Silicon Valley is home to some of the world’s leading technology companies, several of the highest paying jobs in the country, and one of the most competitive housing markets in the US. Buyers often place bids hundreds of thousands of dollars above the listing price, and properties smaller than 2,000 square feet can sell for well over $1M. One modest 1,130-square-foot house on Dymond Court in Palo Alto comes with two bedrooms, one bath, and an outdated kitchen; it is valued at $1,999,000.
In a market as competitive as this, general contractors in Silicon Valley are faced with the challenge of providing high-quality building services in upscale areas, but at affordable costs. The following is a list of Silicon Valley general contractors that specialize in home improvement projects, from building custom homes, to home additions, to a variety of home remodeling projects. These construction companies — chosen for their credentials, affiliations, and award-winning projects — can help you either remodel your Silicon Valley home or build the new home of your dreams.
If you are thinking about building a custom 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) Silicon Valley Custom Homes
260 Franklin Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
Silicon Valley Custom Homes is a team of licensed contractors and designers who build high-quality homes while keeping building and remodeling costs to a minimum. This general contractor in Silicon Valley is run by Jenny Kang, founder and CEO; and Min Lee, founder and managing director. The company specializes in transforming small, outdated residences into modern and elegant homes resembling five-star hotels.
One project, a residential rebuilding project in Mountain View, was completed in 2017. Originally, the property was an 877-square-foot house with three bedrooms and one bath. Silicon Valley Custom Homes turned it into a 1,925-square-foot home, featuring four bedrooms, three baths, 10-foot ceilings, and a spacious interior with modern lighting fixtures, including a chandelier.
Another Mountain View project centered around an 832-square-foot residence without enough bedrooms and only one bath. Silicon Valley Custom Homes performed a complete “gut remodel” on the property and made it into a 1,331-square-foot home containing three bedrooms, complete with a luxurious master suite and two baths. The new and improved home features 9-foot-high ceilings, a great deal of additional storage space, and a more modern kitchen.
14) Clarum Homes
412 Olive Avenue, PO Box 60970, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Clarum Homes, founded in 1994, is a home improvement contractor that excels in building eco-friendly custom homes that are LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). Since its origin, the company has constructed more than 1,000 homes in prestigious areas like Stanford, Menlo Park, and Palo Alto.
In 2002, Clarum Homes designed its own passive home prototype that incorporated sustainable materials, energy-efficient features, and innovative construction technologies. The company’s goal is to create residences that are modern, beautiful, and also environmentally responsible. Its projects have been covered in publications like the LA Times, Palo Alto Weekly, and Newsweek.
On the outside, many of their custom homes appear modern and minimalist, with different rooms separated into cube-like structures. The interiors appear more like art galleries than houses, with luxurious atriums and outdoor living areas, open floor plans with modern touches, and contemporary fireplaces. They tend to feature a great deal of white tile and rich wood floors, tall glass windows letting in tons of natural light, and intricate shelves and creative storage spaces.
13) H2H Design + Build
1264 S Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
This company is a family business operated by husband and wife Angela and Matthew Rasmussen, who have over 30 combined years of experience in design and construction. Angela, born in Washington, followed her aptitude for capturing beautiful things into studying photography. She continued her studies at the acclaimed West Valley Interior Design Program. Matthew is from Santa Clara County and got started in construction in 2002, when he worked as an apprentice for a small building company.
The two started H2H in 2009. Their work has been featured in California Home & Design, the San Jose Mercury News, and The Retail Observer. H2H has earned several awards for their kitchens and bathrooms, additions, entertainment areas, living rooms, and master bedroom suites.
One project, a first-floor remodel on Norcross Drive, earned awards through both the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). The property belonged to a young couple, and it wasn’t suited to their busy lifestyle with twin boys. H2H restructured the first floor to open up the space, allowing guests to socialize more comfortably and enabling the children to move about more freely. A large chalkboard covering a living area wall, as well as long, industrial-style light bulbs, helped give the space more personality.
12) RadCon
San Jose, CA 95120
RadCon, a full-service design-build firm, was founded in 1992 by John Rovedo. The company is affiliated with Build It Green and NARI. It is also EPA Lead-Safe Certified and GreenPoint rated. They’ve worked on construction projects in Los Gatos, San Jose, Los Altos, Santa Clara, and Saratoga.
While the company excels at residential kitchen remodels, it has also earned awards for residential additions and exteriors. In 2016, RadCon received two NARI Meta Awards: one for a Residential Addition $250k and over, and another for a Residential Exterior Speciality. The addition project took place at a 1950s ranch-style residence, where the homeowners sought a traditional atmosphere with more open space. RadCon built a formal entrance with exterior columns and decorative wainscoting in the interior. They reconfigured the living room to merge with the kitchen and included a new kitchen island and additional seating. They installed new hardwood floors and added custom-made kitchen cabinets for further storage.
In the award-winning exterior project, RadCon turned an unused backyard into a full outdoor kitchen and bar area with, a fire pit and a trellis made of steel and cedar. The space includes a custom spa beneath an old maple tree, and waterfalls that can be activated year-round.
11) Valley Home Builders
3466 Edward Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95054
Valley Home Builders, a residential contractor in Silicon valley, offers complete design-build services, residential additions, home remodeling, kitchen updates, and bath renovations. Their service areas include upscale cities, like Cupertino, Los Altos, Palo Alto, and San Jose.
The company was founded in 2005 by CEO and Owner Mehdi Vatani, who was originally a salesman in the tech sector and did woodworking as a hobby. When he was laid off from two sales positions, Vatani gradually gained enough hands-on experience as a carpenter to turn his hobby into a business. Valley Home Builders creates homes that reflect the cutting-edge technology Silicon Valley is known for. Their homes embody beauty and function, and they are famous for focusing on the smallest details that go into building a new home or space.
Valley Home Builders has appeared on Remodeling Magazine’s Top 50 List and has received a number of awards through NARI, including a 2013 Gold Award for an Interior Design over $100k and a 2012 Gold Award for an Entire House Remodel on a home in Santa Clara.
10) MAC Design Home Renovation
530 Lytton Avenue, Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Led by Principal Designer Mollyanne Sherman, MAC Design has, for more than 30 years, excelled in sleek contemporary styles, green design, and a range of quality building projects that cater to tight budgets. Sherman is a certified kitchen, bath, and interior designer. The company is known for taking outdated and cramped interiors and transforming them into modern spaces equipped with the latest appliances, windows that let in natural light, and decorative lighting fixtures.
MAC Design is affiliated with NARI and NKBA, and it earned a 2015 Contractor of the Year Award through NARI for a Residential Addition over $250k. MAC Design has also received NARI Meta awards for residential living spaces, including outdoor entertainment areas.
This is a company devoted to serving its community in a number of ways. MAC Design is involved with charitable organizations such as the Ellen DeGeneres Katrina Relief Fund, Doctors Without Borders, Children’s Health Council, Oakland Children’s Hospital, Fremont Unified School District, Team in Training, and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for The Cure.
9) Barrios Wagner Builders
534 Horning Street, San Jose, CA 95112
Barrios Wagner Builders provides whole house remodels, kitchen and bathroom remodels, and additions throughout Silicon Valley. Some of its upscale service areas include Cupertino, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and San Jose. The company is a new version of Chris Donatelli Builders (CDB), a construction company led by Chris Donatelli that earned several building awards, such as NARI Meta Awards and Build it Green recognitions. Upon Donatelli’s retirement, several employees belonging to the multiple award-winning CDB team came together to form a new company, which would carry on CDB’s legacy and maintain the same level of customer service.
The new company, Barrios Wagner Builders, is run by Humberto Barrios and Mark Wagner, who pride themselves on quality, organization, and communication. Their team is made up of Certified Lead Carpenters with combined decades of experience in the building industry. In a Palo Alto whole-house remodel, Barrios Wagner created a sophisticated master bedroom, a modern bathroom with artistic fixtures, and a cozy living room with a minimalist-style fireplace and modern chandelier.
8) RemodelWest
12333 Saratoga Sunnyvale Road, Saratoga, CA 95070
RemodelWest, founded in 1992, is a family-oriented business known for its small team and outstanding customer service. The owner, Bill Reid, is personally involved in every project. Reid has 24 years of hands-on experience in building, cabinetry, and in sales. At the age of 26, he started a business that eventually grew to include a staff of 50 employees. RemodelWest operates in upscale neighborhoods in Los Gatos, Los Altos, San Jose, and Saratoga. They provide custom houses, large-scale renovations, and kitchen and bath remodels.
RemodelWest was selected by the NAHB as a National Remodeling Quality Award Winner in 2001. They have earned four NKBA awards for remodel projects: three for kitchens, and one for a bath. Their projects are modern in style and emphasize natural light. One project, a full home remodel in San Jose, is a strikingly modern and Japanese-inspired design valued at $200k to $500k. It features illuminated shelves, a sleek kitchen with steel appliances, and rich wood bathroom countertops designed to appear natural, as though found outdoors.
7) De Mattei
1794 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95125
De Mattei, a customer-focused Silicon Valley general contractor, has completed almost 2,000 custom homes and residential remodeling projects. This award-winning team was founded in 1985 by Mark De Mattei, owner and president. They have been named one of the Top 500 Remodelers by Qualified Remodeler multiple times, and Silicon Valley Business Journal has called them one of the Largest Residential Contractors in the region. In 2015, the company’s revenue from general contracting on local residential projects was $34M.
De Mattei custom homes are multi-storied and luxurious, with large swimming pools and outdoor entertainment spaces, multiple decks and patios, modern interiors, and floor-to-ceiling glass windows stationed over scenic views. Each project has its own unique home design, whether traditional, contemporary, or Mediterranean-style. Some feature libraries and marble columns, and others feature intricate wine cellars and all-glass walls overlooking poolside water fixtures. This company prides itself on staying with its customers from the initial idea stage all the way until after the project is complete.
6) Clayton Nelson
15466 Los Gatos Boulevard, Suite #109-271, Los Gatos, CA 95032-2550
Clayton Nelson is a Certified Kitchen Designer through the NKBA, as well as a Master Certified Remodeler and Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler through NARI. This team of licensed contractors has almost 30 years of experience in kitchen and bath remodels, whole-house remodels, and historic restoration. They work in areas like Palo Alto, Saratoga, Los Gatos, and Willow Glen, and their work has been featured many times in the San Jose Mercury News. They have earned a number of NARI Meta Awards for Residential Interiors over $100k and Residential Kitchens around $120k. They’ve also earned several NARI Contractor of the Year Awards, such as a 2008 award for an Entire House over $1M.
One of the company’s whole house projects took place at a Saratoga residence with an awkward floor plan, uncomfortably low ceilings, and an outdated design. Clayton Nelson added a tile roof, stucco exterior, and natural stone finishes. They also created a new master bedroom, study area, and an elegant two-story entryway.
5) D.R. Domenichini Construction
P.O. Box 1430, San Martin, CA 95046
David R. Domenichini is the founder and owner of D.R. Domenichini Construction. Raised and educated in Northern California, Domenichini has completed hundreds of building and remodeling projects in his 20 years of experience in the industry.
The company has earned several NARI Meta Awards for kitchens, bathrooms, master suites, outdoor kitchens, and whole-house remodels. For three consecutive years, they were voted as Best Contractor in Morgan Hill. In addition, they have earned Best of Houzz in Customer Service from 2014 through 2018. In 2012, they were named Morgan Hill’s Business of the Year. The company is a licensed California contractor, EPA Lead-Safe certified, and a member of GuildQuality. They serve their community through participation in the Morgan Hill, Gilroy and San Martin Chamber of Commerce.
4) San Interior Design
San Jose, CA
San Interior Design provides additions, whole-house remodels, and kitchen and bath remodels in some of the wealthiest areas in Silicon Valley, such as Los Altos and Palo Alto. The company is run by Sanchali Srivastava, an award-winning designer who speaks at local colleges and mentors design students. She has also judged national and local design competitions.
Srivastava is a Certified Interior Designer and Certified Professional through the NKBA. She has also studied architecture, which strengthens her approach to working on home additions and new home construction. She is currently the vice president of Academic Relations on the board of Northern California’s Chapter of NKBA.
San Interior Design’s projects have won several NARI Meta Awards, including multiple awards for a Residential Addition under $100k — and multiple awards for an Entire House under $250k. San Interior Design enhanced an average home in Santa Clara by adding a dining room and luxurious master bedroom suite. They installed large windows to improve the views of the yard, added a coffered ceiling to the bedroom, and transformed a portion of the kitchen cabinets into a bar area for the dining room.
3) Hammerschmidt Construction
1574 Country Club Drive, Los Altos, CA 94024
Hammerschmidt is a full-service design-build company that offers renovations, additions, and full house remodels. The company is a certified green builder and has more than 20 years of experience in the building industry in Silicon Valley. Based out of Los Altos, the company also serves customers in Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Sunnyvale.
Hammerschmidt is run by CEO John Hammerschmidt, a third-generation Californian who originally dreamed of becoming a farmer. He studied landscape construction at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo before moving on to Napa Valley, where he sold irrigation systems to wineries. Lynn Hammerschmidt, the company’s president, is a native of Palo Alto. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and spent several years working as a successful marketing executive at some of the Bay Area’s medical start-up firms.
Hammerschmidt has earned 14 NARI Meta Awards in Gold, Silver, and Bronze for their building projects. In 2007, Remodeling Magazine included them in the Big 50 list of the best US remodeling companies.
2) Harrell Remodeling
944 Industrial Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Harrell Remodeling, founded in 1985, has more than 30 years of experience providing design-build services to the Bay Area, and in particular Palo Alto and Los Gatos. The company is known for its multiple award-winning home building projects, and for its female-driven team.
In 2014, they earned a Top 100 Women of Influence Award through Silicon Valley Business Journal, and in 2011, they earned Woman Entrepreneur of the Year through the Women’s Initiative. In 2013, they were among the 25 Largest Women-Owned Businesses in the Silicon Valley Business Journal, and in 2008, they were one of 50 featured, women-owned businesses in the San Jose Business Journal.
The company has received well over 100 awards, including Meta Awards for whole house, Contractor of the Year Awards for master suites residential exteriors, and NKBA Awards for master suites, bathrooms, and kitchens. Harrell is known for using natural textures and elements that bring the outdoors in. Its custom homes are warm and cozy, Mediterranean-inspired, or contemporary, and feature tons of natural light.
1) Timeline Design + Build
14401 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, CA 95070
This company was founded in 1990 by Matthew Harrigan, Timeline’s current president. Harrigan began his career in the building industry at 14 years old, earning money by building cabinets in his parents’ garage and selling them to customers. He went on to study civil engineering at Santa Clara University and electrical engineering at UC San Diego.
A California licensed general building contractor, Timeline is also a Certified Interior Designer. The company has completed more than 700 projects for residential properties. Timeline Design + Build is affiliated with NARI, and Harrigan is a board member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO) of Silicon Valley. Timeline has earned over 10 NKBA Awards for remodeling projects, and more than 25 NARI Awards. In 2015, they received a NARI Gold Award for an Entire House over $500k, and in 2014 for an Entire House over $1M.
In one custom home project, Timeline took full advantage of a property’s incredible views. They built several tall windows and sliding glass doors to let in natural light and display the lush surroundings. To contrast the green scenery outside, they filled the interior with white marble surfaces, dark-stained oak floors, and intricate wainscoting and crown molding.
How can I find a contractor near me?
Read our latest articles on the best remodeling contractors across Silicon Valley. If you don’t see your city below, just let us know – we are happy to create a tailored recommendation list just for you.
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Residential general contractors in San Jose
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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 building a custom 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.
