Berkeley has several distinct, charming neighborhoods. Although the city’s most populous areas are located around the University of California’s (UC) campus, there is plenty of life and space for families further away from the campus as well. These neighborhoods are typically defined by bustling commercial activity along the main avenues and districts with groups of homes, some huddled together and some spaced out. Although larger apartment buildings are typical in several of these districts, the majority of Berkeley’s houses include detached homes with separate suites in the back for extended families or in-laws. 

Homeowners in the area are constantly updating their homes to fit their needs.  This allows families to accomodate their growing families, remove outdated materials, boost the home’s resale value, and fix safety issues. Listed here are some of the best remodeling contractors in Berkley, California. These firms have transformed homes into an oasis perfect for homeowners. They are chosen based on their merits, portfolio, and reputation.

HDR Remodeling

2952 Sacramento St., Berkeley, CA 94702

For more than 34 years, HDR Remodeling has enhanced not only homes but also the lives of those living in the Greater East Bay area. The firm provides smart and detailed solutions and carefully incorporates them into re-imagined spaces. President Chris Fellows lead its outstanding team bringing his 25 years of experience in the industry. Fellows is a National Association of the Remodeling Industry – Certified Remodeling Project Manager (NARI – CRPM), Lead Renovation & Repair Certified, and C2 Asbestos Hazard Safety Certified. His contributions and expertise have brought recognition to the firm, naming it one of the Top 50 LGBT-owned businesses in the Bay Area for three years. It was also NARI’s Contractor of the Year (CotY) and a Chrysalis awardee.

Some of the firm’s notable works were featured in the US News and World Report, Remodeling Magazine, and Piedmont Post. Also, one of its notable works is the Chabot Home Remodel in Oakland. Initially, the project consisted of foundation structural repair, updating the electrical and plumbing system, and the installation of a new roof and windows. It was then discovered that some parts of the home were already unstable. The HDR team redeveloped and updated the house while preserving its charming 1920s elements.

Jetton Construction

1117-A Virginia St., Berkeley, CA 94702

Jetton Construction has built and improved more than 500 homes in the Bay Area. The firm was founded in 1980 by Bill Jetton to provide homeowners with excellent construction services that utilize sustainable building practices. He leads an exceptional team of experts committed to serving clients. They ensure that the process is creative, rewarding, and stress-free. Their streamlined process has helped them develop many award-winning homes, including the Sausalito Contemporary Home that won the 2022 California Home + Design Residential Award.

The firm’s high standards and innovative solutions were commended by several publications, including ELLE Decor, Gentry Home Magazine, and The New York Times. For instance, this Summit House was featured in Dwell Magazine and the American Institute of Architects’ (AIA’s) East Bay’s Home Tour. It was remodeled to adapt to the surrounding Berkeley Hills, coupled with Scandinavian and Japanese design influences. The home’s key features include a strong exterior, sun-blocking louvers, insulating glass, and custom handcrafted cabinetry by Henrybuilt.

Levitch Associates, Inc

1029 Heinz Aven., Berkeley, CA 94710

Established in 1960, Levitch Associates, Inc. specializes in fascinating residential home remodels, complex additions, new home constructions, as well as light commercial and industrial projects. The firm is a third-generation family business and is one of the top local architectural and construction companies in the area. Supervised by President Maurice Levitch, an AIA professional, the team has enhanced over 1,000 spaces. Qualified Remodeler and Remodeling Magazine highlighted some of these thoughtfully designed and well-crafted homes. Several also won awards, such as the PCBC’s Gold Nugget Awards and Award for Design and Excellence.

Among the firm’s outstanding works is the Berkeley Open Plan Living. The team renovated the weekend getaway home of UC Berkeley Alumni. They repositioned the kitchen, dining, and living spaces to face each other to create a more spacious layout. This made the home suitable for entertaining guests, as well as capitalizing on the expansive Bay views. White and gray tones were also used to commemorate the university’s team color. This palette was applied to the bedroom and two bathrooms to complement the cool and refreshing tones. The team also replaced several vinyl windows to create a seamless flow and design.

Alward Construction Co., Inc.

1035 Carleton St., Berkeley, CA 94710

Since 1979, Alward Construction Co., Inc. has provided remodeling and construction services to the San Francisco Bay Area. The firm specializes in kitchen and bathroom, interior and exterior, finished basement and attic, home expansion, whole house, and commercial spaces. Its client-focused approach made the firm known across the nation. Moreover, the firm  has continuous ongoing projects, 50% of which are from repeat clients. This also resulted in new spaces that have surpassed client expectations and have brought recognition to the firm. NARI CotY, NARI San Francisco Bay Area Merit Award, Chrysalis Best Project: Addition over $250k, and Chrysalis Best Project: Bath Remodel over $60k are among these distinctions.

Maynard P. Buehler House, Orinda, California, 1948. Refurbished in 1994.

This Buehler house was previously ravaged by a fire. The Alward team revived the Usonian-style home and incorporated its original design and material palette. It now highlights stunning custom redwoods throughout the house. It also features eave light boxes, copper fascia, skylights in the patio cantilever, and Cherokee red concrete, a common element in Wright Usonian homes. This project was recognized by NARI and awarded the Grand and National awards for CotY.

Cerami Builders Inc.

557 Santa Clara Ave., Berkeley, CA 94707

Cerami Builders has established itself as a reputable remodeler and contractor in the San Francisco Bay Area as a firm that can transform neglected spaces into functional havens. Its portfolio includes new home constructions, kitchen and bathroom renovations, custom home building, general contracting, home expansion, outdoor kitchen development, and deck building. Its team of professionals works closely with clients to ensure each space is built the way clients envision it. Their extensive knowledge of design details and materials also helped them provide well-crafted homes. Paul Cerami, the firm’s principal, supports the team and is hands-on in every project it works on. His experience has also helped the firm to achieve numerous successful projects and merits. Several of these projects are highlighted in Fine Homebuilding and the In-Laws, Outlaws, and Granny Flats: Your Guide to Turning One House into Two Homes book.

One of the firm’s notable works is Project 4 – Tacoma. The Cerami team initially did a small remodel by opening up the main level and repositioning the second level. The homeowners liked their work and decided to hire the team again for a complete home remodel. Fully committing to the style, the home was refurbished in a contemporary style. Highlights of this project are the European door window and the cantilever steel stair.

Proyecto

2705 Webster St. #5755, Berkeley, CA 94705

Proyecto is a full-service construction and remodeling firm that creates stunning and functional spaces for bathrooms, kitchens, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), home expansions, and whole homes. A key element of the firm’s approach is project management. Its in-house technicians, designers, and project managers ensure that projects run smoothly and strictly follow the laid-out plan. They also collaborate with clients and have regular clear communication to guarantee that the project is the way clients intend it to be. Its efforts were acknowledged by Dwell, California Home Design, and Home & Garden Television (HGTV).

President Manuel Navarro and CEO Abe Wortman worked together two decades ago in the real estate development sector before creating the firm in 2015. Navarro is a licensed general contractor and a journeyman carpenter. In his 20 years of experience in the field, he has built large structures that lined the San Francisco skyline to single-family homes that bring comfort to the Bay Area. Wortman, on the other hand, was previously a French chef, sommelier, and designer in real estate. He found his passion for renovating while he was in realty, as well as seeing what the field lacks. This pushed him to create beautiful yet practical spaces and provide clients with the service they need.

MacLeod Design & Construction

1701 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94709

Green builder MacLeod Design & Construction is committed to creating sustainable and efficient spaces using eco-friendly building techniques. Its process is accredited by the Passive House Institute US, AIA, Build It Green, and Energy Star. Principal Ian Macleod—licensed architect and general contractor and the former planning and zoning commissioner of Albany, California—leads the team in challenging, complex projects requiring high skill and caution. Numerous publications such as Huffington Post, Bay Citizen, and Chronicle Books’ San Francisco Modern: Interiors, Architecture, and Design have featured the firm’s impressive builds.

MacLeod has developed numerous award-winning homes since its inception in 1995. One of those is the MacLeod/Morand House, winner of the AIA San Francisco Energy + Sustainability Citation Award. This project also won two awards for Build It Green—one state-wide and one from the Bay Area— Remodel the Future and Best in Show: Fall Green Home Tour. It was a whole home renovation of a small bungalow home into an energy-efficient spacious sanctuary.

Oliver Builders

1031 Pardee St., Berkeley, CA 94710

Oliver Builders’ approach to building and remodeling spaces involves establishing a collaborative relationship with the clients. The firm’s team practices active listening and enhanced communication to make this approach more efficient and to avoid miscommunication. Aside from maximizing the home’s value, they also reinforce homes using resistant materials, especially in earthquake-prone areas. Some materials they use are sustainable and recycled to reduce waste and do not compromise structural integrity.

The firm’s portfolio consists of whole house remodels, kitchen and bathroom renovation, home expansion, and ADUs. The Rockridge full house remodel is one of its notable works. The home’s front exterior showcases a Prairie architectural style that emphasizes smooth parallel lines while creating harmony with its surroundings. Its rear exterior features a mid-century style with a seamless, minimalist design.

Alderson Construction

710 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94710

Residential construction and remodeling firm Alderson Construction coordinates with the UC Berkeley Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center to ensure homes are structurally sound in the event of earthquakes. The firm applies the center’s research to its designs and processes. Aside from producing shock-resistant homes, it is also known to preserve homes. Its team considers the property’s history and preserves its unique elements. In fact, the firm was given the Orchid Award by the City of Oakland for its restoration and preservation of St. Augustine’s Church, a nationally registered landmark.

Tom Alderson founded the firm in 1979 to serve the San Francisco Bay Area. In the past 43 years, he has worked with various nationally and locally acclaimed architects and designers to produce and maintain stunning homes. Architectural Digest, Sunset Magazine, and Better Homes and Gardens are some of the publications that recognized Alderson and the team’s efforts. One of their projects was also named the Greenest Project in Lafayette. They have successfully created a new protocol for rainwater and greywater for Contra Costa County.

Tinka Construction

60 Arden Rd., Berkeley, CA 94704

Tinka Construction was established in 2005 by George Catalin. He founded the firm to provide San Francisco Bay Area homeowners with efficient, cost-effective remodeling and restoration services for both residential and commercial properties. Catalin and his team present clients with stunning design inputs and flexible options that give spaces a fresh look. They are also transparent and pay close attention to details and customer needs to avoid headaches and stress. Their unmatched project management gives the team full control capabilities and helps them plan each project effectively.

The Tinka team completely remodeled this condo unit in San Francisco for a previous client. They finished the project within three months, including a new kitchen and living space, two bathrooms, three bedrooms, a laundry area, and a walk-in closet. The plumbing and electrical systems were updated as well. The owner commended the team’s efficiency and guidance in every process step, including permit acquisition and material selection.