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Construction in San Francisco typically costs $106,200 to $259,600 for a full project like an ADU or major home addition in 2026. Smaller scopes run lower: a kitchen remodel lands between $16,520 and $53,100, while a bathroom remodel runs $10,620 to $33,040. These numbers reflect what homeowners actually pay in the city, where labor rates, permit requirements, and the age of the housing stock all push costs above the national average.
If you want a straight answer for your specific job, call (831) 610-5598. Bradford Remodeling Co San Francisco gives you a written price before any work starts, so you’ll know the exact number before you commit to anything.
Construction Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what each type of project costs in San Francisco right now. These ranges come from active 2026 bids and completed projects in the city, not national averages that ignore local labor and permit realities.
| Project Type | Typical Cost Range (San Francisco, 2026) |
|---|---|
| ADU Construction | $106,200 – $259,600 |
| Home Addition | $53,100 – $153,400 |
| Garage Conversion | $35,400 – $94,400 |
| Kitchen Remodel | $16,520 – $53,100 |
| Small Kitchen Remodel | $10,620 – $23,600 |
| Bathroom Remodel | $10,620 – $33,040 |
| Small Bathroom Remodel | $5,900 – $14,160 |
| Roof Replacement | $9,440 – $23,600 |
| Impact Window Installation | $9,440 – $29,500 |
| Window Replacement | $5,310 – $17,700 |
| Paver Driveway Installation | $8,260 – $21,240 |
| Concrete Driveway Installation | $5,310 – $14,160 |
| Asphalt Driveway Paving | $4,130 – $10,620 |
| Driveway Replacement | $5,900 – $16,520 |
| Driveway Sealing | $295 – $825 |
| Paver Patio Installation | $4,130 – $12,980 |
| Walk-In Shower Installation | $5,310 – $14,160 |
| Tub-to-Shower Conversion | $4,130 – $11,800 |
| Shower Replacement | $3,540 – $10,030 |
| Bathroom Vanity Installation | $945 – $3,540 |
| Cabinet Installation | $4,720 – $15,340 |
| Countertop Installation | $2,360 – $7,670 |
| Backsplash Installation | $945 – $2,950 |
| Kitchen Island Installation | $3,540 – $11,800 |
| Metal Roof Installation | $17,700 – $47,200 |
| Roof Repair | $470 – $2,125 |
| Tile Roof Repair | $710 – $2,950 |
| Vinyl Fence Installation | $4,130 – $10,620 |
| Aluminum Fence Installation | $4,720 – $11,800 |
What moves a project from the bottom of that range to the top? Three things, mostly. First, the existing condition of your home. A 1920s Edwardian in the Richmond District with original lath-and-plaster walls and knob-and-tube wiring costs more to remodel than a 1990s build in the Sunset. Second, material grade. KraftMaid cabinetry runs differently than builder-grade boxes, and Cambria or Caesarstone countertops cost more than laminate. Third, scope changes once demolition starts. If the crew pulls back drywall and finds rotted framing, that’s an add-on. The Garrison Standard means Bradford Remodeling puts every one of these decisions in writing before work begins, so the number doesn’t drift on you mid-project.
Kitchen Remodel Costs in San Francisco
A kitchen remodel in San Francisco runs $16,520 to $53,100. A smaller galley kitchen in a condo near Dolores Park can be redone for $10,620 to $23,600. Cabinet installation alone lands between $4,720 and $15,340; countertop installation between $2,360 and $7,670. Add a backsplash for $945 to $2,950, and a kitchen island for $3,540 to $11,800.
In San Francisco, kitchens in older Victorians and Edwardians often have structural surprises behind the walls. Load-bearing walls, relocated plumbing stacks, and outdated electrical panels are common. Any contractor who quotes a kitchen without accounting for the rough-in (the plumbing and electrical work behind the finished surfaces) is guessing. Bradford’s written price covers the full scope, including the rough-in, before demolition starts.
Bathroom Remodel Costs in San Francisco
A full bathroom remodel in San Francisco costs $10,620 to $33,040. A smaller bathroom, like a half-bath or a compact guest bath in a Marina apartment, runs $5,900 to $14,160. Walk-in shower installations land between $5,310 and $14,160, while a tub-to-shower conversion runs $4,130 to $11,800. Shower replacements are $3,540 to $10,030, and a bathroom vanity install sits at $945 to $3,540.
Older San Francisco homes have cast-iron drain lines that may be near the end of their service life. When you open a bathroom wall in a 100-year-old house, you sometimes find the waste stack needs replacement before you can hang drywall. That’s not a surprise you want to discover on the final invoice. Bradford’s upfront pricing process includes an inspection of accessible plumbing before the written price is finalized.
Roofing Costs in San Francisco
Roof replacement in San Francisco runs $9,440 to $23,600. Metal roofing is a larger investment at $17,700 to $47,200. Small roof repairs fall between $470 and $2,125, while tile roof repair sits at $710 to $2,950.
San Francisco roofing has a specific wrinkle: many homes have flat or low-slope roofs, especially in the Sunset and Richmond. Those require different materials and drainage details than pitched roofs, and the marine fog means moisture management is critical. GAF and CertainTeed products with documented specifications give you traceability on what’s going over your head.
Safety note: roof work is genuinely dangerous. Falls from roofs are a leading cause of construction injuries, and San Francisco’s steep Victorians add even more risk. This is not a DIY project. Let a crew with proper fall protection and insurance handle it.
Driveway and Hardscaping Costs in San Francisco
Concrete driveway installation runs $5,310 to $14,160 in San Francisco. A paver driveway from Belgard or Unilock costs $8,260 to $21,240. Asphalt paving comes in at $4,130 to $10,620. Driveway replacement (removing the old slab and pouring new) runs $5,900 to $16,520, and driveway sealing is $295 to $825. A paver patio installation runs $4,130 to $12,980.
Many San Francisco homes have narrow driveways and tight site access, which affects equipment and material delivery costs. That’s a real factor in the bid, and a good contractor will tell you about it upfront rather than padding the change order later.
Window and Fence Installation Costs
Window replacement in San Francisco runs $5,310 to $17,700. Impact windows, which are more common in homes facing the Ocean Beach side of the Sunset where wind-driven rain is a concern, cost $9,440 to $29,500. Vinyl fence installation runs $4,130 to $10,620; aluminum fence installation runs $4,720 to $11,800.
Home Addition, ADU, and Garage Conversion Costs
A home addition in San Francisco costs $53,100 to $153,400. ADU construction, which is the biggest-ticket residential project in the city right now, runs $106,200 to $259,600. Garage conversions come in at $35,400 to $94,400.
San Francisco has one of the most aggressive ADU permit programs in California, and the city’s planning department has streamlined some of the process. But the construction itself still involves foundation work, utility connections, and compliance with local building codes that are stricter than most surrounding cities. Bradford Remodeling Co San Francisco works with the city’s permit process regularly and includes permit coordination in the written scope.
What Affects Construction Pricing in San Francisco
San Francisco construction prices aren’t just higher than the national average. They’re higher than Oakland, Daly City, and most of the Bay Area. Here’s why:
- Labor rates. Skilled trades in San Francisco earn premium wages, and those rates are reflected in every bid. A journeyman carpenter or electrician here costs more per hour than their counterpart in Sacramento or San Jose.
- Permit costs and timeline. San Francisco’s Department of Building Inspection has specific requirements that add time and cost. Plan checks, inspections, and corrections can add 4 to 8 weeks to a project. Every week of delay is a week of carrying costs.
- Housing stock age. Roughly half of San Francisco’s housing stock was built before 1940. That means lath-and-plaster walls, outdated electrical, cast-iron plumbing, and foundation settling are common. Every one of those adds to the final number.
- Site access and parking. Crews working in neighborhoods like Noe Valley, Russian Hill, or the Inner Richmond deal with narrow streets, steep inclines, and limited parking. Material delivery requires coordination and sometimes permits for street closure or sidewalk use.
- Seismic requirements. San Francisco building codes include some of the strictest seismic retrofit standards in the country. Any structural work must account for soft-story retrofits, foundation bolting, and shear wall requirements that don’t apply elsewhere.
- Material grade. The difference between builder-grade and name-brand materials is real money. Bradford Remodeling works with KraftMaid and Wellborn cabinetry, Cambria and Caesarstone surfaces, Kohler and Moen fixtures, GAF and James Hardie exterior products, and Therma-Tru doors. These brands come with manufacturer specifications and warranties, so you know exactly what you’re paying for.
How to Save on Construction
The cheapest way to save on construction in San Francisco is to avoid surprises. A bid that looks low on day one often gets expensive when the change orders start. Here’s what actually works:
- Get the full scope in writing before you sign. A written price with a documented scope of work means the number is the number. If something changes, it changes in writing, with your signature on it. Bradford Remodeling’s written-price commitment is non-negotiable: you get the price before work starts, every time.
- Address structural and utility issues early. If your home has known electrical, plumbing, or seismic issues, fix them as part of the project, not as an add-on discovered during demolition. It costs less to plan for them than to react to them.
- Choose materials with documented warranties. Manufacturer warranties from KraftMaid, GAF, James Hardie, and Kohler mean the product itself is covered. Bradford’s 365-Day Done Right Promise covers the workmanship. Together, they protect you from paying twice.
- Group projects. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel and a bathroom remodel anyway, doing them together saves on mobilization costs, permit fees, and project management overhead.
- Don’t chase the low bid. The low bid in San Francisco is often a bid with missing scope. When the contractor “discovers” structural work, the price climbs. A disciplined, by-the-book crew like Bradford Remodeling costs a little more upfront and saves you the surprise.
You can get a free estimate from Bradford Remodeling Co San Francisco by calling (831) 610-5598. There’s no charge and no pressure. You’ll get a real number in writing.
FAQs – Construction Cost
How much does an ADU cost in San Francisco?
An ADU in San Francisco costs $106,200 to $259,600 in 2026, depending on size, finish level, and whether it’s attached or detached. The city’s streamlined ADU permit process helps, but construction costs remain high because of labor, seismic, and utility connection requirements. Call (831) 610-5598 for an exact quote on your property; estimates are free.
How much does a kitchen remodel cost in San Francisco?
A kitchen remodel in San Francisco runs $16,520 to $53,100, with smaller kitchens landing between $10,620 and $23,600. Cabinetry, countertops, and the condition of existing plumbing and electrical are the biggest cost drivers. Bradford Remodeling gives you a written price before work starts, so you’ll know your exact number before any demolition happens.
How much does a bathroom remodel cost in San Francisco?
A bathroom remodel in San Francisco runs $10,620 to $33,040 for a full renovation. A small bathroom or half-bath runs $5,900 to $14,160. Walk-in showers cost $5,310 to $14,160. The biggest variables are the condition of the existing drain lines and whether you’re changing the layout. Call (831) 610-5598 for a free written estimate.
Is it cheaper to repair or replace?
For roofs, repair runs $470 to $2,950, while replacement costs $9,440 to $23,600. Repair is usually cheaper in the short term, but if your roof is past 15 years old or has multiple failing areas, replacement is the better financial move. For driveways, sealing costs $295 to $825 and extends the life of the surface; replacement runs $5,900 to $16,520. Bradford’s home renovation team can assess which option makes sense for your property.
Can you come today?
Estimates are free, and Bradford Remodeling answers the phone with a live person 24/7. Depending on the project and your neighborhood, we can often schedule a site visit within 24 to 48 hours. Call (831) 610-5598 right now and you’ll speak to a person, not a voicemail.
How long does construction take in San Francisco?
A bathroom remodel typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. A kitchen remodel runs 4 to 10 weeks depending on scope. An ADU or home addition takes 4 to 8 months including permitting. San Francisco’s permit process adds time compared to surrounding cities, so plan for that in your timeline. Bradford Remodeling includes a documented schedule in your written scope, so you know the plan before work begins.
Get a Written Price for Your San Francisco Project
Bradford Remodeling Co San Francisco, led by Curtis Lane, doesn’t ask you to trust a handshake. Every project gets a written price before any work starts. Every completed project carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the work fails within a full year, we return and correct it at no charge. We work with documented name-brand materials (KraftMaid, Wellborn, Cambria, Kohler, GAF, James Hardie, Therma-Tru, Belgard, and others), our technicians are background-checked and uniformed, and a live person answers the phone 24/7.
Call (831) 610-5598 for a free estimate. Curtis Lane and the Bradford team will give you a straight number and a written scope, so you know exactly what you’re getting before the first tool comes out.
Pricing reflects the San Francisco market as of 2026. Bradford Remodeling Co San Francisco offers free estimates – call (831) 610-5598.
Written by Curtis Lane, Owner at Bradford Remodeling Co San Francisco, serving the city since 2004 as part of the Garrison Partners family.
What Our Customers Say
"Primary bath redo. Tile is straight, shower pan was flood tested, and the vanity fits perfectly."
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