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A home does not have to show dramatic damage for structural changes to deserve attention. Sometimes the first indication is subtle: a floor feels slightly lower near one wall, furniture no longer sits evenly, a door rubs against its frame, or a crack reappears after being patched. As these changes accumulate, Richmond homeowners may begin to wonder whether the foundation or supporting structure has shifted.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, Inc. provides professional house leveling in Richmond, CA, for homeowners who need experienced help evaluating and addressing uneven, sagging, or settling portions of their homes.
Serving the San Francisco Bay Area since 1983, Mares & Dow brings more than 40 years of construction experience to house leveling and related structural work. Our background includes foundations, concrete, carpentry, dry rot repair, drainage solutions, retaining walls, home remodeling, additions, custom construction, and other general contracting services.
That experience is important because an uneven home can have more than one cause.
A floor that feels low does not necessarily mean the flooring itself is the problem. The condition may involve joists, beams, posts, crawlspace supports, foundation components, moisture damage, or a combination of structural factors.
Richmond also contains homes from many different periods of residential development. An established home may have experienced decades of gradual movement, previous renovations, moisture exposure, or changes to its supporting structure. Other properties may have different foundation configurations or site conditions that require a property-specific approach.
Our job is to understand what is happening before recommending how to correct it.
Rather than applying the same repair strategy to every home, Mares & Dow evaluates the affected areas and considers how the foundation, floor framing, crawlspace, structural supports, moisture conditions, and previous construction may relate to the symptoms.
The result is a house leveling plan built around the property itself.
If your Richmond home has developed sloping floors, recurring cracks, sagging areas, sticking doors, or other signs of movement, getting a professional evaluation can help you understand what needs attention and what does not.
Schedule Your Richmond House Leveling Estimate
Learn more about our professional House Leveling Services.
It is easy to notice when something inside a home no longer feels level. Determining why it happened is more complicated.
Floors depend on a network of structural components. Joists transfer loads to beams. Beams rely on posts, walls, foundations, or other supports. The foundation transfers those loads to the ground.
If something changes within that system, the effects may eventually become noticeable inside the home.
That is why house leveling should begin with investigation rather than immediate adjustment.
An uneven floor tells you that there is a difference in elevation across part of the home.
What it does not tell you is why that difference exists.
Possible explanations can include:
Sometimes several conditions contribute at the same time.
For example, moisture may have weakened framing while settlement has also affected a supporting portion of the home. Correcting only one symptom without understanding the larger situation may leave another contributing condition unaddressed.
Richmond has many established residential areas, and older homes can present unique challenges when they become uneven.
A home that has stood for several decades has a history.
It may have been remodeled more than once. Rooms may have been reconfigured. Plumbing and electrical systems may have changed. Additions may have altered the original footprint. Structural components may have been repaired or modified by previous owners.
Meanwhile, normal aging, moisture, soil conditions, and gradual settlement may have affected different portions of the building.
All of this matters when considering house leveling.
The objective should not be to make assumptions based solely on the age of the home. Instead, the current structure should be evaluated to understand where support has changed and which corrections make sense.
House leveling sounds straightforward: identify the low area and raise it.
Actual structural correction requires considerably more care.
A home that has gradually moved may have adjusted to its current position. Walls, doors, windows, cabinets, flooring, trim, and other components can all reflect that movement.
Changing the structure too aggressively can create stress elsewhere.
That is why the appropriate correction depends on several factors, including:
The goal is a controlled structural solution—not simply forcing a building into a predetermined position.
A small irregularity that has remained unchanged for years may be different from a floor that has noticeably changed over a relatively short period.
Homeowners should pay particular attention when multiple symptoms begin appearing together.
These may include:
These signs do not prove that extensive structural repairs are necessary. They are reasons to gather better information.
It is common to repair what can be seen first.
A wall crack gets patched and painted. A door gets shaved or rehung. A gap receives caulk. New flooring covers an uneven surface.
Those improvements can make a room look better, but they do not necessarily address the cause.
If the supporting structure continues to move, the same symptoms can return.
Before repeatedly repairing finishes, it can be more useful to determine whether an underlying structural condition is contributing to them.
Mares & Dow combines decades of foundation, framing, concrete, carpentry, remodeling, and general construction experience to evaluate the building as a connected system.
If your Richmond home no longer feels as level as it once did, get answers before making assumptions.
Choosing someone to work on the supporting structure of your home requires confidence in their construction knowledge.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights has spent more than four decades working on Bay Area homes.
Our experience is not limited to one type of structural repair. We understand foundations, concrete, carpentry, framing, remodeling, additions, drainage-related work, dry rot repair, and other systems that may intersect during a house leveling project.
Mares & Dow has served San Francisco and East Bay homeowners since 1983.
Working across the region for decades has given our team experience with homes of many ages, layouts, architectural styles, and construction types.
That background helps us approach each structural concern individually.
Archie Mares and Dennis Dow built the company around practical construction knowledge.
Archie’s background includes concrete, foundations, electrical work, residential construction, and commercial construction.
Dennis is a carpenter by trade with extensive experience in home construction, remodeling, project planning, supervision, and team management.
Their complementary backgrounds provide a strong foundation for evaluating projects involving multiple parts of a home.
Structural symptoms can cross traditional service categories.
What initially looks like a foundation problem may involve framing. What appears to be a framing problem may have been influenced by moisture. A floor irregularity may relate to changes made during a previous remodel.
Our general contracting background allows us to consider these relationships.
We believe structural recommendations should be based on the property rather than a predetermined package of services.
Some homes may need localized repairs.
Others may require stabilization plus framing or support work.
Understanding the cause allows us to recommend a scope that makes sense for the situation.
Homeowners should not have to become construction experts to understand what is happening to their property.
We aim to explain our observations clearly, discuss the proposed work in understandable terms, and maintain communication throughout the project.
Mares & Dow’s philosophy is simple: quality and service come first.
We approach projects with attention to detail, respect for the property, and a commitment to dependable workmanship.
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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A house leveling project may involve one structural component or several interconnected areas.
Mares & Dow provides comprehensive services that allow us to develop a solution around the cause of the unevenness.
Before deciding what should be corrected, the affected portions of the home need to be understood.
Our evaluation may consider accessible foundation components, floor framing, beams, posts, joists, crawlspace conditions, and visible patterns of movement.
Looking at differences in floor elevation helps establish how the structure is behaving.
Rather than focusing only on the most noticeable low point, the broader pattern can help provide useful information about where movement has occurred.
When foundation movement contributes to the problem, stabilization may become part of the overall structural plan.
The appropriate solution depends on the type of foundation, location of movement, severity of the condition, and relationship between the foundation and the structure above.
Crawlspaces can contain many of the components responsible for supporting a home’s floor.
If posts, beams, joists, or other supports become damaged or deteriorated, floors may begin to sag.
Repairing these components can restore more appropriate support to affected areas.
Structural framing can weaken because of age, damage, moisture, previous modifications, or other conditions.
Where appropriate, damaged components may be repaired or reinforced as part of the leveling project.
Structural adjustments should be performed deliberately.
Rather than treating leveling as a race to achieve a perfectly flat surface, the correction should account for the home and its existing condition.
Moisture can compromise structural wood over time.
When deterioration is contributing to sagging or reduced support, damaged material may need to be addressed so the repaired structure has a dependable base.
Mares & Dow’s broader construction services allow us to address related conditions when they are part of the house leveling problem.
For more information, visit our House Leveling Services page.
Richmond is a geographically diverse East Bay city with established neighborhoods, hillside residential areas, waterfront communities, and homes built during different periods of the city’s development.
Mares & Dow provides house leveling services throughout Richmond, including properties in and around these well-known areas.
Point Richmond is one of the city’s historic residential areas and contains distinctive homes on streets near the shoreline and surrounding hills.
When working with older properties, construction history, framing condition, previous modifications, and long-term movement can all be relevant to understanding uneven floors.
Richmond Annex sits near the city’s southern boundary and contains established residential streets.
Homes that have been occupied and modified over many decades may develop floor irregularities for a variety of reasons, making individual assessment important.
The North & East area contains many established homes and residential blocks.
Changes such as sloping floors, recurring wall cracks, and sticking doors should be considered together when determining whether structural movement may be involved.
Marina Bay is a waterfront area containing residential development that differs considerably from Richmond’s older inland neighborhoods.
Regardless of construction age, noticeable structural changes should be evaluated based on the individual building rather than assumptions about the surrounding area.
The Hilltop area includes residential neighborhoods in northern Richmond.
Properties can vary in layout, age, foundation configuration, and terrain, all of which can influence how structural concerns are evaluated.
East Richmond Heights is situated near the hills along Richmond’s eastern side.
Properties near changing elevations can have site characteristics that should be considered alongside foundation, framing, drainage, and structural conditions.
Residential streets near Richmond’s eastern hills and Wildcat Canyon are influenced by changing terrain.
Terrain alone does not establish the cause of an uneven home. A property-specific evaluation is necessary to determine whether foundation movement, framing, moisture, or another condition is contributing.
Richmond’s extensive waterfront includes residential communities with their own development histories and building characteristics.
Regardless of location, Mares & Dow evaluates each home’s actual construction and condition before recommending house leveling work.
House leveling concerns often reveal themselves through everyday changes inside the home.
A floor may gradually change elevation across a room or hallway.
The cause may originate in the foundation, floor framing, crawlspace supports, or another part of the structure.
A floor that feels low or less solid in a particular area may warrant investigation of the supporting components beneath it.
Doors depend on relatively square openings.
When surrounding framing moves, doors may begin rubbing, sticking, or failing to latch properly.
Changes in structural alignment can sometimes affect window openings.
Multiple windows developing problems alongside other movement-related symptoms can provide useful context.
Many homes develop minor cracks, and not every crack is structural.
However, a crack that repeatedly returns after cosmetic repair may deserve closer attention, especially when other changes are occurring nearby.
Movement can produce separation around baseboards, crown molding, cabinets, counters, walls, and other previously aligned surfaces.
Aging or moisture-damaged supports beneath the floor can reduce structural support and contribute to sagging.
When one portion of the foundation changes elevation relative to another, that difference can affect floors and walls above.
Damaged beams, joists, posts, or connections may create floor problems independently of significant foundation movement.
Older homes may have been altered over time.
When additions or remodeling change the structure, understanding how those improvements connect to the original building can be important during evaluation.
Experience matters when working on an existing home’s structure.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights has served Bay Area homeowners since 1983, bringing more than four decades of construction knowledge to residential projects.
The company is built around the longstanding partnership of Archie Mares and Dennis Dow.
Archie’s experience spans concrete work, foundations, electrical construction, residential projects, and commercial construction.
Dennis brings a carpenter’s background along with extensive experience in building, remodeling, supervision, and project management.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights, Inc. is licensed as a General and Electrical Contractor under California License #618118.
Our construction capabilities extend well beyond house leveling and include areas such as:
That broader expertise helps when a house leveling project crosses multiple areas of construction.
A sagging floor may require carpentry knowledge. Foundation settlement may require a different approach. Moisture-related deterioration may require repairs to damaged structural materials.
Rather than separating these conditions artificially, we look at how they affect the home as a whole.
For Richmond homeowners, that means recommendations based on the building’s actual condition and the relationships between its structural components.
Finding structural changes does not mean you need to panic or immediately assume extensive repairs are necessary.
Instead, gather information and pay attention to patterns.
If you notice a new crack, floor dip, or gap, make a note of when you first observed it.
Photographs can be helpful for comparing the condition later.
Ask yourself whether the condition has remained relatively unchanged or seems to be getting worse.
Progressive changes can provide useful information during an evaluation.
Walk through nearby rooms.
Are several doors sticking?
Do multiple floors feel uneven?
Are cracks concentrated in one portion of the home?
Patterns can help identify where further evaluation may be useful.
Persistent moisture can affect structural wood and other building components.
If accessible areas beneath or around the home remain damp, that information can be relevant to understanding deterioration.
A crack that repeatedly returns after patching deserves more attention than simply another layer of filler and paint.
The same principle applies to doors that constantly need adjustment or gaps that continue reopening.
An experienced contractor can evaluate the relationship between visible symptoms and accessible structural components.
That information helps determine whether leveling, stabilization, framing repair, support correction, moisture-related work, or another solution is appropriate.
House leveling is the process of correcting or stabilizing areas of a home that have settled, sagged, or moved out of their intended position.
Depending on the cause, the work may involve foundation components, beams, posts, joists, crawlspace supports, or other structural elements.
Possible signs include sloping floors, sagging areas, recurring cracks, sticking doors, difficult windows, gaps between surfaces, and other changes in structural alignment.
Because these symptoms can have several causes, evaluation is important before deciding what repair is needed.
Floors may become uneven because of foundation settlement, deteriorated framing, weakened crawlspace supports, moisture damage, previous remodeling, or long-term structural movement.
More than one factor can sometimes contribute.
No.
The foundation is only one possible source.
Joists, beams, posts, crawlspace components, previous structural modifications, and other conditions can also affect floor elevation.
Yes.
Persistent moisture can damage structural wood and contribute to deterioration such as dry rot.
If affected components lose strength, the floor above may begin to sag or feel less stable.
Many older homes can be stabilized or corrected, but the appropriate amount of adjustment depends on the building.
Age, construction type, existing movement, previous remodeling, framing condition, and other factors should all be considered.
Project length depends on the size of the affected area, accessibility, type of structural problem, severity of movement, and repairs required.
A localized correction may take less time than a project involving multiple structural systems.
The scope of work should be established before estimating a meaningful project timeline.
If structural movement is contributing to recurring cracks, correcting or stabilizing the underlying condition may help address the cause.
Existing drywall, plaster, paint, or other cosmetic damage may still require separate repair afterward.
No.
Foundation repair specifically addresses the foundation.
House leveling focuses on correcting or stabilizing uneven portions of the building. Foundation work may be part of the solution, but house leveling can also involve beams, posts, joists, crawlspace supports, and other framing components.
Start with an evaluation of the affected areas.
Mares & Dow can examine relevant structural conditions, discuss what appears to be contributing to the problem, and recommend an appropriate next step based on your home.
Learn more about our House Leveling Services or contact us to discuss your property.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights provides house leveling and related structural services throughout Richmond and neighboring East Bay communities.
Directly south of Richmond, El Cerrito contains established residential neighborhoods and homes near the East Bay hills.
We help homeowners evaluate uneven floors, sagging areas, structural movement, and related concerns.
South of Richmond and El Cerrito, Berkeley contains homes representing many different architectural periods and construction styles.
Older structures, previous remodeling, framing conditions, and foundation movement can all be relevant when evaluating uneven floors.
Albany is a compact residential community near Richmond’s southern side.
Homes in established neighborhoods can develop structural changes over time that require property-specific evaluation.
Farther south, Oakland contains an extensive range of residential architecture, terrain, and construction ages.
Our broader Bay Area construction experience helps us evaluate structural conditions based on the individual property rather than relying solely on location.
Mares & Dow’s East Bay office is located in Concord.
We serve homeowners throughout this part of the Bay Area with house leveling, foundation, structural, remodeling, and general contracting services.
Walnut Creek includes both established and newer residential neighborhoods.
Foundation conditions, structural framing, moisture, and previous renovations may all influence how floor irregularities develop.
Whether your property is in Richmond or another East Bay community, our approach remains centered on understanding the structure before recommending a solution.
An uneven home can raise many questions.
Is the foundation settling? Has something changed beneath the floor? Is moisture affecting the framing? Is an old repair beginning to fail? Does the entire home need attention, or is the problem confined to one area?
Those questions cannot be answered reliably by looking at the floor alone.
Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights brings more than 40 years of Bay Area construction experience to homeowners dealing with structural movement and uneven floors.
Our experience with foundations, concrete, framing, carpentry, dry rot, remodeling, drainage, additions, and general construction allows us to consider the different systems that may be contributing to the problem.
We begin by understanding the property.
From there, we can develop recommendations based on the condition of the home, the location of the movement, and the structural components involved.
Whether the appropriate solution involves targeted leveling, stabilization, crawlspace support repairs, framing reinforcement, foundation work, or related structural corrections, our goal is to provide a practical path forward.
Throughout the process, we emphasize the qualities that have shaped Mares & Dow for more than four decades: honest guidance, responsive service, friendly communication, careful planning, and dependable workmanship.
If your Richmond home has developed sloping floors, sagging areas, recurring cracks, sticking doors, foundation movement, or other structural changes, you do not have to keep guessing about what is happening.
Start by finding the cause.
Ready to get clear answers about your Richmond home’s uneven floors?
Schedule Your Free Estimate With Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights
For additional information about our approach, visit our House Leveling Services page.