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 the city’s older hillside homes, its strict fire-safety codes, and its permit process. That’s exactly what we do. Our General Contractor team coordinates every trade, pulls the right permits, and gives you a written price before any work begins. A full remodel here typically runs $14,000 – $130,000 depending on scope, and we’ll walk you through exactly what yours will cost. Call (803) 680-2547 for a free estimate.
Why Mason Remodeling Is San Rafael’s Preferred General Contractor Company
San Rafael homeowners tell us the same thing: they want to know who is coming to the door and what the job will cost before signing anything. Mason Remodeling has answered that since 2004, operating as part of the Threshold Group family of home-service companies. Every crew member is background-checked, identity-verified, arrives in a clean marked uniform, shows a photo ID badge, and is introduced by name and photo before the visit. We call it the Threshold Standard, and it applies to every project we run in San Rafael.
Our San Rafael customers regularly mention the written-price guarantee in their feedback. You get a line-item scope and a firm number before tools come out. No verbal estimates that creep upward at the end. That matters when you’re planning a $45,000 kitchen remodel or a $90,000 ADU. And if something fails within 365 days of completion, the Done Right Promise means we fix it at no cost to you. Isaac Pruett leads our team, and he’s the one who signs off on every San Rafael project scope.
We know the streets here, from the flats near downtown to the hills above Lincoln Avenue. That local familiarity shows up in realistic schedules, accurate permit expectations, and no surprises when the inspector walks through.
Styles & brands we work with
Residential General Contractor in San Rafael
Residential General Contractor work in San Rafael spans kitchens, baths, additions, and whole-home remodels across neighborhoods like Gerstle Park, Sun Valley, and the Dominican area. The job means coordinating framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, tile, finishes, and inspections under one accountable roof. Homeowners call us when a project is too complex to piecemeal, and they want one company responsible for the result.
Expect a kitchen remodel in San Rafael to run $14,000 – $45,000. A bathroom typically lands between $9,000 and $28,000. We put those numbers in writing before starting, so you can self-qualify before you even call.
Project scoping for older hillside homes
Many San Rafael homes were built between the 1920s and 1970s, and a surprising number sit on sloped lots. That affects foundation access, drainage, and how trades stage materials. We factor those realities into the scope before the permit application goes in, which prevents mid-project surprises.
Material allowances and written allowances
We use specification-grade suppliers including KraftMaid and Wellborn for cabinetry, Cambria and Silestone for surfaces, and Kohler and Moen for fixtures. Each allowance is stated in the written price, so you know exactly what you’re getting and where any upgrade would change the number.
Hire a General Contractor in San Rafael
Hire a General Contractor in San Rafael when the project involves structural changes, plumbing or electrical relocations, or anything that needs a permit. That includes additions ($45,000 – $130,000), ADUs ($90,000 – $220,000), and full kitchen or bath remodels. It also includes jobs where you simply don’t want to manage three or four separate subcontractors yourself.
We pull permits, schedule inspections, and stay on-site through final sign-off. The written guarantee states exactly what is covered and for how long: 365 days from the completion date. If a repair or installation fails during that window, we return free, no dispute process.
Single point of accountability
When you hire us as your general contractor, you’re not chasing a plumber on Tuesday and a tile setter on Thursday. One schedule, one contract, one person you can reach. And a live person answers our phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays.
Written price before work starts
Every Mason Remodeling project in San Rafael starts with a written price. Not a rough verbal estimate. Not a ballpark that becomes a surprise later. The number you approve is the number you pay unless you request a change.
Trusted Brands We Service in San Rafael
We work regularly with materials from Cambria, Kohler, and KraftMaid, and for smaller exterior concrete work we keep relationships with suppliers like Sakrete. That matters when a San Rafael homeowner wants a specific countertop profile or shower fixture. We can source it locally and often faster than a big-box store can special-order. For homeowners looking at factory-built solutions, we’ve also coordinated with prefab vendors like Abodu and Cover where the project calls for it. You get one contractor managing the material partners, not five phone calls and a prayer.
See the difference
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AfterCommon General Contractor Problems We See in San Rafael Homes
- Hillside permit delays. San Rafael properties on slopes often trigger additional planning review. We build that time into the schedule upfront, so your project doesn’t stall halfway through demolition.
- Fire-safety code misses. Homes in the high fire severity zone need WUI-compliant exterior details under California Building Code Chapter 7A. We’ve seen jobs fail inspection because a contractor treated San Rafael like a bay-side city. We don’t.
- Unlevel subfloors in older homes. Gerstle Park and Sun Valley houses from the 1920s and 1930s rarely have perfectly flat floors. Skipping floor leveling in the bid leads to change orders when tile won’t sit right. We include it in the scope.
- Galvanized plumbing surprises. Pre-1960 San Rafael homes often still have galvanized supply lines. We inspect and flag replacement needs during the estimate, not after the wall is open.
Pricing for General Contractor in San Rafael, CA
Here are the real ranges we quote for San Rafael work. Kitchen remodels run $14,000 – $45,000. Bathrooms land at $9,000 – $28,000. A room addition or garage conversion starts around $45,000 and can reach $130,000. ADU construction typically spans $90,000 – $220,000 depending on size, site access, and utility work. What moves the number most: permit complexity on hillside lots, fire-resistant exterior requirements, and how much plumbing or electrical has to move. You’ll get a free written estimate, and we’ll show you exactly where your project falls.
| Project Type | 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 |
Construction work in San Rafael, CA comes with one local reality no generic contractor page tells you: the city sits in a high fire severity zone. Exterior remodels that touch siding, decking, windows, or roofing often trigger WUI requirements under California Building Code Chapter 7A, adding ignition-resistant detailing that isn’t standard in bay-side cities like Richmond or Oakland. If your contractor doesn’t know Chapter 7A, your inspection will fail and your schedule will blow out. We scope for it from day one. In the Gerstle Park neighborhood, we handled a bathroom remodel where a 1920s house still had old galvanized pipes. Our tech replaced the rough-in plumbing with copper and installed a Kohler shower system, passing inspection sign-off on the first try. We provided a detailed scope of work with allowances for Cambria countertops, avoiding any change order surprises. Dispatch and scheduling for San Rafael projects are coordinated from the brand’s San Francisco Bay Area office; our crews serve San Rafael locally.
We Also Serve Cities Near San Rafael
Our crews work throughout Marin County. You’ll find us in San Rafael, Larkspur, Kentfield, Corte Madera, and San Anselmo. If you’re a few minutes outside city limits, call us anyway. We’ll confirm coverage and get you on the schedule.
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
Yes, if you’re moving plumbing, altering the footprint, or touching electrical. A cosmetic refresh of the same footprint may not need one, but any San Rafael bathroom remodel that opens walls or changes fixtures usually does. We pull the permit and handle inspections. Call (803) 680-2547 for a free estimate and we’ll tell you exactly what your project requires.
Most straightforward interior remodels clear in two to four weeks. Hillside properties or anything requiring planning review can take six to ten weeks, and that’s before first inspection. That’s why we file the day the scope is approved. We’d rather manage the wait than let it delay your start. Call (803) 680-2547 to talk about your timeline.
A full kitchen remodel in San Rafael typically runs $14,000 – $45,000. That range covers standard-grade cabinetry through custom layouts, mid-tier to premium surfaces, and typical electrical and plumbing relocations. Your exact number depends on cabinet lines, countertop material, and how much the walls move. We’ll put it in writing before you commit. Call (803) 680-2547 for a free estimate.
Yes. ADU construction in San Rafael typically runs $90,000 – $220,000 depending on size, site access, utilities, and whether you’re converting a garage or building detached. We handle the permit package, the site work, and the full build. San Rafael’s ADU rules have gotten friendlier, but site-specific review still applies, especially on sloped lots. Call (803) 680-2547 and we’ll walk you through the numbers.
A change order is a written amendment to your contract when you request something beyond the original scope, like a different countertop or an added outlet. It states the new cost and schedule impact before the work happens. We minimize them by scoping carefully up front, but when they’re needed, you’ll see it in writing and approve it first. Questions about your project? Call (803) 680-2547 for a free estimate.
Written by Isaac Pruett, Owner at Mason Remodeling, serving San Rafael and Marin County since 2004.
