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Practical Insight From Four Decades of Building

Our resources are built around experience, not theory. With more than 40 years serving Bay Area homes, Mares & Dow Construction & Skylights shares insight that reflects how quality construction is planned, built, and maintained. Every article supports informed decisions through craftsmanship, materials, and long-term performance.

How Long Does A Project Take With A Home Addition Contractor In Hayward, CA?

How Long Does A Project Take With A Home Addition…

Alameda city ordinances require building permits for nearly all home additions, be it a new room, an extended kitchen, or a second floor. Contractors are…

Do You Need Permits When Hiring A Home Addition Contractor In Alameda, CA?

Do You Need Permits When Hiring A Home Addition Contractor…

Alameda city ordinances require building permits for nearly all home additions, be it a new room, an extended kitchen, or a second floor. Contractors are…

How Much Does A Home Addition Contractor In Fremont, CA Cost?

How Much Does A Home Addition Contractor In Fremont, CA…

Prices commonly vary depending on the amount of the project, the type of room added, and the caliber of materials chosen. Labor costs in Fremont…

What Does A Home Addition Contractor In Berkeley, CA, Typically Handle?

What Does A Home Addition Contractor In Berkeley, CA, Typically…

A home addition contractor in Berkeley, CA generally manages the entire process for new rooms or expansions on a home. Most handle planning, permits, and…

How Do You Choose The Best Home Addition Contractor In Oakland, CA?

How Do You Choose The Best Home Addition Contractor In…

Seismic retrofitting is when existing buildings and structures are bolstered to better withstand potential earthquakes. Fundamentally, it’s to reduce the likelihood that your structure is…

Signs Your Home Might Be Slowly Sinking

Signs Your Home Might Be Slowly Sinking

Signs your home might be slowly sinking can show in the small changes that are easy to overlook. Cracked walls, tilted floors, sticking windows, and…

How To Replace Siding Without Replacing The Whole Wall

How To Replace Siding Without Replacing The Whole Wall

To replace siding without replacing the whole wall, focus on swapping out only the damaged boards while keeping the rest of the structure in place.…

Fiber Cement VS. Wood Siding: Which Holds Up Better?

Fiber Cement VS. Wood Siding: Which Holds Up Better?

Fiber cement siding outlasts wood siding and requires far less maintenance in most climates. Fiber cement is composed of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, providing…

The Cost Of Ignoring Dry Rot In Your Framing Or Subfloor

The Cost Of Ignoring Dry Rot In Your Framing Or…

The expense of overlooking dry rot in your framing or subfloor can translate into increased repair costs, diminished home value, and potential safety hazards. Rot…

What Is Dry Rot? How To Spot It Before It Spreads

What Is Dry Rot? How To Spot It Before It…

Dry rot is a type of wood decay caused by fungi that feed on wood fibers, leaving the material weak, brittle, and unsafe. Early warning…

How To Add A Deck That Boosts Home Value

How To Add A Deck That Boosts Home Value

Select strong wood or composite. match style to your house plan for flow between indoors and outdoors. Since lots of buyers desire outdoor space for…

Signs Your Retaining Wall Is Failing (And What To Do)

Signs Your Retaining Wall Is Failing (And What To Do)

Signs your retaining wall is failing include cracks, leaning, bulging, or water stains. Retaining walls are essential for retaining soil and preventing erosion, but small…

Best Materials For Bay Area Retaining Walls

Best Materials For Bay Area Retaining Walls

Top retaining wall materials for the Bay Area include concrete, natural stone, pressure-treated wood, and segmental retaining wall blocks. All provide obvious advantages such as…

How To Design A Retaining Wall That Lasts 30+ Years

How To Design A Retaining Wall That Lasts 30+ Years

How to design a 30+ year retaining wall: strong base materials, plan for good drainage, size the wall for the load. Walls that were meant…

When Does A Retaining Wall Become A Structural Requirement?

When Does A Retaining Wall Become A Structural Requirement?

A retaining wall becomes a structural requirement when it must hold back soil or other materials at a height or load that can no longer…

What To Expect During A Home Renovation In The Bay Area

What To Expect During A Home Renovation In The Bay…

Key Takeaways You should expect your renovation project in the Bay Area to follow a multi-phase timeline. This includes conceptual planning, design, permitting, construction, and…

Why Experience Matters: Hiring A Remodeler Vs. A General Contractor

Why Experience Matters: Hiring A Remodeler Vs. A General Contractor

Key Takeaways When choosing between a general contractor and a remodeler, you should align your selection with the complexity and scope of your project to…

Design-Bid-Build Vs Design-Build: Which Is Right For You?

Design-Bid-Build Vs Design-Build: Which Is Right For You?

Key Takeaways By knowing the differences between design-bid-build and design-build, you can make informed decisions that best suit your project goals, resources, and timeline expectations.…

5 Benefits Of Choosing A Full-Service Remodeling Company

5 Benefits Of Choosing A Full-Service Remodeling Company

Key Takeaways When you go with a full-service remodeling company, you gain the advantage of unified accountability. One team is accountable for every aspect of…

What Is The Design-Build Method (And Why Homeowners Prefer It)

What Is The Design-Build Method (And Why Homeowners Prefer It)

Key Takeaways You get the advantages of a design-build method, where one team does your design and your construction. It is personally convenient and provides…

Red Flags to Watch for When Hiring a Home Remodeler

Red Flags to Watch for When Hiring a Home Remodeler

Missing licenses, vague contracts, no references, and no clear project timeline are red flags to watch for when hiring a home remodeler. Most homeowners who…

What a Good Estimate Should Include (And What It Shouldn’t)

What a Good Estimate Should Include (And What It Shouldn’t)

What a good estimate should have and what a good estimate shouldn’t. These components help establish reasonable expectations between teams and customers. What a good…

How to Check a Contractor’s License and References

How to Check a Contractor’s License and References

Use official online licensing portals from your state licensing board. Ask for references and be sure to inquire about recent clients. Ask for the contractor’s…

General Contractor vs Subcontractor: What’s the Difference?

General Contractor vs Subcontractor: What’s the Difference?

General contractors oversee entire projects, coordinate schedules, and oversee all trades. They work with clients from beginning to end, hire laborers, establish schedules, and handle…

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