General Contractor in
San Rafael, CA
IronNest Construction is a licensed, insured general contractor serving San Rafael. We handle residential renovation, ADU construction, commercial tenant improvements, painting, remodeling, and siding — permits included, no subcontract runaround.
Why San Rafael Property Owners Trust IronNest
San Rafael is the largest city in Marin County and the hub for construction permits and inspections for much of the North Bay. The city's building department processes permits for a wide range of residential and commercial work, and we've navigated that process across dozens of projects. San Rafael homes span from Victorian downtown residences to mid-century hillside homes with bay views.
Marin County's affluent homeowner base has both the resources and the expectations that demand high-quality contractor work. We serve San Rafael with kitchen and bathroom remodels, ADU construction, exterior work, and full home renovations — all with licensed trades, proper permits, and a written contract before any work starts.
Building & Permits in San Rafael
What we've learned working in San Rafael — how the permit process runs, the kind of homes we work on, and the issues that come up most often here.
Permitting & San Rafael
San Rafael's Community Development / Building & Safety Division reviews projects, including hillside and design considerations common in Marin. We handle permits and inspections.
San Rafael Housing Stock
San Rafael mixes older homes near downtown with mid-century and hillside houses across Marin neighborhoods. Hillside lots bring drainage and access factors.
What Comes Up Most in San Rafael
Kitchen and bath remodels, additions and ADUs, and hillside projects with careful drainage and structural work.
Construction Services in San Rafael
Every job is done by our own licensed crews — not a subcontractor we've never worked with before. We know the San Rafael building department, local permit timelines, and what inspectors look for in this city.
Painting in San Rafael
Interior & Exterior Painting
A fresh coat of paint is one of the highest-ROI improvements you can make to any property. We don't just roll paint — we prep surfaces properly, repair cracks and damaged drywall, apply primer where needed, and use quality materials rated for California conditions.
- Proper surface prep — crack repair, drywall patching, caulking
- Low-VOC and zero-VOC options for occupied spaces
- Victorian color consultation for historic homes
- Commercial repaints scheduled after hours to minimize disruption
- Exterior paint rated for California coastal and valley conditions
Siding in San Rafael
Siding Replacement & Installation
Old siding loses its seal, lets moisture in, and drives up heating bills. We replace deteriorated wood siding, install fiber cement products like HardiePlank, and handle all trim, flashing, and caulking so nothing comes back later.
- James Hardie certified installers
- Wood, fiber cement, and engineered wood options
- Complete moisture barrier installation — no shortcuts
- Matching existing profiles on historic homes where possible
- Trim, flashing, and caulking included — complete system
General Construction in San Rafael
Full-Scope General Contracting
General contracting means we own the whole project — design coordination, permitting, subcontractor management, scheduling, and final delivery. You deal with one point of contact. We build kitchens, bathrooms, ADUs, additions, and commercial spaces from the ground up.
- Single point of accountability from permit to punch list
- All subcontractors licensed, insured, and vetted by us
- Fixed-price contracts — scope and price agreed upfront
- Dedicated project manager for every job
- Weekly progress updates — you are never left wondering
Kitchen Remodeling in San Rafael
Kitchen Renovation & Redesign
The kitchen is the most-used room in a home and the renovation with the clearest return on investment. We handle full kitchen remodels from demo through finish — cabinetry, countertops, appliances, electrical, plumbing, tile, and lighting. One contractor, no coordination headaches.
- Full coordination of all trades — no subcontract juggling for you
- Custom and semi-custom cabinetry at all price points
- Quartz, granite, and butcher block countertops in-house
- Electrical and plumbing upgrades included where needed
- Appliance installation coordinated with your delivery schedule
Bathroom Remodeling in San Rafael
Bathroom Renovation & Redesign
Bathroom renovations consistently rank among the highest-ROI home improvements in California. We handle full bathroom remodels — tile, fixtures, vanity, shower and tub, waterproofing, lighting, and ventilation — all under one contract, fully permitted.
- Schluter and Wedi waterproofing systems — proper installation
- Tile work with correct layout and grout selection
- Ventilation upgrades — quiet fans, proper CFM rating
- Curbless shower options for accessibility and modern aesthetic
- All fixtures and plumbing included in scope
Flooring Installation in San Rafael
Hardwood, LVP, Tile & More
Flooring is one of the first things buyers and visitors see. We install hardwood, luxury vinyl plank, tile, and laminate — with proper subfloor prep that makes the floor last. No floating installations on bad substrates.
- Subfloor assessment and repair before installation
- Hardwood — solid and engineered, multiple species and finishes
- Luxury vinyl plank — waterproof, durable, warm underfoot
- Tile — floor and wall, with correct layout and grout
- Transitions, thresholds, and base molding included
Drywall in San Rafael
Drywall Installation & Repair
Drywall is the canvas for everything else. We install new drywall for additions, repairs, and full renovation scopes, and we patch and finish existing walls to a seamless result. Our drywall crews can match any existing texture — orange peel, knockdown, skip trowel.
- Level 4 and Level 5 finish available for premium paint applications
- Texture matching for repairs — orange peel, knockdown, smooth
- Moisture-resistant drywall in bathrooms and kitchens
- Fire-rated assemblies where required by code
- Repair and patch work that disappears under paint
ADU Construction in San Rafael
Accessory Dwelling Units — Permitted & Built
ADUs are one of the best investments a Bay Area homeowner can make right now. We build detached ADUs, garage conversions, attached additions, and JADUs — handling design, permits, and construction under one contract. We know California ADU law, local approval processes, and how to maximize livable space on your specific lot.
- Full ADU feasibility review before you commit to any design
- Permit management — design, plans, plan check, and inspections
- Detached, attached, garage conversion, and JADU options
- California ADU law expertise — we know what cities can and cannot require
- Rental income potential: Bay Area ADUs rent for $2,500–$4,000/month
Stucco Repair in San Rafael
Stucco Repair, Recoat & Restoration
Stucco is everywhere in Bay Area construction, and it fails in predictable ways — cracks at windows and corners, moisture intrusion behind the face, efflorescence, and delamination. We repair stucco correctly: addressing the moisture source first, then patching and recoating so repairs don't crack back open within a year.
- Root cause analysis before any patching — no surface-only repairs
- Three-coat traditional stucco application for major repairs
- Elastomeric coating options for older stucco with minor checking
- Color matching to existing stucco — integral pigment mixed on site
- Flashing and waterproofing at all penetrations and transitions
Foundation Repair in San Rafael
Foundation Repair & Seismic Retrofit
Foundation issues in the Bay Area are common and serious. We handle pier underpinning for settling foundations, cripple wall and crawl space seismic retrofits, slab crack repair, and drainage solutions that stop ongoing movement. Every foundation job starts with an honest assessment — we won't oversell you on work you don't need.
- Seismic retrofit for cripple wall foundations — FEMA P-1100 compliant
- Pier underpinning for settling or undermined foundations
- Crack repair with epoxy injection and carbon fiber straps
- Drainage and waterproofing to stop hydrostatic pressure
- Structural engineering coordination on every project
Concrete Work in San Rafael
Driveways, Patios, Walkways & Foundations
We pour and finish concrete for driveways, patios, walkways, retaining walls, and foundations. We also repair settling, cracked, and spalled concrete surfaces. Proper subgrade prep, correct mix design, and control joints — these are the details that make concrete last 30 years instead of 8.
- Subgrade compaction and base preparation — the foundation under the concrete
- Correct mix design for application — 3,000 to 4,500 PSI as needed
- Control joint placement to prevent random cracking
- Broom, exposed aggregate, stamped, and salt-finish options
- Drainage integration — surface slope and catch basins where needed
Deck Construction in San Rafael
Decks, Patios & Outdoor Living
A well-built deck adds usable square footage, improves how you use your property, and increases resale value. We build wood, composite, and Trex decks — handling structural design, permits, ledger waterproofing, and all finish work. In the Bay Area, a deck that's not properly waterproofed and anchored doesn't last.
- Full structural design — sized for load, code-compliant span tables
- Ledger connection waterproofing — the step most contractors skip
- Trex, Fiberon composite, and pressure-treated wood options
- Railing systems — cable, aluminum, glass, wood
- All permits pulled and inspections passed
Neighborhoods We Serve in San Rafael
We work throughout San Rafael — our crews know local access constraints, permit offices, and neighborhood-specific building requirements.
Don't see your neighborhood? We cover all of San Rafael. Call us or submit a request and we'll confirm coverage.
What San Rafael Clients Say
Verified ratings pulled live from Google and Yelp. These are real projects done in San Rafael — not paid testimonials.
Other Areas We Serve Near San Rafael
IronNest Construction serves the full region — not just one city. Explore contractor services in nearby communities.
Common Questions About Working in San Rafael
We offer general contracting, kitchen and bathroom remodeling, ADU construction, painting, siding, and flooring in San Rafael. All work is performed by our own licensed crews — no subcontract guesswork.
Yes. IronNest Construction holds California State License Board license #1130134 (Class B — General Building Contractor), which covers all residential and commercial construction work in San Rafael, CA.
We handle the full permit process for every applicable project — from application to final inspection sign-off. We know the San Rafael building department and what local inspectors expect.
Submit a request on our estimate page or call (415) 770-4977. We respond within one business hour, schedule a site visit, and deliver a written proposal with fixed pricing — no vague estimates.
Timeline depends on scope. A kitchen remodel typically takes 4–8 weeks. A full home renovation runs 10–16 weeks. ADU construction is 12–20 weeks depending on permit timing. We provide a firm schedule before any work begins.
Ready to Build?
Let's Talk.
Get a free, no-obligation estimate. We visit your site, review the scope, and give you a written proposal with fixed pricing — no vague ballparks, no hidden fees.