Free written scope consultation - allowances, timeline, and change-order rules on paper before a single trade is scheduled
Fast, Reliable General Contractor Across San Rafael
Hiring a general contractor in San Rafael means finding someone who understands what’s behind these walls. Pre-1940 framing, plaster-and-lath construction, and knob-and-tube wiring leftovers are part of the deal in neighborhoods like Gerstle Park and the downtown corridor. Bradford Remodeling runs every San Rafael project through a disciplined process: written price before work starts, a documented scope, and a full-year guarantee in writing when the job closes. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, bathroom upgrade, room addition, or whole-home renovation in San Rafael, call (903) 568-7222 for a straight answer and a free estimate.
Why Bradford Remodeling Is San Rafael’s Preferred General Contractor Company
Bradford Remodeling operates under The Garrison Standard, a set of rules that puts every price and guarantee on paper before a single tool leaves the truck. Homeowners in San Rafael who have dealt with no-shows and surprise invoices know why that matters. Our General Contractor team arrives background-checked and uniformed, with identification you can see before anyone steps inside.
We work throughout San Rafael, from the hills above China Camp to the flats near the Civic Center. Local homeowners call us because we answer the phone with a live person, every time, day or night. Not a callback queue. Not a voicemail. Someone picks up.
Curtis Lane leads the Bradford Remodeling crew with one rule: if it’s not done right, we make it right. Every completed project carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If work fails within that year, we return and correct it at no charge. That’s not a verbal assurance. It’s a signed document in your hand at close-out.
Styles & brands we work with
Residential General Contractor in San Rafael
Residential General Contractor work in San Rafael covers the planning, permitting, demolition, structural work, rough-in, finish carpentry, and final inspection of a home remodel or addition. Most San Rafael homeowners call us when the project is too big for a handyman: removing a load-bearing wall, adding square footage, reconfiguring a kitchen, or converting a garage into living space. A kitchen remodel in San Rafael typically runs $14,000 to $45,000. A bathroom remodel lands between $9,000 and $28,000. Home additions start at $45,000 and can reach $130,000 depending on foundation work, roof tie-ins, and finish level.
Structural Work and Load-Bearing Walls
Older San Rafael homes often need a structural engineer’s look before walls come down. Redwood framing from the 1920s and 1930s is common here, and it doesn’t always match modern load tables. We budget for opening walls to confirm what’s actually carrying weight before rough-in gets finalized.
Permit-Ready Scope and Inspections
We pull permits through the City of San Rafael and schedule inspections at the rough-in and final stages. Skipping inspection sign-off on electrical or plumbing rough-in means rework after drywall goes up. That’s an expensive mistake we don’t make.
Hire a General Contractor in San Rafael
When you hire a general contractor in San Rafael, you’re hiring someone to coordinate every trade, schedule, material order, and inspection. The contractor’s job is to keep the project moving without cutting corners. In San Rafael’s older housing stock, that often means managing change orders honestly. A room addition here runs $45,000 to $130,000. An ADU in San Rafael ranges from $90,000 to $220,000, depending on site conditions, foundation type, and utility connections.
Written Change Orders, No Door Pricing
We document every change in writing before the work proceeds. If we find dry rot under a kitchen subfloor, you’ll see a change order with a specific dollar figure, not a vague “we’ll figure it out later.” That discipline comes from The Garrison Code, the operating rules behind every Bradford Remodeling job.
Close-Out: What Squared Away Looks Like
At the end of a San Rafael project, you get a clean site, a documented scope that matches the work, and a signed 365-Day Done Right Promise. No mystery line items. No “we’ll come back to fix that.” A finished job, in writing.
Trusted Brands We Service in San Rafael
Bradford Remodeling installs documented, name-brand materials so specifications are traceable and quality isn’t left to guesswork. On San Rafael remodels we regularly work with KraftMaid cabinetry, Cambria surfaces, Kohler fixtures, and James Hardie exterior products. For foundation and structural repair work, we specify Sakrete concrete products where the job calls for it. Every material we install carries its manufacturer’s warranty, which backs up our own guarantee in writing. If a fixture fails within the year, you have two layers of protection: the brand and Bradford Remodeling.
See the difference
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After
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AfterCommon General Contractor Problems We See in San Rafael Homes
- Load-bearing surprises after demolition starts. Pre-1940 homes in Gerstle Park and downtown frequently have walls that look non-structural but aren’t. Opening a wall to confirm load paths before rough-in is the only way to avoid a six-week delay and a five-figure structural upgrade no one budgeted for.
- Skipped rough-in inspections. San Rafael inspectors check electrical, plumbing, and framing at specific stages. Closing walls before sign-off means cutting drywall back open later. We schedule inspections in the project calendar from day one.
- Age-related costs nobody quoted. Knob-and-tube wiring remnants, plaster-and-lath repair, and original redwood framing all affect cost and schedule. A responsible San Rafael general contractor builds an allowance for these discoveries into the written estimate, so you’re not blindsided.
- Change orders without documentation. The difference between a good contractor and a painful one is whether the change order is in writing. Bradford Remodeling issues a signed change order with a fixed dollar amount before any extra work begins.
Pricing for General Contractor in San Rafael, CA
Here’s what you can expect to pay for common projects in San Rafael. These ranges reflect the city’s mix of older homes, hillside lots, and local permit requirements.
| Project | San Rafael Price Range |
|---|---|
| Kitchen Remodel | $14,000 – $45,000 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $9,000 – $28,000 |
| Home Addition | $45,000 – $130,000 |
| ADU Construction | $90,000 – $220,000 |
What moves the number within these ranges? Foundation work on a hillside lot, the condition of the existing subfloor, whether you’re moving plumbing or keeping the original rough-in, and the finish level you choose. Older homes near downtown and Gerstle Park tend to land higher in the range because of the structural and wiring surprises we flagged above. Every Bradford Remodeling estimate includes a written price before work starts. Call (903) 568-7222 and we’ll give you a real number for your specific project.
We Also Serve Cities Near San Rafael
Bradford Remodeling serves homeowners throughout Marin County. If you’re in San Rafael or nearby, we cover Larkspur, Kentfield, Corte Madera, and San Anselmo as well. The same written-price commitment and 365-Day Done Right Promise applies wherever your project is located.
Serving San Rafael, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the San Rafael area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About General Contractor in San Rafael
Most kitchen and bathroom remodels in San Rafael require building, electrical, and plumbing permits through the City of San Rafael’s Building Division. Any structural change, like removing or modifying a load-bearing wall, triggers a plan review and possibly an engineer’s stamp. We pull the permits, schedule the inspections, and stay on-site through rough-in and final sign-off. Call (903) 568-7222 and we’ll tell you exactly what your project needs.
A typical San Rafael kitchen remodel runs six to twelve weeks, depending on whether walls move, plumbing relocates, or structural work is required. Older homes in Gerstle Park and downtown often run longer because of the surprises we’ve described: load-bearing discoveries, subfloor repair, or wiring upgrades. We build a realistic calendar into the written scope before demolition starts.
Because pre-1940 construction hides things behind walls. Knob-and-tube wiring remnants, plaster-and-lath walls, and original redwood framing all differ from modern standards. When we open a wall and find something that wasn’t visible during the estimate, we document it in a written change order with a fixed price before proceeding. No surprises at the door. To discuss your project, call (903) 568-7222.
A general contractor manages the full scope: permits, structural work, multiple trades, inspections, and final close-out. A handyman handles smaller repairs and finish work. In San Rafael, any remodel involving load-bearing changes, plumbing relocation, or electrical work needs a licensed general contractor who pulls permits and passes inspections. Bradford Remodeling is that contractor.
We write allowances into the estimate for items with variable cost, like tile selection or fixture finishes, then issue change orders for anything outside the original scope. Every change order is signed, dated, and priced in writing before work proceeds. That’s The Garrison Standard in action. Ready for a written estimate? Call (903) 568-7222 today.
Written by Curtis Lane, Owner at Bradford Remodeling, serving San Rafael and Marin County.
