SF Design Build

This is our second major project with SF Design Build. The level of quality is so high. The entire team is clean, efficient, and working at the highest levels of professionalism. If we ever have another major project, we know who we will use!

We hired SF Design Build to enlarge & remodel our master bath and to completely remodel our basement level floor in order to add a bathroom and create a large multi-use office/family room/guest room. We had a large storage/basement room that was only partially finished. SF Design Build completely gutted this floor to create a new beautifully finished space with separate storage room. The new room includes a full bath and built in cabinetry that can be used as a desk. The upstairs master bath remodel included moving bedroom wall to create a larger bathroom. We were extremely pleased with result and would highly recommend SF Design Build. Due to busy family/work schedules we hired this firm to manage the entire planning, permitting and construction process. SF Design Build managed the whole process efficiently and hired very professional contractors with high standards of work. We lived in the house during most of the construction and everyone we interacted with was a pleasure to work with. They came up with creative solutions to get more space and were able to react quickly to additional suggestions or requests we had. It was invaluable to have such a professional, responsive crew helping create the space we dreamed of. Would love to work with SF Design Build again on a future project - highly recommend!

We are the owners of the "Inner Sunset" remodel and couldn't be happier with our results. There is no denying it, but remodeling a home is stressful. SF Design Build made the process about as painless as possible. Honesty and integrity are how I would describe working with Rudy, which I think are some of the most important traits during an extensive remodel project. Rudy was beyond patient and always seemed to have our interests in mind. Even years after the project, he has been more than happy to help with odds and ends that have come up. The craftsmanship of the rest of the team was excellent. We did an extensive facade restoration of our Victorian and Louis did an incredible job. On the design end, Jessica was a pleasure to work with. She not only did a great job with our plans, but was a constant resource for a litany of small design decisions. We did most of the interior finish selection ourselves, but she was always willing to offer her candid thoughts which was a blessing.

Rudy and his team were a pleasure to work with. We did a full kitchen and bathroom remodel for us and we were very happy with the process and outcome. They kept to the timeline we discussed and were very clear on budget and scope. Rudy was very involved with the project and helped us trouble-shoot where needed. We love our new kitchen!

Things could not have gone smoother with SF Design Build. We did a garage buildout to add a master bath, walk-in closet, office, and laundry room. We also did minor work upstairs like crown molding throughout and a re-tiling of the upstairs bathroom. The design process was made simple for us - we put together a Pinterest page of looks we liked and then we were provided a few options to choose from. In a few cases we chose our own stuff but it was so easy to put a nice look together. The construction/demo started on time and during the whole process, the team made tremendous efforts to keep the space clean as we were living in the house upstairs at the same time and we have two young kids. They even did the upstairs work while we were on vacation so it was like we never even knew it happened! They stayed relatively within budget (we added radiant heat mid-stream which did cause us a higher cost overall, but was totally worth it). For things that were dinged in the space we weren't actively remodeled, they fixed promptly without me following up. The finished product is exactly what we wanted and is so beautiful and more functional than we expected. They really do have an eye for functionality and also the style of the spaces. They actually stayed within the expected timeline as well which was amazing considering the challenges I've heard from friends on their construction experiences. I would definitely hire this team again for another project and in fact they are very likely to help us do some hardscaping and deck work in our backyard now that the first project is finished.

We can't express how grateful we are to the entire team at SF Design Build. Hiring them to help us with both the design and renovation of our home has truly been the best decision we have made! Rudy, JC and Jessica were professional, knowledgable, understanding and easy to correspond with on a day-to-day basis. They made themselves readily available for our every need and were quick (and resourceful at times) to troubleshoot when needed. We were completely blown away when we saw the final touches of our kitchen and basement remodel - every detail was well planned out and made a noticeable difference in making the remodel still blend nicely with our home's historic charm. After everything was said and done we came in right on budget and very close to the original schedule date of completion, something that is very hard to get right the first time! My husband and I would happily work with them again and have referred several of our neighbors and friends!

I had been putting off a much needed kitchen redo as I dreaded the disruption and complications that I figured would occur during the process. However, an upcoming condo conversion meant I could not avoid the situation any longer. I certainly could not have chosen any better than working with SF Design Build. Not only did they complete the work on budget and on schedule, but they were able to incorporate all the other work needed throughout my home to comply with the City Condo Conversion requirements within the time frame required to do a total kitchen renovation. Both Rudy and Jessica took my kitchen requirements and greatly improved them, making a better use of the space than I could imagine. They were an enormous help in choosing tile, hardwood flooring and paint colors, all of which would have overwhelmed me without their guidance. Also, the people they have relationships with for cabinets, counter tops, plumbing, glass and electrical work are all top notch. Last, but certainly not least, is the SF Design Build crew itself. These men never missed a day. They did everything they could possibly do so that I was able to live in my home while this work took place. They cleaned up at the end of each day and were considerate of my neighbors. Aside from all of this, they are extremely skilled carpenters, plasterers and painters. Friends and relatives are envious that I had such a wonderful experience with this renovation, all thanks to SF Design Build.

As first-time home renovators with a baby on the way, my husband and I were looking for a trustworthy team that could work on our project within a certain timeframe. We’re so glad we ended up working with SFDB who went above and beyond our expectations. Our project entailed adding a new full bathroom & walk-in closet for the master bedroom, and rebuilding the kitchen which now opens up to the living room. From our first meetings with Jessica and Rudy we felt at ease, and having them navigate the process from design to construction phase and intricacies in between was very helpful (permitting, recommending sources for fixtures and materials, working with subcontractors, etc). We learned so much along the way and are happy with how things turned out. Design phase: Jessica was attentive to our requests and extremely organized in communication. We were always excited to see her creative options that maximized our space (important to us), and she provided insightful pros/cons for each design yet stayed flexible if we asked to adjust something. She proactively came up with different solutions, thoroughly answered our newbie questions during the decision-making process, and shed light on details we never would have thought of on our own. Construction phase: Rudy’s team was courteous about our belongings and left things tidy at the end of the workday which we really appreciated since we lived onsite through the project. A few instances really stood out when they took extra measures to make sure we were comfortable – for example, one Friday evening when we couldn’t get our washer & dryer to work properly after electrical wiring switches Rudy stopped by after work hours to make a quick fix so we were set for the weekend. They were friendly and adaptable if something changed from original plans, and also managed to fit in additional projects like creating an indoor laundry room (big bonus now that baby is here) without too much impact to the schedule. It was a pleasure working with SFDB and we hope to work together again on future projects!

Rudy, Jessica, and their team are great! We have done many renovations from small to large, and they are the best team we have worked with. On the design side, I had a lot of ideas coming into the process, and Jessica was able to incorporate and respond to my ideas, while adding her expertise and creativity. It was a perfect balance. On the construction side, Rudy is very knowledgeable and responsive. He always stays positive and really stands by his word and his work. Overall, their team had a wonderful vibe - they were always hard-working, reliable, friendly, and respectful of the space. They seemed to get along well and work well together, so everyone always seemed happy to be here, even though it is such hard work. We had difficulty with one of the sub-contractors (floor), and Rudy was able to help us resolve it with no extra drama. There were some more significant surprises and additions along the way that did add to cost, but I never felt like we were nickel-and-dimed for every little change the way I have been by other contractors. Rudy stood by his estimates. When we sprang a pipe leak a few months later, Rudy rushed over to help repair it, and even though it was not in a pipe that they worked on, he ended up not charging us, as he said they had worked on that wall and may have loosened the joint. That is above and beyond!

We couldn't have been happier working with SF Design Build. We hired them for a fairly large job - transforming our unfinished garage/ground floor in Bernal Heights into a master suite including a bedroom, bath, large walk-in closet, laundry room, office area, and garage storage. Going into the project, we knew that we wanted to hire a design/build firm to avoid the back and forth we know can come from hiring separate designers and builders. When we found SF Design Build, we knew that we had made the right choice. Rudy and Jessica are such a great team - seamless communication, no-drama, very accessible, professional, and wonderful design and craftsmanship. As a designer, Jessica came up with very creative solutions to maximize our space, and is a total design pro - she anticipated design challenges before they arose. Rudy led a construction team who were friendly, dependable, and talented - important qualities when they are at your house everyday for months. I would hire SF Design Build again in a heartbeat.

We couldn't have been happier with a contractor. Everything was done to the highest standard. They were efficient, clean, professional and artistic. They went out of their way to accommodate us as we continued to occupy the space during the project. They had good ideas about how to create even more space in the kitchen and they regularly communicated their thoughts. We would work with them again.

SFDB: I have utilized the company for 3 projects including: apartment gut renovate of studio with living, dining, bathroom, kitchen; gut renovate of large 2 BR apartment with living, bathroom and kitchen on two projects. SF Design Build provides the best of both worlds- design and construction. The design process with Jessica is nothing short of amazing. She has incredible depth and breath and also is a very intuitive listener. On the construction side, Rudy and team are always searching for the BEST solution on the construction side including bringing intelligence and experience from prior projects for the benefits of the current client.

The remodel and addition of our house was the biggest project of our lives (next to raising children!), so it was critical that we hired the right team to get us through a complicated process. We are so pleased that we went with SF Design Build. First of all, they specialize in S.F. and regularly deal with the crazy intricacies of getting things through the planning department and all of the code and inspection issues that a firm who is from out of town simply won't get. They know all of the guys and can get your project through a very byzantine process. Second, these guys show up and work. We've had contractors in the past who wouldn't really communicate. Rudy and his crew were there everyday, often six days a week making sure we were on schedule. They left the site clean and tidy at night, were respectful of us and our needs, (especially as we were living in our house during construction), and often did very helpful things like remembering to take out the garbage cans for me on trash night. There were five other remodel jobs on our block going on at the same time and you could really see that there was a quality difference. I've seen injuries at the other sites, contractors who make neighbors angry by parking in front of their driveways, or leaving dumpsters out on the street for up to a year. All of my neighbors have constantly remarked at how friendly and respectful our crew has been, which has made it so much easier on us. Lastly, we're so happy with the work. The quality and attention to detail has been fabulous and Rudy has personally addressed even the smallest of issues that we've had. I recommend the whole SF Design Build Team without reservation.

Jessica and Rudy are talented, hardworking and likable people. During the planning phase Jessica listened well and offered many thoughtful options for our renovated kitchen, kids rooms, laundry, office, and entryway. They took time to meet with us as needed and incorporate our feedback to Jessica’s designs. Neither Jessica nor Rudy seemed frustrated or overwhelmed as we expanded the scope or changed our minds about layout. They have remained engaged, professional, and focused on our project, budget, and timeline. SFDB communicates well and is especially great via email. Rudy gets back to you once he has an answer or a solution. He juggles multiple job sites but our needs were always met, and he gives you his complete attention until all of your concerns are addressed. This is a great feeling to have from your contractor. The men on Rudy’s team are talented and courteous. Everyone was professional, punctual and accommodating. Friendly to the kids. Our new neighbors even commented on their kind and considerate demeanor. This is a group that seems to know and enjoy each other after years of working together, communicates well and gets along. This vibe gave us a lot of confidence about the integrity of the work site. We would not hesitate to recommend SFDB to anyone. Jessica is an imaginative, collaborative architect. She produces multiple drawings to choose from, and never gets “married” to any of them. Rudy and his team are extremely talented, personable, and flexible. I don’t think there is any problem they can’t tackle, and they were willing and able to incorporate new ideas well into the construction process. We would choose SFDB again in a heartbeat.

Jessica, Rudy and the rest of the SF Design Build team transformed our 1920s condo into a beautiful, open-space concept home that we relish each day. This was no easy project, involving the rearrangement of many walls, remodeling the whole kitchen, installing new windows, new lighting, new cabinets, adding a half bath, and creating an in-unit laundry room. Jessica was incredible during the design phase -- she listened to our desires/goals and guided us through a range of options to achieve them (many of which were creative solutions we never would have thought of and other designers we talked to never suggested). They helped pick our materials, handled all of the permits with the city for us, and helped us think through trade-offs and alternatives as needed. Jessica was extremely patient helping create multiple budgets, and explaining ways we could cut costs while still achieving our underlying vision. Rudy and his construction team were easy to work with and they made the construction phase as smooth as possible with a strong attention to detail and great communication. Our neighbors got to know them, and they did a great job keeping positive relationships in the building. Changes were quickly implemented and roadblocks were well navigated. Rudy and Jessica work extremely well together and when we had a roadblock with our HOA they coordinated all the right people on a call to help explain and show how everything was to code and within our HOA guidelines. They are the team you want. We would work with SFDB again in heart beat!

SF Design Build completed a design, hardwood floor installation and full kitchen remodel that included removing a wall. What an incredible job they did. With the design, Jessica was an indispensable help with the layout and materials choices. The construction was amazingly easy. Rudy made sure the job was done right and on time with a focus on quality and detail. Changes were quickly made and any issues were easily resolved with no drama. The work crew was courteous and ensured the place was clean every day. After the job was done, any additional related work was completed timely and without question. Because of their great work, my neighbors and our condo association have used SFDB for other work. I will definitely be using SFDB for my next project and highly recommend them.

SF Design Build recently completed a full kitchen remodel in our home. It was a large project -- involved taking out a load bearing wall, new cabinets, new floors and putting in a skylight. We were incredibly pleased with their work. They were conscientious, respectful of our space and showed great attention to detail. They respected our opinions regarding fixtures, flooring, etc., but were also not afraid to offer their own thoughts/ideas (which we found very helpful). We highly recommend SF Design Build and will definitely use them again for future projects!

I worked with SF Design Build on a handful of remodeling projects for one client. We remodeled two bathrooms down to the studs, a family/play room, designed and built a back deck, expanded & reinforced a storage space in the client's garage. SF Design Build was very helpful in every aspect of these remodel projects. Their bid to my client was competitive and they delivered a high level of attention to detail in every aspect of the remodeling. They where also able to provide detailed drawings communicating the scope of work for each space that was being remodeled which as the designer I was able to review with my client. I appreciated that they had the in house technical drawing services available as well as handling the remodeling. SF Design Build always answered my calls and emails in a timely manner and where available to meet with me as the designer whenever any questions or concerns arose. I would highly recommend SF Design Build for any of your remodeling needs.

SFDB recently completed an extensive remodel of an entire floor in our Bernal Heights house over the course of 6 months. They removed a wall and replaced it with a support beam, remodeled a kitchen (involving moving our water and gas lines), remodeled a bathroom, cut some skylights into the roof, installed a new roof, built a balcony, and much more. We interviewed 3 design/build firms - SFDB threw out the most interesting design ideas in our initial meeting, so we went with them. Price - Their prices seemed competitive - it would be hard to compare apples-to-apples for a project that we knew would evolve as we went along, but I spot checked a few of the more concrete tasks (like putting on a new roof and digging a sewer-lateral line), and their prices were in line with other contractors. I say 'competitive', but construction isn't cheap - some materials like windows seemed very high. That's probably just what they cost, but I would have liked SFDB to give me a high/medium/low quality/cost options for some of the larger items. Organization - Rudy (the owner) was always on top of things, visiting the job site most days. We'd spend a hour every other week talking about projects and asking what needed to be polished, and he'd do a great job of helping us visualize options. He was also great at navigating the permit and inspection process. The laborers were friendly and highly skilled, but spoke varying amounts of English. They went out of their way to help us through it - a couple times we had plumbing issues that were unrelated to the new construction, but they snaked out the drains. I thought we'd be uncomfortable living downstairs while they worked upstairs, but they were great. Note that SDDB is a smaller firm - in some phases we wished they could have applied 10 guys for 3 weeks instead of 3 guys for 10 weeks. Last note - we were responsible for picking out maybe 40 things along the way (paint color, appliances, door handles) - it was never super clear when all these things were due - a tracking spreadsheet might have helped. Quality - Everything came out great. The workers paid attention to all the details, especially on some of the more unique features of the house. They painted, and repainted, and repainted until they got things just right. After 6 months of work, our 'punch list' of things to polish was less than 10 small items - which they took care of in a day. I'd work with SFDB again, and highly recommend them!

SFDB recently completed a small but complex remodel/expansion of a bathroom and walk-in closet for us and we couldn't be more pleased. There was a significant amount of both infrastructure/foundational work as well as fine finish work. It was easy to work with them on reducing and increasing scope with no complex change orders. They were also extremely helpful in moving us in and out of the bedroom and arranging carpet installation, none of which was in the original SOW. The work was high quality and everyone who has seen it has been very impressed. We're looking forward to working with them on several future projects, which is really the best recommendation anyone could give.

SF Design is in my neighborhood and initially that is why I chose them for my bathroom remodel. Jessica, the designer, listened to my ideas and concerns and designed a bathroom that is simply wonderful. She worked with me and helped keep my champagne ideas within my beer budget. She and Rudy, the contractor, submitted a bid that might have been a bit higher than others; but, even when the project went over in the time estimate, it stayed within the budget. One of the delays was the inspection process - multiple inspectors coming on different days and nothing could be done that week. The two main workers, Samuel and Cesar, were friendly and polite and cleaned up everything at the end of each day and reseated the toilet so that, despite spending my days at a friend's home and taking my showers there, I was able to come home each evening and sleep in my own bed. My bathroom continues to get raves from everyone who sees it and I am very happy. I had a question about the lighting just this week and Rudy came right over and looked at it for me. A good neighbor and a good contractor.

We recently completed our 3rd large scale project with SF Design Build .... first a major remodel of our condo in 2008.... then a major seismic upgrade for our entire building in 2010...and now a complete exterior painting and new deck construction and maintenance completions for the entire building (a three story structure in NOPA). Basically they went over this entire huge building tooth and nail fixing and updating every inch. Our 87 year old wood construction building is now in near perfect condition. We keep returning to Rudy, Jessica and the SFDB team for the simple reason that they are honest, professional, thorough, budget-wise and conscious and have excellent follow up. The quality of the work by Samuel, Hugo, Ceasar, Eric and the others is excellent. These guys are real craftsmen and it shows. What a pleasure to see their finished work! All of the workers are company employees and have been with SFDB for all the years we have used the company. No day hires! We bid this work, as we did our other projects, and SFDB once again came in competitive. (they were not the cheapest but also held an advantage over "just" painting contractors because as a general contractor they have their own scaffolding. the other painters bid the work then had an "add on" for scaffolding that in some cases could add $5k to the cost.) they completed the work on budget. No gimmicks, add ons etc. during the work they found that some planking on one side of the building had been repaired poorly many years ago and had to be replaced. this added about 3 days to the job with some cost increase but they showed how it was necesary. One of the best things about SFDB is that there are no surprises. They work entirely through the project with no gaps or no show days. they clean up EVERY DAY and leave the work site as accessible as possible, respecting the owners living space. I would highly recommend SF Design Build. Like the PGA ads on television ... "These Guys are Good!...."