. Some problems develop gradually, and addressing the underlying issue early can help you make informed decisions before conditions become more complicated.
Start by noting where and when you notice changes. Uneven flooring in one room, recurring cracks, gaps around trim, or doors and windows that suddenly become difficult to operate can provide useful clues about what may be happening.
Patching cracks, adjusting doors, or replacing flooring may improve appearances temporarily, but these repairs will not resolve an underlying settlement or support problem. If the same symptoms continue to return, it may be time to have the home evaluated more closely.
The source of an uneven floor is not always directly beneath the area where the problem appears. Foundation conditions, floor framing, crawlspace supports, moisture, drainage, previous additions, and renovations can all play a role.
Our experience with Bay Area home construction and remodeling allows Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. to consider how different parts of the property may be contributing to the issue.
Before significant corrective work begins, it is important to understand why the home has become uneven. An experienced assessment can help identify the affected areas and determine what type of work may be appropriate. Avoid attempting major adjustments to beams, posts, foundations, or other load-bearing components without professional guidance. Changing the elevation of one area can affect flooring, walls, doors, windows, finishes, plumbing, and other parts of the home.
Once the source of the problem has been identified, the next step is developing a solution suited to the property. Depending on the conditions present, the work may involve correcting support beneath the floor, addressing foundation movement, repairing deteriorated components, or resolving related conditions contributing to the unevenness. If something about your El Cerrito property has changed, you do not have to wait until the problem becomes severe to have it evaluated.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and let our 40 years of Bay Area expertise help you determine the right next step for your home.
Common warning signs include sloping or uneven floors, doors and windows that stick, cracks around openings, gaps between floors and walls, sagging areas, and noticeable differences in floor height from one part of the home to another. These symptoms can have several causes, so an evaluation is important before deciding on repairs.
A home can become uneven because of foundation settlement, soil movement, moisture conditions, aging supports, deteriorated framing, or changes made during previous renovations. In some cases, several factors may contribute to the problem.
No. Uneven floors can be related to the foundation, but they may also result from weakened joists, beams, posts, crawlspace supports, or previous alterations to the home. A careful assessment helps determine where the problem originates.
Yes, many older homes can be candidates for leveling or related corrective work. The appropriate solution depends on the home's existing foundation, framing, condition, previous modifications, and the amount of movement that has occurred.
Not necessarily. Some properties may require attention only in a specific area, while others have more widespread settlement. The amount of correction should be based on the home's existing conditions rather than assuming the entire building needs to be raised.
The process starts by determining why the home has become uneven. Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. evaluates the affected areas and considers the foundation, floor system, supports, crawlspace, and other relevant conditions before recommending an appropriate approach. Our broader Bay Area home construction and remodeling experience also helps us account for how previous additions or renovations may affect the property.
If doors or windows are sticking because portions of the home have settled or shifted, correcting the underlying issue may improve their alignment. However, each property is different, and doors or windows may still require adjustment after leveling work is completed.
The timeline depends on the extent of the problem, the type of foundation, accessibility beneath the home, and the repairs required. Smaller corrections may take considerably less time than projects involving extensive foundation or support work. A property evaluation provides a clearer picture of the expected scope and schedule.
If you notice a new slope, recurring cracks, sticking doors, or other changes, it is generally better to determine the cause rather than simply waiting for the symptoms to become more pronounced. An evaluation can help you understand whether the condition is stable or requires corrective work.
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.
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Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. provides experienced house leveling services throughout El Cerrito and neighboring Bay Area communities. El Cerrito is bordered by Richmond to the north and west, Albany and Kensington to the south, with Berkeley just beyond, making it closely connected to several established East Bay residential communities.
Immediately north and west of El Cerrito, Richmond includes a diverse mix of established neighborhoods, older residences, and hillside properties. We help homeowners evaluate uneven floors, settlement, sagging areas, and related concerns.
Located directly south of El Cerrito, Albany contains many established homes on relatively compact residential lots. Our team can assess floor unevenness and determine whether the cause is associated with the foundation, framing, crawlspace, or supporting components.
Kensington borders El Cerrito to the south and includes residential areas extending into the Berkeley Hills. Properties built on changing elevations may require careful evaluation when floors begin to slope or other signs of movement appear.
Just beyond Albany and Kensington, Berkeley has a wide variety of older homes, remodeled properties, and hillside residences. Mares & Dow brings decades of Bay Area construction experience to homes where settlement or aging components may be contributing to unevenness.
Oakland’s varied terrain and broad range of residential architecture can create very different conditions from one property to another. Our team takes an individualized approach to identifying what is causing floors to sag, slope, or become uneven.
Mares & Dow also serves homeowners in San Francisco, where older construction, previous renovations, and differing foundation and framing configurations can make careful evaluation especially important before leveling work begins.
Whether your property is in El Cerrito or a nearby Bay Area community, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. can help determine what is causing the problem and recommend a practical path forward.
Ready to bring your vision to life? Contact Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights Inc. today and put our 40 years of Bay Area expertise to work for your home.
Uneven floors, settlement, sticking doors, and recurring cracks can be signs that your home needs more than a cosmetic repair. Understanding what is causing the problem is the first step toward choosing an appropriate solution. The company provides house leveling services ranging from partial leveling to foundation stabilization, with solutions based on the conditions of the individual property.
Whether your home has gradually settled, developed sagging floors, or been affected by aging supports or previous renovations, our team can evaluate the situation and help determine the right path forward. Our broader experience with Bay Area home construction and remodeling also allows us to consider how the home’s foundation, floor system, additions, and previous improvements may relate to the problem.
If you have noticed sloping floors, sagging areas, sticking doors, foundation settlement, or other signs that your home may be shifting, now is a good time to have the condition evaluated.