About

Founded in 1983, Coast Construction Company specializes in fire, water, and impact-related repairs which are usually funded by insurance policy proceeds.

We are incorporated as Fire Damage Restoration Contractors, Inc, but we use Coast Construction Company as a dba because it is easier to say and because that is what we’ve been known as all along.

Coast Construction Company is a mid-size General Contractor that specializes in post-loss damage reconstruction and restoration using insurance policy proceeds.

Coast Construction is a General Building Contractor with a class B license that allows us to build (or rebuild) structures.   We have a dedicated staff and a field group that handles framing and finish carpentry, painting, and other general construction tasks.

As is normal within general contracting, Coast also subcontracts with licensed trades and specialties to get our projects completed, and this can include drywall, concrete, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and other areas where having full time staff is not cost effective .

Why Hire Coast Construction

At Coast Construction, we are committed to helping customers repair their home or business after a fire or other type of property damage.

We understand how devastating these situations can be. Our professional staff works with you every step of the way to get your property, and your life, back to normal. We handle every aspect of disaster recovery, from emergency response services to the final cleaning and finishing touches of each restoration project.

We coordinate plans, engineering, and permits, and we work with your insurance and mortgage companies on your behalf to make the recovery process as simple as possible. We are dedicated almost exclusively to fire and other damage repair projects, and our work is backed by over 35 years of experience. And we work for you, not your insurance company.

Top Reasons

1.

Quality, Value, and Service

These are the key components of any construction project, and our company delivers the best of all three.
2.

Turn-Key Projects

We handle everything from the beginning to the end, starting with a detailed scope of repairs to a pristine final cleaning of the finished project.
3.

Our Experience

Damage repair is a niche market, and our 35 years of experience sets us apart from other contractors. Our Estimators and Project Managers have nearly 150 years of collective experience in this field.
4.

We Are Specialists

We focus almost exclusively on fire and other damage repair construction work, so that our attention to your job is not diverted to any other business.
5.

One-Stop Services

Although construction is the only part of damage repair work that we handle directly, we coordinate and manage all necessary activities so that you don’t have to.
6.

We Work For You, Not Your Insurance Company

But we do it in a fair, even-handed way, without being adversarial, striking the proper balance between advocacy, trust, and cooperation.
7.

We Have A Deep Understanding Of The Insurance Industry

We have in-depth and thorough knowledge about how the insurance business and the claims process works.
8.

Insurance Industry Experience

Our staff has worked in the insurance industry. This is like having an ex-IRS agent help with your taxes.
9.

We Know Insurance Policies and Coverages

This knowledge and experience enable us to effectively deal with your insurance company in ways that safeguard your interests and maximize your benefits.
10.

We Are Experts

Our staff has extensive experience in consulting, arbitrations, mediations, and court testimony.
11.

We Understand The Insurance Industry’s Estimating Software

We know how to use the tools and the “tricks of the trade” in this software to your best advantage.
12.

Fast Settlements

We are able to reach an agreement on repair costs with your insurance company quickly, so that repairs can start as fast as possible. (This process can take months if not handled properly).
13.

We Help You Avoid Pitfalls

Improper handling of your project and paperwork can have serious consequences.
14.

Our Design Work Is Superb

We provide in-house design services using 3-D software to produce beautiful work for you. The photographs on our website illustrate the quality of our designs.
15.

We Work With You On Changes

We are very open to integrating remodeling and changes into your project. Our website shows examples of the huge transformations we are able to deliver for our customers.
16.

Financial Resources

We are able to fund projects while waiting for insurance and mortgage company payments. (Payment delays can be very long. This is one of the pitfalls we help you avoid).
17.

We Minimize Your Financial Responsibility

We structure our contract so that you do not pay us until your insurance and mortgage companies release your claim payments.
18.

We Handle The Mortgage Company Process

We take on the time-consuming task of dealing with the interactions between your insurance company and your mortgage company.
19.

We Handle The Engineering

We work with our engineers and review the plans for the building permit in order to facilitate timely permit issuance.
20.

We Handle The Building Permit And Inspections

We have long histories with every building department in the East Bay, and we know how to get permits issued as fast as possible and make your job go smoothly.
21.

We Handle Separate Coverages

All insurance policies are actually several policies in one, and components of your claim need to be properly apportioned and documented.
22.

We Handle Your Replacement Cost Claim and Supplements

These are aspects of your claim that need to be properly compiled, documented, submitted and negotiated. We do all of this for you.
23.

We Handle Your Building Ordinance Claim

We take care of every aspect of this technical part of your claim, which must be meticulously compiled in order for you to be fully compensated for code upgrade work.
24.

We Minimize The Risk of Code Coverage Overruns

We administer your project in order to avoid pitfalls in this area while optimizing inclusion of work that benefits you.
25.

We Have Excellent Project Managers And Estimators

Our Project Managers are a pleasure to work with, and our dedicated Estimators remain available to you throughout your project.
26.

We Have Excellent Field Staff and Subcontractors

Our Workmen are exceptionally capable and experienced craftsmen. Our website is a testament to their workmanship. And our Subcontractors provide us – and you – with the utmost in quality and service.
27.

Limited Territory

We only work in Alameda, Solano and Contra Costa Counties. Our attention is not diverted by projects that are too far away to be administered effectively.
28.

We Are Trusted By Fire Departments

We are on the Contra Costa County and Vallejo Fire Department board-up lists, and provide 24/7/365 emergency response services to fire departments, individuals, property management companies, businesses, and insurance companies.
29.

We Have A Very High Consumer Rating

At our last consumer satisfaction survey, we scored a 93% recommendation rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long have you been in business?
We’ve been in business for over 35 years, since 1983. We have completed many thousands of jobs in Alameda, Solano and Contra Costa Counties.
Can I make changes to my property in conjunction with your work?

Absolutely! We will work with you on improvements in design and finishes in order to implement changes you may want to make and deliver the best possible project.

Who does the design work, particularly the kitchen?

Our senior project manager is as good a designer as can be found anywhere. She has been with the company for nearly 30 years, and designed every project you see on our website.

How long will my job take to complete?

We don't know how long it will take to complete, and anyone who tells you that this will be quick or convenient isn't speaking with your best interests at heart.   What we DO know is that there is a variable amount of time that it takes to get a building permit.   A building permit requires engineering drawings, and those can take 4-12 weeks depending on complexity, and THEN you get in line for a building permit, which varies by city and time of year for that portion.   At the same time that we're having plans drawn and applying for permits, Coast is negotiating with your insurer to get missing items that we need pre-approved so that we can be certain that we'll be able to deliver a complete project to our customer.   Many projects take about a year, very few take more than 18 months, and we almost never see projects that are under $75k  completed in less than six months.

What about work required under new, more modern codes?

We know how to meticulously document and submit charges for this extra work to your insurance company, and how to minimize the risk of exceeding your policy limits under this coverage.

How do I get my mortgage company to release the funds to pay for the repair work?

Your mortgage company will hold the funds for the repairs, and it is difficult and time-consuming to get these funds released. Providing you want us to, we will take care of all of that for you.

Do I need an engineer?

An engineer will be involved on every job of significant size. We get the engineering work done as quickly as possible in order to get a building permit as soon as possible.

Do I need an architect?

Generally no, because the engineer will do the plans for the permit. Some people want to have architects involved just the same, and if so we happily work with them.

How much will the weather influence the time it takes to complete my project?

Overall, weather isn’t much of a factor. Heavy rain during framing stages can slow things down, but once the building is weather-tight we can keep the job moving.

Does Coast get involved in things like drying the building, asbestos abatement, mold remediation, contents removal, or textiles cleaning?

One big advantage of our company is that we only do construction work. We do not have any distractions or conflicts of interest, all of our resources and efforts are dedicated to your project. We know companies that do this work exclusively, and can refer them to you  if this work is needed. 

Questions You Should Ask

Why should I hire Coast Construction?

We are specialists in our field. We provide quality work at competitive prices, and most importantly we care about what we do.

Does Coast Construction work for me or for my insurance company?

We work for you. Our contract is with you, and you are our only customer. We interact diplomatically with your insurance company, but ultimately our allegiance is to you.

How important is service to Coast Construction?

Service is extremely important. The experience of having construction work done matters considerably. Being the customer is a lot of work to be sure, but we try to make it as easy and pleasant as possible.

How are Coast's consumer ratings?

They are exceptionally high.  In a survey conducted by a major consumer research organization, we received a 93% approval rating.

Does Coast do anything other than fire damage work?

Damage repair is our primary business. Many of our competitors have different divisions that take their focus off of construction. At Coast, all of our resources are dedicated to the work you hire us to do.

Will my job be stopped because the insurance and mortgage companies are too slow releasing the funds I need to keep the job going?

This is a very real danger with other contractors.  Insurance and mortgage companies are very slow to release funds, and many contractors stop jobs due to payment delays.  But our contract is structured so that this doesn’t happen.

Do I have to worry about my coverage limits?

Coverage limits always need to be considered. Every insurance policy is several policies in one, with separate limits that apply to different things. It is essential to categorize everything properly so that the risks of issues with limits are minimized. This is one area where our experience and expertise is extremely valuable.

How is your organization structured?

You will have your own Project Manager who will manage the day-to-day details of your job, and will work with you on design, selections, etc. A working Foreman will manage the job site. Your Estimator will remain involved to deal with supplements, code upgrades, change orders, and any issues or questions you might have.

Some of Coast's competitors seem to have bigger operations. Does that mean they might be better for me?

Our answer is no. The opposite is true. We believe that Coast Construction is just the right size. We have only the overhead we need to provide excellent service and an excellent work product. We put more of our resources into your project than our competitors.

One of your competitors has promised me the moon.

We see astounding comments made by our competitors. Many of the things that are promised simply can’t be delivered. Our advice is this: Get it in writing – in the Contract.