CA Bear Construction

We just finished a fairly extensive 6 month renovation project at our house (new kitchen, bathroom, flooring, electrical panel upgrade, added plumbing lines, windows, doors, removed/added walls, etc.) and I want to give a glowing review for our contractor CA Bear Construction! I have been so so happy with the entire process and I am thrilled with how our house looks now. CA Bear has truly been such a pleasure to work with — they have been very accurate with their time and cost estimates, all change orders and finish date delays were due to me changing my mind about the design of certain things or wanting to add to the scope of work which they were super flexible about. They know how to navigate all the bureacracy in Oakland, everything went super smooth for me with permits, inspections, PG&E, and EBMUD. I worked with an architect for the plans but decided to take on the design aspect myself and they were super patient and accommodating of this choice. I never felt nickel and dimed for the work they did, in fact, I often felt like they went above and beyond what I was expecting because they have their own high standards of quality and want to protect their reputation with a track record beautiful homes. Almost all of the work is done in-house with CA Bear employees, they only sub out electrical, plumbing but even with the subs they work so seamlessly, you can tell they are working with the same people project after project and have awesome relationships with all the guys so there was never any scheduling issues. It felt like a highly organized group project with everyone on the same team. I love that they often double checked placement… especially bc I deviated from the original plans at various points in the project. And every person I encountered was so courteous, hard-working, friendly, and constantly tidying up after themselves! The craftsmanship and artistry (I’m not exaggerating!) of their team really blew me away. Their lead carpenter was able to create hidden channels in my tongue and groove ceiling so I could place pendant lights wherever I wanted without ugly cords or resorting to track lighting. My complicated FireClay Tile bathroom design was executed perfectly. I want to give a shoutout to Julian Jankowski who was my main point of contact throughout this whole project. Just the epitome of professionalism at all times, a patient guide, super detail oriented, an eye for design, the memory of an elephant, and also just an awesome human being to work with! He did a great job of explainin industry standards (“this is what we usually do for our clients”) while also being open to whatever I wanted (“we can do anything you want, I’m just trying to save you some money!”). At any setback or roadblock he was always game to problem solve, understand what my priorities were, and tenacious to find a solution. I am so happy about my new house, we moved back in almost two months ago and every day I still wake up excited to get to live here!

We hired CA Bear for our home renovation that involved carving out an extra bedroom downstairs, remodeling a bathroom, building a new staircase with custom wood slats, and a long list of smaller updates that touched every room in the house. Timing: The process of getting a permit in Berkeley was unpredictable, but I was impressed that once we got the permit CA Bear was able to get started on the project with very little lead time. The project was planned to take about 3 months and wound up taking 4.5, which was pretty impressive since we added a lot to the scope and the work happened during the December holidays. The competitive bids we got estimated the project at 6 months. Pricing: CA Bear had the lowest of 3 bids, and pricing seemed competitive with scope added during the project. Quality: Throughout the project their focus was clearly on making sure we were happy with the final product. When we did hit some bumps due to miscommunication between the different parties (architect, structural engineer, etc.), CA Bear did rework for no or minimal charge to make sure the end product was up to par. They did a great job with coming back to refine a few small issues we noticed after moving back in as well. Communication: We worked closely with project manager Mario and were in near daily contact. Every week we’d get a report with photos and a description of what was completed. They use a website called Buildertrend that made it very easy to track where we were on the budget. Overall, we are very happy with the outcome!

We worked with CA Bear to remodel a big chunk of our 100+ year old house, including knocking down some walls to create a modern kitchen and adding a half bath. They did an incredible job of making our home into one we will love for decades to come, the work is quality, the finishes are beautiful and the crews were so considerate and professional. The team was responsive and communicative throughout the process, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

We recently completed our Accessory Dwelling Unit with Cal Bear Construction, and we couldn't be happier with the results. From start to finish, the team exceeded our expectations in every way. The quality of the construction is truly top-tier. The attention to detail is remarkable—from the clean lines and modern finishes to the way they maximized the natural light in the space. They managed to create a unit that feels incredibly spacious, high-end, and perfectly integrated into our property. What really stood out was their professionalism. Building an ADU can be a complex and stressful process, but Cal Bear made it feel easy. They were communicative, stayed on schedule, and were always available to answer our questions. Their team is clearly dedicated to their work, and it shows in every corner of the finished project. If you are looking for a reliable, skilled, and professional contractor for an ADU or any major home project, I cannot recommend Cal Bear Construction highly enough. They didn’t just build a unit; they created a beautiful, functional home that we are proud of!

Mario and his team were great to work with. I'm really happy with my ADU and all the work they did.

We hired CA Bear Construction following the recommendation of good friends. Our friends had done the research for us, and we saw the outstanding job CA Bear did on their ADU. Our project was a major remodel, which included expanding the second floor of our house eight feet across the existing outside house walls to enlarge the primary bedroom and create a covered balcony accessible from both the primary and secondary bedrooms. In addition the project included relocating and installing an ensuite primary bathroom with steam shower and heated floors, creating a large walk-in closet, installing new windows in the remodeled area as well as other areas of the house, reconstructing and covering a new roof with gutters for the entire house, installing a new HVAC system, tankless water heater, sewer system, electrical system for the remodel and updating the electrical system for the rest of our house. They also completed other projects we added. Oscar’s team were exceptional workers. They were on time, friendly, professional and highly skilled in their area of expertise. Julian, the project manager was personable, caring, well organized and a great leader for his team and the subcontractors. Brenda was a great asset when purchasing all the finish items such as windows, doors and fixtures and making design decisions. The CA Bear team was accommodating when we decided to make any changes to the project and above all wanted us to be pleased with the outcome of our home remodel. Our house looks beautiful, not like it was remodeled but rather how it may have looked when it was originally built 100 years ago, with of course a modern take. We appreciate and thank everyone at CA Bear Construction whose hard work helped us achieve our dream!

We used CA Bear for a major renovation project in Marin County. They did a wonderful job. We would definitely use them again.

We had the pleasure of working with CA Bear rom start to finish, the entire experience was seamless and stress-free. CA Bear Construction has demonstrated an exceptional level of professionalism, expertise, and attention to detail throughout the project. They took the time to understand the client's needs and vision, provided valuable recommendations, and delivered results that exceeded our expectations. The communication was clear and consistent, with regular updates to keep us informed of the progress. CA Bear Construction and their team were always punctual, respectful of our space, and committed to maintaining a clean and organized work environment. What truly stood out was their creative problem-solving skills, their craftsmanship, their ability to stay within budget and timeline without compromising quality. The final outcome is stunning and a testament to their dedication and talent. We highly recommend CA Bear Construction to anyone in need of home improvement, addition, new construction, and remodeling work. They are true professionals who take pride in their craft and prioritize customer satisfaction.

As a plumbing contractor I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Oscar and his team, who have consistently shown themselves to be highly skilled professionals. The projects we have undertaken have been completed in a timely and efficient manner, resulting in extremely satisfied customers. If you desire a seamless remodeling or construction experience, I highly recommend entrusting your project to their expertise.

Our ADU wasn't an easy project. We had a few firsts... a Living Roof, an under cement heating system, capturing an existing Spring to water our landscaping and building inspector that requested a change to the buildings railing after it had been approved. Oscar and his team members kept on it until it was perfect! Thank you!

I have used Oscar and the CA Bear Construction team on 2 major projects: a (2) bathroom tear down and total overhaul in 2021; and then with some major house upgrades in August of 2024: including total revamp of kitchen, redoing all hardwood floors, and deck expansion. Both jobs were robust and extensive....and my wife and I could not be more pleased with the results. First and foremost, the results are sterling. The work in and of itself is magnificent, and the quality is spectacular. Major upgrade and not only adds value to the house, but maximizes our space, aesthetic, and peace of mind. But beyond the awesome craftsmanship, it's HOW the work is done that makes this company particularly unrivaled. With both projects, Osacr's teams were communicative, gracious, friendly, hard working, and responsive. Led by (a different) Oscar and Chris, respectively, the crews were professional and courteous, clean, and executed any concerns. Both jobs were finished on schedule and within our laid out budget. We cannot recommend these people and this company more. We will continue to utilize them for any future projects.

CA Bear Construction built a ground up duplex for me in Berkeley California. They were able to work well with difficult neighbors and challenging city rules. Oscar is local and understands the complexities of working here. The finished product looks good and is performing well.

As budget management was an issue, we chose CA Bear Construction after receiving a few quotes. I really enjoyed working with Laura, Mario, Chris and the whole team. Their responsiveness was great, no matter what time or day they always responded promptly to my messages and answered all my questions and concerns. The initial project time frame to finish was 6 months and they completed the work in 2 months. Mario even worked hard with the team to make sure our new bathroom was done in time for an event we had during a holiday weekend. They also worked diligently & completed this project way ahead of time. Their responsiveness to our concerns was commendable. I would work again with them in the future and highly recommend them to anyone with a construction project!

We are so pleased with the work CA Bear did for us. It was a big project renovating half of our home. The communication and responsiveness was fantastic , the craftsmanship and attention to detail was great, and they were very patient and accommodating of the many pivots and changes that came about throughout the project. We also appreciated how they helped us to troubleshoot a few challenges that inevitably came about. Everyone we worked with on their team took pride in their work and were a pleasure to work with. We can’t wait to do another project with CA Bear.

CA Bear Construction replaced the siding on the small upper portion of an exterior wall, facing our neighbor, that was weathered and hadn’t had any painting/maintenance done in many years. They put up scaffolding, pulled off two layers of siding, evened out some sections that were inconsistent, installed insulation, applied new plywood/waterproofing, redid the flashing around the edges, and attached and painted exterior siding. Beginning to end, they did the work in two weeks flat, with no additions to cost despite a few small surprises. They were a pleasure to work with!

I’m the Treasurer for our HOA, which ended up using CA Bear Construction for several separate pieces of work. We gathered bids from multiple contractors, and CA Bear Construction was simultaneously the most responsive and consistently among the most competitive on pricing. We only got one major change order, based on surprises they found after opening up the wall, but they talked us through those so that we understood the issues and their recommendations for how to address them. The invoices we got from them reflected the exact hours worked and materials used, so that we could see exactly how the work was progressing against the estimate. I found them to be very communicative and easy to work with throughout the process.

CA Bear Construction replaced an exterior wall on our building in order to address persistent problems with water intrusion/leaks. They showed up on time every morning, worked efficiently, and did a great job. There were some challenges with the existing wall – extra layers of exterior siding, inconsistent framing/wall thickness, dry rot – but they talked us through everything they found and how they planned to address the issues. I found them to be honest and transparent, and the end result came out looking brand new and will hopefully address all the issues we’ve had. In addition, we happened to have an old pipe burst above our garage and called Oscar Vega at 9pm on a weeknight; he had his plumber out to fix it first thing the next morning, when we hadn’t been able to find anyone else to come so quickly. Would definitely use them again!

We are so glad we used CA Bear, for constructing our ADU, remodelling our kitchen and building 2 decks. Oscar Vega runs CA Bear, and the company is extremely professional and does high-quality work. Structural, Concrete, Fire-Rating, Electric, Plumbing, Carpentry, Finishing, etc, etc - they do it all. They always advise on how to do things the correct way, in a way that will look beautiful, meet code and in a way that will last. We had the pleasure of having Julian as our foreman. Julian is a positive, friendly, upbeat person to work with who listens and cares and really wants to get things right for his clients. He is a great communicator. Salvador, was our master carpenter and led the framing / carpentry crew. Salvador can do everything, but most importantly - he is a craftsman who cares about his work being of the highest quality. He doesn’t just get it done, he’s a perfectionist who wants things to look exactly right. Julian and Salvador are great problem solvers, and were very patient with us around details. One example out of many instances - they were willing to do a section of our ipe deck railing and siding with different spacing and configurations to help us figure out which detail looked best, and then pulled the boards off and redid that section once we chose what looked best. They were aligned with us in wanting the deck to look as aesthetically pleasing as it could, and were willing to take the extra time for it to look its best, not just get it done. They cared as much about the quality of the work as we did. Brenda helped us figure out finish materials and appliances and helped us choose things within our budget. She has a knack for design, and helped figure out how to re-configure a pantry space and laundry room to get the most out of the space as well as design some built-in cabinetry in an area of our kitchen that we did not use an architect for. We are very happy with the design she came up with. It looks good, is extremely functional, and she figured out how to do it on our budget. Their electric and plumbing crew was excellent as well. Most importantly we found CA Bear to be very trustworthy, respectful and didn’t mind having them in our space as we lived through the construction. Our neighbors commented on how professional they were. We are very happy with the results of the project!

Out of four different bids, we chose CA Bear construction and we couldn't be happier with the results. We had a massive project that included building an addition of nearly 650 sq. feet of office/work space with a rooftop deck; a complete kitchen renovation; a bedroom and bath; a finished basement; and updates to all of our electrical, plumbing, and earthquake retrofit. We learned from friends early in the process that you're lucky if you get 2/3 from your general contractor: 1.Quality workmanship; 2.Efficiency; and 3. Solid communication and we received all THREE from CA Bear. Oscar and his team, a very large team of dependable, professional, and thoughtful workers, took care of everything and consistently communicated with us throughout the process. They even had a software platform that would track each phase of the project, with weekly picture and description updates. They were always responsive to our questions and had frequent check-ins with updates and any issues that came up. With a 100 year old, there are always going to be problems to troubleshoot. We were also provided with bi-monthly detailed payment invoices describing all the costs for materials and labor. I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of their key team members (Brenda with Design; Chris and Jonathan with project management; Pedro and Sergio with custom cabinetry and doors; Leo with plumbing; Felix with electrical; Mario with payments; and all the amazing work of Beto, Oscar N., Johan, and numerous others) that helped us save money with ingenious design elements, creative solutions to challenges, navigating the Oakland permitting process, and just overall professionalism. We couldn't recommend them enough. Since the completion of our project, we've already recommended them to several friends in the East Bay and they too, have sung their praises!

I worked with CA Bear Construction as we received their contact information from a friend. The work we had done in our home was to change out four windows, replace the siding in our home, add a few lights, a ceiling fan, and a vent in our bathroom. The work they conducted was of the highest quality. Their attention to detail was superb throughout the entire process, from the initial quote, the actual labor, to their patience in working with my family to accommodate our changes and schedule. The entire team was really professional and detail oriented. Overall, I recommend CA Bear Construction with the highest regard.

We hired CA Bear Construction to do a pretty extensive renovation on our condo, and we were so happy with the work done by Oscar and his team that we kept finding more things for them to do, not just in our unit, but for our entire building. The team was friendly, professional, and accomodating throughout the entire process. They were also very conscientious of the impact on our building and our neighbors, and were especially careful about keeping noise down and leaving a tidy worksite at the end of the day. We're very happy with the finished work, and have gotten tons of compliments from friends and neighbors. I've included a photo of our newly enlarged deck and newly installed deck door, courtesy of CA Bear Construction, which we couldn't be happier with.

I found Oscar and CA Bear Construction through the recommendation of my architect, and I couldn't have been happier with the work and service that they provided. Oscar was friendly, communicative, knowledgeable, and professional. We met on site several times before starting work, he accommodated our schedule, including coordinating with other workers (I had some floor refinishing work done by a different company), and the workers were on site promptly every morning and worked efficiently. I even got unsolicited feedback from my next-door neighbor about how conscientious the team was about noise and tidying up the job site each day. They laid down floor protection and dust barriers that helped protect areas that weren't being worked on. And most importantly, everything came out great! We had the following work done by CA Bear Construction: - Added a second bathroom within the footprint of the existing guest bedroom, including tiling the shower stall, leveling and tiling the floor, installing a vanity and light fixtures, etc. - Reconfigured the guest bedroom and guest closet space (moving and adding light fixtures, framing/finishing) - Added a shallow kitchen pantry with hidden press-to-open doors and custom shelving - Added a skylight in the kitchen - Replaced the vanity, added a Sun Tunnel, and installed additional can lights in the existing bathroom - Replaced old deck doors with fancy bi-fold doors, including adding insulation to that exterior wall - Replaced all interior doors for better sound insulation After using Oscar's team for the work on our own unit, our HOA hired them for some additional building work - replacing the roof, replacing an exterior wall that was leaking, and hiring the electrician he referred us to for upgrading our building's electrical panel. We got multiple bids for all of these jobs, and Oscar's team was consistently competitive on pricing without compromising on the quality of work. Our project manager Julian was on site nearly every day and responsive to emails and texts as we had questions or needed updates. The workers were skilled and seemed really invested in the success of the projects and in my satisfaction. I would definitely use them again for future projects!

Mario and the crew at CA Bear Construction came to the rescue after a sewage flood in my bathroom and everything had to be ripped out and torn down to the studs. It was an incredibly stressful time and Mario and Laura were kind, patient and thoughtful as we talked through my budget and all the details of what needed to be done to put my bathroom back together. Mario and crew worked around my complicated schedule to get the work done and I'm so happy to have my bathroom back, even better than it was before. Everyone that I worked with at CA bear was great and I'm really pleased with the experience overall!

Oscar and his crew helped us transform the exterior of our home. He brought in technical experts to determine the slope and grading needed to make a steep, narrow an almost unnavigable driveway into an aesthetically pleasing and functional asset. Oscar was flexible as we kept evolving the design as the job progressed. We're really pleased with the results. We're embarking on another project with Oscar and his team a year later. He is patient and resourceful.

I highly recommend CA Bear Construction for any building or renovation project. They recently completed a full kitchen renovation and bathroom refresh for my condo. Their people are professional, skilled, and they listen carefully to their clients and do their best to give them what they want at the most reasonable price. Everyone at CA Bear goes the extra mile, including both people on staff as well as their subcontractors. Very different experience than my other building and renovation projects.

It was a very pleasant working experience with CA Bear. The team from CA Bear were very responsive and helpful in working out all the issues encountered during the renovation project at the SF Zoo.

This company is a hidden gem! I needed some foundation work on one of my properties in the East Bay. As you can imagine when you bring up the word “Foundation” in California every contractor gives you the most ridiculous sky rocket quote. A friend of mine referred me to CA Bear and first of all they came out for free to give me an estimate. Already, I was liking their style. I believe it was their owner (Oscar), he and another gentleman did a walk through, and pointed out a lot of things other companies failed to acknowledge. Then they gave me a quote that was well below everyone else, so I thought there had to be some catch. But no, we formed a contract and within three weeks they began work. Throughout the project they did an amazing job of keeping me updated and doing onsite check-ins/walk-throughs. And here’s the best part, they finished about 2wks. ahead of schedule. The City inspector came out and gave it a two thumbs up pass. Now my property is sitting solid as a rock. My sister in-law wanted to do some remodeling in her condo. I referred her to CA Bear and she couldn’t be happier with their work/prices. I then had them build a planter box in my backyard for my wife as an anniversary gift. They hooked me up w/ a frequent flyer discount and my wife loves the planter box. Which I can’t thank them enough because happy wife = happy life. I also referred my friend to CA Bear who was looking to do some work on his house before selling it. But instead of just overcharging services, they ended up giving my friend a lot of advise and giving honest recommendations of what was and wasn’t needed. This ended up saving my friend thousands of $$$$.

Good communication, excellent work, and helped me keep costs down where I could during a large project with lots of potential for cost overruns. Highly recommend Oscar, Julio, and his crew!

We hired CA Bear to work on exterior & interior projects—a bathroom remodel and a french drain outside. In both cases, they were communicative before, during, and at the end of the project, working quickly and on budget to complete the projects. We really appreciated how they keep us up to date on what was happening, and if any changes or modifications were needed they always kept us in the loop. They left the rest of the site as good as it was when they found it as well. We are very satisfied with how both projects turned out, and would definitely call again for future projects.

I'm currently in construction with Ca Bear and have only positive things to report! They are doing a fantastic job remodeling and adding an addition to my house in Berkeley. Their employees are punctual, professional, and dedicated to promptly completing the job. They couldn't be better. I highly recommend their services.

We have been working with CA Bear over the last year on two major home remodeling projects. Their work is impeccable and their attention to detail is superlative. They provided me with creative solutions, high quality craftsmanship - all within budget. They even watered my plants when I was on vacation. I would highly recommend the company for home construction and remodeling.

I would more than highly recommend CA Bear to handle your construction needs! I have found them receptive, upfront about any changes along the way, thoughtful and their work has been done with care and attention to detail. I am in the finishing stages of a tiny ADU and super happy with how well it has turned out so far! Look no more hire CA Bear for your next project.

Ca Bear is the best, for so many reasons. The first project we did with them was a complete kitchen remodel December 2020. We took down walls, opened up our entire layout and had the best experience ever. A few things that stuck out to us: The speed at which work was completed. So efficient, and that matters when you’re spending a lot of money. Everyday ended with a shop vac sweep and our home was left as clean as it could possibly be. The creative vision that Brenda had for us. I don’t have that lens so thank god for her! The communication that Brenda provided us each day, we always knew what was happening and if there were any changes. Her management was key. Our kitchen was completed 2.5 years ago now, and everyday we sit there and say, “we love our kitchen.” We just love it! After the kitchen we did a closet remodel, again, awesome. Salvador is an incredible wood worker and again, Brenda make the whole process so smooth. A year ago we did a basement and laundry room conversion into a bedroom and laundry/full bathroom. We couldn’t be happier. Everything is still looking amazing, the quality of work is superb. We are so happy. I take my referrals seriously, and I back CA Bear while heartedly. They’re good people, trustworthy and hard working. And to me that matters the most.