Located in western Contra Costa County, Richmond is one of two cities that sit on San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay’s shores. With a population of just over a hundred thousand residents, the area offers homeowners a suburban feel. The town’s diverse citizens live in homes that often feature Craftsman, traditional, and classic Spanish-Californian architecture.
This list showcases nine of the best general contractors in the area, the builders behind some of Richmond’s best homes and spaces. They were chosen based on their services, backgrounds, and portfolio. Several of these firms also have various ranges of specialty work.
Kasten Builders
3419 Regatta Blvd., Richmond, CA 94804
Kasten Builders extends its services throughout the Bay Area. Its business is rooted in effective communication, quality control, and teamwork. The firm offers a complete range of custom home building and remodeling services and is experienced in every aspect and stage of the entire process. Its experienced team assists its clients from start to finish and has the skills, materials, and methods necessary to execute any project regardless of complexity. Denny Kasten leads the firm and serves as its president. He holds a degree in Architecture from Lawrence Institute of Technology in Southfield, Michigan, and first gained experience working with general contractors during his time as a student. Under his leadership, the firm has grown to become one of the area’s most recognizable firms. Kasten has worked in some of the best neighborhoods of Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties, as well as the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Located in Mill Valley, the project above spans 6,000 square feet and boasts a modern contemporary look. This project challenged the firm’s team with its site constraints and a complex foundation that its team regarded as “the most difficult foundation plan yet.” The finished project features consistent copper siding, exposed panelized formed concrete, and smooth stucco finishes.
Murphy McKenna Construction
125 Park Place, Suite 200 Point Richmond, CA 94801
Murphy McKenna Construction offers a full and comprehensive range of construction services. The firm’s talented staff of builders and professionals possess excellent backgrounds in architecture, the kind of experience that enables them to take on any project regardless of size and complexity. The firm is highly meticulous and works with only the best architects, designers, and subcontractors. The firm’s team works with its clients throughout some of a project’s most critical stages. That includes working out details, bids, and accurately estimating budgets and schedules. All of the firm’s projects come with warranties—the firm guarantees the quality of its work. It also takes on small projects from time to time. Murphy McKenna Construction is no stranger to recognition and has had its work published in various magazines, including Builder Magazine and Residential Design & Build
Murphy Mckenna Construction collaborated with Levy Art + Architecture to bring this modern green home to life. The Los Altos Hills high-tech architectural masterpiece is a highly sustainable, eco-friendly smart home that opens up seamlessly to nature. It features a geothermal energy system and an impressive 30 feet of NanaWall stacking glass doors.
Feraru & Associates
1569 Solano Ave., #249 Berkeley, CA 94707
Feraru & Associates has been noted for its excellent customer service and expertise in a luxurious range of architectural themes. It specializes in large-scale remodeling projects and extends its services throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Furthermore, the firm provides in-house consultations, strong relationships with an excellent network of specialists, and a fantastic hands-on process. The Feraru team assists throughout the entire process, and meticulously guides its clients during every phase of a remodel. The firm is composed of talented professionals, some of whom are European artisans with impressive backgrounds and experience. Together, they have secured a solid reputation for the firm for its excellent attention to detail, using only the best materials, and thorough expertise regarding the most challenging designs.
The project above best depicts the firm’s expertise. For this home, the firm opted for an open floor plan coupled with transitional and modern elements. The team used several wood panels in its floors and ceilings, as well as clean exposed beams. Minimalist countertops can also be observed in addition to several unique fixtures.
Lawrence Construction
1 Harbour Way South, Richmond, CA 94804
Established in 1986, Lawrence Construction is a team of talented and experienced professionals that offers a complete range of remodeling services. The firm uses only the best materials and methods and works closely with its clients throughout the process, ensuring that their vision and needs are embodied in their new spaces. The firm also incorporates various sustainability efforts into its projects, making its homes and spaces energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. The firm’s team draws inspiration from over a century of experience and is personally led by its founder and namesake, Tom Lawrence. He is an experienced builder who started in the building industry at quite an early age. Under his leadership, the firm has had the opportunity of being featured in publications like the San Francisco Chronicle and Sunset Bathrooms. The firm also participated in the 2008 Build It Green Home Tour.
Showcased above is one of the firm’s best pieces of work. For this kitchen, the Lawrence team opted for an open floor plan coupled with excellent wooden accents. They also chose sleek granite countertops, wood-paneled flooring, and various glass walls and windows.
Promodeling
10567 San Pablo Ave., El Cerrito, CA 94530
Extending its services throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, Promodeling is the brainchild of Guy Oren, who envisioned establishing a one-stop-shop firm for every homeowner’s remodeling needs. As a result, Promodeling offers a complete and comprehensive range of services. Its team is composed of experienced construction engineers, designers, and builders and adheres to only the highest standards. Turn-key solutions using only the latest and most innovative techniques are the firm’s promise to every client. Its process has also been noted for its emphasis on various safety measures, assuring its clients its use of safe practices. The firm’s portfolio depicts a variety of excellent spaces and designs, with its craftsmanship best encapsulated in the project below.
For this bathroom, the Promodeling team opted for an excellent modern theme. It features a unique skylight, clean finishes, and various minimalist touches. The show area is encased in glass and also showcases marble seating to match its floors.
Fierro Construction
3040 Cutting Blvd Richmond, CA 94804
Fierro Construction begins its process with an initial consultation, where it conducts a brief overview of a client’s needs and desires. The firm then studies the area to be remodeled to ensure that its new design and plans blend into the room’s environment. This Richmond-based construction company has also been noted for its excellent estimates and accurate projections, keeping each project on track and within schedule. The Fierro team assists with material choices and closely works with its clients when finalizing concepts. Fierro Construction also offers its services at highly competitive prices, typically ten to 20 percent lower than most other contractors. Uniquely, the firm has what it calls an “Update Tracking System,” which is essentially a custom webpage for its specific projects that allows homeowners to track their progress.
As for its designs, its portfolio shows a rich range of varying themes. The bathroom above is an excellent example of one of its more transitional projects. It features a stone-themed trim, a neutral color palette, and a custom bath and shower area.
Greenfield Remodeling & Building
1519 Arch St, Berkeley, CA 94708
Christopher D’Andrea leads Greenfield Remodeling & Building and, as its name suggests, specializes in an extensive range of residential home improvement and customization services. D’Andrea personally oversees all of the firm’s work and draws inspiration from nearly three decades of industry experience. Under his supervision and leadership, the firm has built quite the reputation for its excellent kitchens, baths, additions, and whole-house remodels. It has worked with some of the best and most innovative architects throughout the East Bay area and prefers working closely with them throughout the entire process. The firm is capable of taking on any project, regardless of size or scale. Given that it is a relatively small firm compared to others on this list, homeowners can expect their projects to receive the firm’s utmost attention.
Much of the firm’s best work can be seen in Berkeley, Oakland, Montclair, Piedmont, Albany, Kensington, and other East Bay communities. For the firm’s services and projects, Greenfield has been distinguished with several awards and distinctions. The firm is particularly well-known for its excellent finishes, fixtures, and its expertise in heritage work.
Best Home Remodeling
6805 Del Monte Ave, Richmond CA 94805
Best Home Remodeling is a full-service general contractor that offers a complete and comprehensive range of remodeling services. It designs and constructs spaces that perfectly fit and accommodate a homeowner’s lifestyles and needs and it assists its clients from inception all the way through to completion. The firm is capable of taking on any project regardless of complexity and can accommodate any client request. Best Home Remodeling is a family-owned and operated business that offers homeowners nearly five decades of industry experience. Haim Zonnenchin, leads the team and brings a rich amount of experience and expertise, which is embodied in its stellar reviews. Depicted below is one of Best Home’s kitchen projects.
For this space, the firm’s team installed a kitchen island that also serves as a mini breakfast bar. Clean granite countertops can also be observed, along with custom tiled backsplashes and cabinetry. The firm opted for a neutral color palette and employed unique overhead lighting.
Style & Structure
3478 Buskirk Ave Suite 1000, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Style & Structure specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects and provides that service across the San Francisco Bay Area. The firm offers a comprehensive range of design and planning services and even extends its clients impressive 3D remodels—models that ensure accurate estimates and designs with minimal revisions that rarely go over budget. That said, it works closely with its clients and draws up impressive and detailed plans and schedules with a strict completion deadline. The firm uses a highly customer-centric approach, ensuring that their needs and lifestyles are infused into their new homes and spaces. Liron Rozen serves as the firm’s owner and personal overseer, emphasizing the importance of communicating closely with its clients during the entire process.
Showcased above is one of the firm’s best bathroom projects. Note the expertise for modern work. The firm’s work often showcases beautiful fixtures, excellent space planning, and innovative storage solutions, and this project is no exception. The firm also crafted a custom shower area separated by glass and installed intricate cabinetry.
