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The Best Residential General Contractors in San Diego

17 Min Read

Last updated on May 28th, 2024 at 09:39 am

Remodeling projects take our precious resources of time, money, and energy to build a better home and a brighter future. It is no wonder that it can be a stressful experience for homeowners. In sunny San Diego, home remodeling contractors have an added challenge. They must ensure that the home design not only functions well, but also brings the beautiful Southern California landscape into the design. In San Diego, open floor plans, large windows, functional and spacious decks to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean are an important part of a successful remodeling project.

Our list of San Diego general contractors understand the intricacies of home building and know that their clients’ trust is the foundation they stand on. Like the homes they build, trust must be built to withstand the many remodel challenges that may come their way. These contractors are ranked for their experience, industry awards and accolades, customer service, and the creative ways they incorporate San Diego’s natural beauty into their designs. They guarantee one precious thing: their client’s pure happiness when they see for the first time the transformations their homes have made — dated spaces revitalized and renewed into new homes ready to be lived in and loved.

If you are thinking about remodeling your home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.


15) Konstrukt Design and Remodel

9434 Chesapeake Drive, Suite 1207, San Diego, CA 92123

Spanning the timeframe of thousands of projects and millions of dollars of client investment into construction, Konstrukt Design and Remodel has a longstanding reputation for serving the San Diego area, going back to 1952. The company made the Top Ten Best San Diego General Contractors list on Buildzoom and was voted Best of 2012 by Kudzu.com. They are proud members of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and Build It Green, Konstrukt has been a family owned and operated firm for more than half a century. They pride themselves on their excellent customer service, their ability to build trust and confidence, and keeping their clients informed and engaged in their projects throughout the various stages of the construction process.

Konstrukt Design and Remodel has been successfully combining outstanding designs, impeccable construction skills, and the highest quality materials used to set the bar high and work tirelessly to deliver a spectacular product. A firm that began with a father who loved to work hard and loved to work with people, he influenced his sons to follow in his footsteps, and they have been carrying his legacy through building their clients’ dreams in the San Diego area for decades.


14) Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel

2878 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 160, San Diego CA, 92108

43-year veteran San Diego builder, Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel is a four-generation, family-run business. Current President and CEO Gregg Cantor began working for the firm in 1977. Like many principal builders, he learned from the ground up. Gregg started doing job site clean-up and hauling and then a carpenter’s assistant in 1978. After his studies at Grossmont College and San Diego State University, Gregg became an assistant superintendent and gained experienced in kitchen and bathroom projects, advancing to additions, second stories, and whole homes. He rapidly was promoted to superintendent and eventually head of production. In 1990, Gregg’s grandfather Murray retired and he became President. Gregg Cantor has managed thousands of homes remodeling and construction projects. Gregg is very proud of his daughter Rachel Cantor, Director of Design, who is the 4th generation at Murray Lampert, joining the company in 2014, after getting her degree in architecture at Miami of Ohio. Before joining the family business, Rachel worked as a designer at SFA Architects in Cincinnati.

Currently, Gregg Cantor is active in media and is co-host, known as “The Resident Expert” of The Approved Home Pro Show on ABC 10 TV. His firm has been featured on the Remodeling, MSN and Reader’s Digest websites. Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel was the winner of the San Diego BBB Torch Award in 2014 and 2008. It also a member of Guild Quality, earning the Guildmaster Award.


13) K-Co Construction Incorporated

3670 Clairemont Drive #9, San Diego, CA 92117  

With so many elements and moving targets in home renovation, it is inevitable that something is bound to go wrong. That’s where the K-Co Construction promise comes in. They vow to be there when their clients need them, to have open and timely communication, and to go as far as providing the personal cell phone number of key members of the team to their clients at all times. The award-winning team invite their clients to ask any questions and raise any concerns, and they work immediately to take care of issues that may arise. The “Build it Green” members became finalists for the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics in 2016 and received the Angie’s List Super Service Award in 2014.

With this level of care and attention at the forefront, they have been building beautiful spaces and solid relationships with their clients for 20 years. With small kitchen and bathroom makeovers, breathtaking whole-home renovations, creative and clever new additions, and expansions that offer added space to growing families, the K-Co team covers it all.


12) Armstrong Builders, Inc.

755 Turquoise Street, San Diego, CA 92109

Armstrong Builders was first formed in 1983 behind Tom Armstrong’s house in sunny Pacific Beach. The residential contractor has continued to serve the San Diego area from Coronado Island, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, and Del Mar, among others. Tom’s many years of experience in the residential construction field, from the time he was a 15-year-old laborer, allowed him to build an award-winning firm with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating and 35 years of service. Armstrong Builders is a Gold Medal Winner — Best Contractor between the years 2009 to 2017, as well as a Reader’s Choice Award recipient.

A Southern California surfer at heart, Tom Armstrong is dedicated to building beautiful homes while keeping his desire to stay “green minded” and take into account the natural world. For a Mission Beach remodel, the team used a monochromatic color scheme of different shades of grey and added modern accents like track lighting, an oval kitchen island, and a sparkling grey mosaic backsplash. They carried the soft grey theme throughout the house with grey wood floors and a reclaimed wood wall accent in one of the bedrooms.  


11) Design Studio West

7422 Girard Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037

Design Studio West offers the best of both worlds of home remodeling and construction, as well as interior design. Owner and President Lee Austin has nearly 30 years of experience as president of Lee Austin Construction. Austin’s vision of creating a full-service, design-build company became a reality when, in 2001, he purchased Design Studio West. Design Studio West received the kitchen of the year award from San Diego Home and Garden Magazine, the bath of the year award and three Star Awards from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). They were also featured in Architectural Digest.

Design Studio West created an award-winning bathroom with large format Neolith porcelain slabs on the shower walls that run from floor to ceiling. This installment is not only beautiful, but offers an easy to clean, sleek look with minimal seams and no grout lines.


10) VanBerg Construction

2521 B Street #102, San Diego, CA 92102 

VanBerg Construction is a San Diego area remodeling and design company that provides an exceptional remodeling experience for residential construction and kitchen and bathroom remodeling. Led by President Jeff Jertberg, the company has been serving Southern California since 1988. VanBerg Construction was among Remodeling Magazine’s Big 50. They were a Better Business Bureau Torch Award finalist and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry Regional Contractor of the Year. The general contractor in San Diego was also honored by Qualified Remodeler Magazine with a Master Design Award, a Professional Remodeler Best of the Best Design Award, and they received the San Diego Home and Gardens Kitchen of the Year Award. They have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

A sweeping stairwell leads to the second floor of a jaw-dropping VanBerg Construction design. The fouye is painted in a soft cream color that brightens the space. A stunning iron banister with intricate curled designs adds grace and timelessness, while the dark tile floors with a centrally installed mosaic accent bring a unique beauty to the design.


9) Streamline Development

1/2 East Cliff Street, Unit C-4, Solana Beach, CA 92075

Streamline Development is a premier residential general contractor focusing on custom coastal residential remodeling and new construction in the San Diego area. Led by Paul Spadone, the company believes that clear communication throughout the building process is fundamental to building their clients’ dream homes. Streamline Development received the ASID Design Excellence Award in 2011 and 2012, as well as the NAHB Builder of the Year Award in 2010. They are a EPA Certified firm and a member of Build it Green and the US Green Building Council. The company has been featured in the San Diego Union Tribune, San Diego Magazine, and the Del Mar Times.

One custom home design by Streamline Development is a stunning hybrid postmodern residence that uses cast-in-place walls, warm wood floors, beam accents, and steel finishes in the open concept kitchen. The modern design boasts a 20-foot opening that connects the indoors to the outdoors for ideal Southern California living and ample natural light.


8) Charco Design & Build

2136 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92101

Charco Design & Build was founded by Armando Flores after 20 years of experience working in the design and construction industry. His experience started at a top design firm in Los Angeles, then he worked for 18 years at Charco Construction, a reputable San Diego-based company his father-in-law established in 1966. Flores is a San Diego native who combines his professional background and his love of travel to bring impressive designs to the San Diego area. Under his leadership, Charco Design & Build was featured in Ranch & Coast Magazine, San Diego Magazine, Luxe Magazine, and San Diego Home & Garden. Flores was featured as an influential insider of San Diego in Modern Luxury Magazine and became a HGTV Faces of Design 2016 Finalist. The company is a member of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and American Society of Interior Designers. They are a Build it Green company with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.

One of Charco Design & Build’s modern, luxurious homes includes floor-to-ceiling windows in every room. The company masterfully blends a relaxed Southern California aesthetic with an edgy, crisp design. White walls, sleek wood floors, sharp angles, and industrial accents highlight this high-end contemporary home.


7) Integrity Restoration

4901 Morena Boulevard, Suite 502, San Diego, CA 92117

Eight-time recipient of the Golden Hammer Award and the 2014 winner of the Contractor Connection Performance Excellence Award — a prestigious honor that is awarded to only one licensed contractor in the entire western division — Integrity Restoration has been working in home renovation for 20 years. Integrity honors the qualities of honesty, strong principles, ethics, and sound judgement in construction. Under the leadership of owner, Chris Brown, they have been maintaining these core values while performing miracles in remodeling and home renovation.

From complete demolition jobs that take the outdated home to the ground and build back up a modern beauty, to working with more delicate details of retaining the old world charm of a historic structure, they are experts at what they do and the quality of their product is their number one priority. This Better Business Bureau A+ rated firm went above and beyond for one of their master bath renovations. It featured a double shower with frameless glass doors, as well as a double-jetted gorgeous tub with a champagne bubble system and multicolored therapeutic lighting — a perfect haven to relax in after a long day.


6) Marrokal Design & Remodeling, LLC

9474 Kearny Villa Road #205, San Diego, CA 92126

Marrokal Design & Remodeling has received countless prestigious industry awards and accolades including the Better Business Bureau Torch Awards for Marketplace Ethics, the Market Leader Award from Professional Remodeler Magazine, and Contractor of the Year Award (Coty) from the NARI. The San Diego general contractor also has an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. They are members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and among the top home remodeling contractors serving the San Diego area since 1981.

Led by CEO Gary Marrokal and President Thomas Capizzi Jr., the firm also recently announced that members of their design team have become Aging-In-Place specialists, understanding the intricacies of creating spaces to suit all of life’s stages and changing lifestyle needs.

From small- to large-scale home renovation projects, their exceptional workmanship shines in every area of home improvement. Among them are upscale bathroom renovations, high-end kitchens incorporating top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, modern countertops, gorgeous upper and base cabinets with under cabinet lighting, and breathtaking backyard retreats. Marrokal Design & Remodeling serves their clients with a superior design team and expert builders who offer the best in home renovation, using the highest quality materials and green building practices.


5) Jackson Design & Remodeling

4797 Mercury Street, San Diego, CA 92111

Jackson Design & Remodeling is a San Diego area general contractor that has been creating beautiful home designs in sunny Southern California since 1989. The company is led by CEO Todd R. Jackson, a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS) and a Certified Green Professional (CGP). The team at Jackson Design & Remodeling has received a myriad of industry awards and accolades. They were honored with Remodeling magazine’s coveted Big 50 award, presented annually to the nation’s top 50 remodeling companies. They company was also named by the San Diego Business Journal as one of 100 fastest growing privately held companies between the years 2007 and 2017.

Jackson Design & Remodeling ranked at #74 on Qualified Remodeler’s Top 500 list in 2017. The company has received 22 Master Design awards from Qualified Remodeler, 20 ASID awards from the American Society of Interior Designers, eight National Kitchen & Bath Association Awards, and 12 Chrysalis awards, among many other accolades and awards.

One of their many stunning Jackson Design and Remodeling examples is a seaside stunner transformed to maximize sweeping views of its gorgeous local. A spacious open concept kitchen and living room opens to the ocean and and spacious outdoor living area. A soft blue, white, and light grey color palette brings the ocean and sky into the home. And a stacked stone fireplace adds a rustic element to this quintessential beachy design.


4) J. Walsh Construction, Inc.

3065 Rosecrans Place, Suite 206, San Diego, CA 92110

Walsh Construction (JWC) is an award-winning San Diego licensed general contractor established in 1997. The company specializes in historic and period homes, custom traditional and contemporary residences, development projects, site-specific construction, and home additions. Headed by Jon Walsh, the team is recognized for its conscientious and professional communication and environmentally friendly business practices. JWC was featured in the Coastal Homes 2015 issue for a Craftsman remodel of Mills Act home. They have been featured in LUXE Interior + Design 2017 and San Diego Home & Garden 2016. Additionally, they won the 2016 House of the Year Award by San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles for the major restoration and remodel of a historic San Diego landmark designed by the famous Irving Gill.

One of J. Walsh Construction’s breathtaking designs maintained the old world craftsmanship and charm of a stunning Point Loma waterfront home built in 1965 by Jim Bruce Richards, a student of Frank Lloyd Wright. They expanded the waterfront home from a 2,600-square-foot single story to a 3,700-square-foot, two-story. The team preserved an original fireplace, which was created by James Hubbell, a famous local artist. The home also includes top-of-the-line appliances, smart technologies, and green materials.


3) Lars Remodeling & Design

5925 Kearny Villa Road, San Diego, CA 92123

One of the first San Diego remodeling companies to become a  National Association of the Remodeling Industry Certified Remodeler, award-winning Lars Remodeling & Design has been making beautiful transformations and impressive home renovations for the past 20 years. Led by the expert knowledge of President Jason Larson, the team has been delivering the highest level of workmanship and professionalism while upholding their reputation among licensed contractors as a company founded on trust, service, and integrity. Dated kitchens, baths, and outdoor living areas have been transformed into modern well-conceptualized and perfectly executed design ideas that use the latest trends and improvements in home renovation and interior design.

Lars was recently a recipient of the 2017 Pulse of the City Award, made the 2016 Top Remodeling Companies 550 List, in 2013 was named one of America’s Top Remodelers by Professional Remodelers – among many other award and accolades. Lars Remodeling & Design never takes the cookie-cutter approach to home improvement projects. Its team of talented designers and craftsmen listen to their clients’ needs and deliver a gorgeous product tailored to each individual style and dream.


2) Hill Construction

4626 Albuquerque Street, 2nd Floor, San Diego, CA 92109

Hill Construction was the 2015 Silver Award Winner for best specialty project from Best In America Living Magazine, a 2016 Orchid nominee for Architecture, and a 2015 Gold Nugget Merit Award winner. The construction company celebrates over 40 years of excellence in the high-end home construction field. The Hill family has proudly lived in the San Diego area since 1905. Peter Hill founded the company in 1975 to build and renovate homes in La Jolla, Mission Hills, and Rancho Santa Fe. His son, Ryan Hill, later found he too loved visiting his dad on job sites, and after receiving a degree in construction management, Ryan took the lead. Now the company’s successes have surpassed the imaginable.

The talented and experienced designers and builders take on the greatest challenges and make the process of designing even the most complex luxury homes look effortless and easy. Using the most up-to-date building technologies available, Hill Construction makes home improvement dreams come true in the San Diego area, while delivering exceptional customer service to every client they meet. Combining experience and innovation to create what they call the “Perfect Synergy,” the team maintains a strong commitment to the highest quality, high-end home creations throughout the San Diego and surrounding Southern California areas.


1) Classic Home Improvements

600 S Andreasen Drive, Escondido, CA 92029

The grace and beauty of Classic Home Improvements’ level of workmanship is remarkable. In one of their upscale makeovers, an expansive kitchen island dominates and invites luxury and a place to gather, share stories, and feast. Beautifully chosen flooring doubles as a work of art, and exquisite lighting adds excitement to the room. The attention to detail, craftsmanship, and feel of modern grace and beauty are unparalleled.

Classic Home Improvements was a Qualified Remodeler Magazine Top 500 Winner for 2014 and 2013, and a Remodeling Magazine Big 50 Remodeler in 2016. He is also a recipient of a NARI Committed to Excellence Award in 2013 and 2012, Angie’s List Super Service Award in 2017, and Houzz Service Award in 2018. The remodeling licensed contractor is a member of NARI and has Better Business Bureau A+ rating. The team is led by president and owner Jack Crocker, who has been in the business since he was 16 years old. His 20 years of knowledge and hands-on experience of every element of the process makes him keenly aware of his clients’ needs. Crocker understands — and his team agrees — that home design and remodeling is a financial, emotional, and sentimental process. They work not as suppliers of a service, but as partners with their clients, standing side-by-side to make the important process of “design, renew, and rebuild” an exciting and enjoyable life journey. 


How can I find a contractor or home builder near me?

Read our latest articles on the best residential contractors and home builders in and near San Diego. If you don’t see your city or project type below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.

The Best Bathroom Remodeling Contractors in San Diego, California

The Best General Contractors in California


About Our Rankings

This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration


Get Bids For Your Build

If you are thinking about remodeling your home, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.

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