Living in San Diego—a city known for its high level of safety, considering its size—is neither unsafe nor uninteresting. In fact, it is one of the best cities to live in California, boasting some of the best weather, cuisine, universities, and beaches in the world. It is renowned for its excellent quality of life, laid-back culture, high standard of living, and abundance of affordable housing options.
If you are interested in building or upgrading your home in this popular city, this list features the best residential general contractors in San Diego, California. These businesses provide services that meet residential demands, whether customers want to construct a custom home, a whole home, or do a partial remodel. The firms listed have many years of experience in the field and are composed of a skilled team of professionals who have been in practice for a number of years.
Jackson Design & Remodeling
4797 Mercury St. San Diego, CA 92111
Jackson Design and Remodeling (JDR) has been building and remodeling homes in San Diego since 1989. JDR offers services in the creation and construction of custom homes, whole-house remodels, kitchen additions, outdoor living spaces, and other aspects of the house. Todd Jackson, president and CEO of JDR, started working in the remodeling industry at age 20, obtained his general contractor license at age 23, and completed his first addition at age 24. Jackson was a finalist for the San Diego Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO Award as well as the coveted National Fred Case Entrepreneur of the Year Award. JDR itself is also an award-winning and recognized firm with design awards from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), Chrysalis Awards, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), and the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). It has also been featured in publications such as Qualified Remodeler, Rancho Santa Fe Review, and Beaches & Beyond, to name a few.
For this extensive whole-house restoration, colors from the sea and the sun were prominent. The home featured an open and spacious design that caught the fresh seaside air and natural light of its location. The expansive outdoor living areas, which have exceptional views of Sunset Cliffs, are accessible from different spots within the transitional home.
Marrokal Design & Remodeling, LLC
9474 Kearny Villa Rd. #205, San Diego, CA 92126
For more than 40 years, Marrokal Design and Remodeling has offered remodeling services to San Diego residents. Specifically, the company offers services in whole-house remodeling, room additions, outdoor living, aging-in-place building, family-living upgrades, and kitchen, master bedroom, and bathroom remodeling—all while utilizing modern green construction methods. To assist clients in getting the designs and space they want, the firm has employed a team of design and construction professionals who have extensive experience providing these services.
Marrokal Design and Remodeling is a winner of numerous awards, including the 2022 Chrysalis National Award for Residential Interior $300,000–$500,000, which it received for this recently purchased 37th-floor unit. The unit’s kitchen was cramped, the guest bathrooms lacked storage and light, and plumbing fixtures were a problem. The firm handled the kitchen by turning a double door into a single one, giving the sink and dishwasher an extra three feet of space. They also removed an unused tub from the new bathroom in order to accommodate more storage on both sides of the wall.
Lars Remodeling & Design
5925 Kearny Villa Rd. San Diego, CA 92123
Lars Remodeling & Design has successfully served clients all across San Diego County for three decades, and holds the record for being one of the first San Diego remodeling firms to earn NARI certification. The company’s collaborative team of over 50 qualified and experienced architects, interior designers, project managers, and remodeling professionals possess extensive knowledge of the newest trends and technology. The team also has a strong grasp on all present legal issues related to construction permits, regulations, and codes, which allows it to provide clients with added value by adapting to changes within the remodeling industry.
The remodel—which also included a first- and second-story addition—increased the client’s living area to 3,574 square feet and upgraded five bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a rooftop patio. Large windows are spread throughout the first floor’s primary living room, which has an open-concept layout. The firm also installed a sizable kitchen with top-notch appliances, stone countertops, and a sizable island. The home’s additions included a Fleetwood pocket door system, a sizable custom dog run, a pool, an outdoor dining space, a fire pit, and hardscaping.
Stel Builders, Inc.
7950 Dunbrook Rd. San Diego, CA 92126
Established in 2006, Stel Builders is a San Diego-based design-build and remodeling firm. President Seth Larson was born into an entire family of contractors, and is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), a Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), and a Certified Green Business Professional (CGBP). Under his leadership, the firm has accumulated many years of experience in design, construction, and project management, and has completed more than 300 projects to client satisfaction. Whether clients require a small update to their kitchen or bathroom or a whole home makeover, the firm’s services revolve around helping clients and overseeing projects from start to finish.
As a general residential contractor, Stel Builders specializes in working on single-family homes in a wide variety of styles, such as traditional, contemporary, bungalow, mid-century, transitional, cottage, and Spanish. The firm is accredited by NARI, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), Better Business Bureau (BBB), and the Building Industry Association of San Diego County. It has also been featured in Qualified Remodeler, Remodeling Magazine, and John Eric Home Magazine. Stel Builders is also a recipient of awards and recognitions including the 2022 Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards’ Bronze Award for an Addition Less Than $250,000, and the 2019 Remodeling Magazine’s Top 50 Renovation Companies.
Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel
2851 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 310, San Diego, CA 92108
Since its founding in 1975, Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel has been a four-generation design-build company dedicated to educating clients about the processes of home remodeling and creating project estimates. Along with the firm’s president and CEO, Gregg Cantor, a project manager, architect, and interior designer are all present when meeting with clients to plan a project. Over the years, Cantor has been in charge of supervising more than 2,000 residential building and remodeling projects. In addition to his work for the company, he also held positions at the San Diego BBB as vice chairman and former director of the council, as well as serving as the resident expert for the San Diego Approved Home Pro Show on ABC 10 News.
This little single-family home is one of Murray Design, Build, Remodel’s notable projects. The firm transformed the house into a two-story duplex with a two-story ADU in the back, yielding a total of three units. Each unit’s kitchen features quartz counters and brand-new stainless steel appliances, as well as having a full-size stackable washer and dryer hidden in a cabinet. The entire space also has waterproof luxury vinyl plank (LVP) flooring. The living and dining areas, in addition to the storage beneath the stairs, are located close to the kitchen. Two bedrooms featuring en suite baths are located upstairs. Each bathroom includes a mirror medicine cabinet, a vanity that is designed to appear like furniture, and a tiled tub and shower.
Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling
12396 World Trade Dr. Suite 108, San Diego, CA 92128
Since 2005, Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling, formerly known as “SDC Handyman Service Plus,” has been designing and renovating homes in San Diego. With the team’s attention to detail, adherence to budgets, and efficient timelines, the company, which is at the forefront of innovation, combines the most recent architectural and technological trends into projects. Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling is also affiliated with leading organizations such as BBB, NARI, American Chamber of Commerce, and NKBA. Further, the firm’s CEO and president, Sergei Kaminskiy, is a Certified Green Professional with NAHB.
Kaminskiy Design & Remodeling used an open-space concept for this entire kitchen remodel project so that the kitchen and dining area could flow into one another without disruption. Along with installing traditional black and white granite counters and a backsplash in a darker gray and black tone, the firm included ornate end posts on the island as well. The team also incorporated curved-back black upholstered chairs, white cabinets, textured cabinet fixtures, small pendant lights, and larger, spherical chandeliers.
Charco Design & Build
11585 Sorrento Valley Rd. Suite 104, San Diego, CA 92121
Charco Design & Build is a company that specializes in remodeling and building bespoke homes and other home structures. Since its founding, it has completed more than 1,000 projects, ranging from historic preservation projects to cutting-edge contemporary designs. This specialized architectural, building, and interior design firm operates with its team of award-winning experts in order to deliver upscale custom living and remodeling services to San Diego’s oceanfront—whether it be a kitchen remodel or an entirely custom-built home.
Armando Flores, a native of San Diego with more than 35 years of expertise in the design and construction industries, opened Charco Design & Build in 2011. Prior to becoming the firm’s president, Flores began his career as a student of architectural drafting and interior design at a reputable Los Angeles firm. After returning to San Diego, Flores assumed his position as COO and Vice President of Charco Construction, which his father-in-law Chuck Swimmer had previously owned and ran (then Charco Construction).
Peterson Remodeling, Inc.
2568 Dryden Rd. El Cajon, CA 92020
Since 1981, family-run company Peterson Remodeling, Inc. has provided services throughout San Diego County. It is now among San Diego’s leading companies for home renovation, expansion, and rebuilding. The firm particularly specializes in building single-family homes and condominium units, which it completes using a variety of styles, including contemporary, transitional, cottage traditional, mid-century, and Spanish. The firm is also Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead Safe Certified, and its staff members are Certified Aging-In-Place Specialists.
Peterson Remodeling, Inc. has become successful by putting a strong emphasis on quality and client satisfaction. This is reflected in the fact that many of its projects over the years have come from returning customers and ongoing referrals. Client testimonials appreciate the firm for its upfront and reasonable pricing, and praise its work with stucco, flooring, painting, electrical work, plumbing, hanging wallpaper, installing appliances, and cutting stone. This high-rise remodel in San Diego features many of these skills—as it included an overall remodel of the kitchen, new flooring, a new entrance, the building of a bar area, and the installation of a beautiful fireplace.
J. Walsh Construction, Inc.
5663 Balboa Ave. #443, San Diego, CA 92111
J. Walsh Construction (JWC), Inc., which is based in San Diego, is an award-winning custom home builder and licensed general contractor established in 1997. It specializes in planning, construction, and post-construction services, though it is particularly known for the construction and remodeling of contemporary and traditional homes, as well as the remodeling and modernization of historic homes. Jon Walsh, the firm’s president, was exposed to architectural design and construction as a young man and was influenced by his father, who was a successful New York architect. Walsh later honed his skills by working side by side with skilled local and European craftspeople.
One of JWC’s notable projects is a Sim Bruce Richard-designed 1965 Point Loma Mid-Century Modern. The firm transformed the home from a 2,600-square-foot single-story to a 3,700-square-foot two-story with above and downstairs patio areas. The house’s original cladding and components were disassembled, inventoried, and saved before being precisely reinstalled after a steel and engineered wood frame was installed. The newly constructed second level is built in accordance with the original architect’s intent.
Forever Builders
8305 Vickers St. Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92111
A family-run residential general contractor, Forever Builders offers services that include installing windows, remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, painting floors, and adding rooms. It works with a variety of styles, including classic, modern, transitional, and cottage-styled homes, and it specializes in working on single-family homes. It boasts more than 1,000 completed projects, more than 500 favorable client comments and reviews, and five-star ratings on Google and Yelp.
With Forever Builders, customers can be sure that projects will be finished effectively, quickly, and satisfactorily. The company was established on the pillars of customer service, excellent craftsmanship, reliability, and trust. Its team always adheres to rigid standards and procedures, and treats its customers and their homes with care and respect. This is true whether the project involves building stunning bathrooms, providing professional guidance on newer kitchen design and modern décor choices, replacing old windows and doors, or completing exterior and interior home painting.
