San Rafael – Leimer Construction

Terra Linda · Gerstle Park · Montecito · Sun Valley · Peacock Gap

Leimer Construction is based in San Rafael. We remodel homes across town, from older houses on the hills to the mid-century Eichler and Alliance homes of Terra Linda.

Licensed contractor

California Class B #1061779 · check it

Insured

General liability on every job

Permits handled

We apply, schedule inspections and close them

Remodeling in San Rafael: what to know

Remodel permits come from the City of San Rafael’s Building Division, and since February 2026 new applications go through the City’s online OpenGov system. A project on a hillside lot, or an upper-floor addition over 500 square feet, goes through the City’s design review first.

Most of Terra Linda’s homes, its Eichlers among them, are single-story mid-century houses from the 1950s and 1960s. The City treats a change to the roof of an Eichler or Alliance home as a design review matter, so we plan any roof change with the City from the start.

Thinking of selling one day? When a home in San Rafael changes hands, the City checks its permit record and inspects it for unpermitted work: decks, garage conversions, kitchen and bath remodels. Work permitted properly now is one less problem at sale.

Our home base. Our jobs here include a curved redwood deck in Peacock Gap, new siding on a Terra Linda Eichler, a hillside ADU and a duplex with refinished floors and a new bathroom.

Yelp

If I had another job for Leimer Construction to do, I'd hire him and his crew in a heartbeat! What I appreciated most, was John Leimer's constant motivation to communicate with me mostly via text regarding the next steps in the process of my bathroom revamping.
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I texted back with any questions I had, which he answered promptly. Also, all of his subcontractors did excellent, careful work. I would welcome them all back as well if I had more work for them. All the subs and John were careful about wearing masks and distancing as best as possible in this Covid time frame. I very much appreciated that. The job concluded a month ago and as far as I know, no one got Covid. I didn't. Another factor is that I believe his pricing was fair.

Susan B., San Rafael · November 2020 · via Yelp

Yelp

John has completed two projects for my property in Marin county. Both times, the result was superb quality. His crew was professional and easy to work with. The second project had difficulties with the home's foundation (unrelated to Leimer's work), and John was always quick to return my calls and rearrange his crew's schedule to address the issues ASAP.
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Thank you John, Francisco, Claudio, and JP.

Pat E., San Rafael · April 2017 · via Yelp

Yelp

Let me just start by saying that I encounter a lot of contractors as a residential realtor in San Francisco and Marin, many of whom promise the moon and more often than not fail to get even close in the end. So imagine my surprise when John Leimer came into my life as not only is he a beautiful human being and the definition of sincere and caring but also one brilliant contractor who has a skill
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set that impresses constantly. Add to this his impeccable record of being on-time and at, if not under-budget, and you can see why he gets five stars from me. In fact if I could give him six stars I would. He's that good.
Thanks John for making me look so good in the eyes of my clients. Here's to your continued and ever-expanding success. . .

Jonathan M., San Rafael · May 2014 · via Yelp

Recent work in San Rafael

Treehouse tower and soft blue play blocks on a turf floor in a children's play space — Treehouse tower and soft play blocks on a turf floor in a children's play space.

Whole-house remodel: Eichler wall in new blue-grey vertical siding with a new picture window, Terra Linda — Eichler wall in new blue-grey vertical siding with a new picture window, Terra Linda

Flooring: Open-plan lower unit with wood-look floor, mini-split and kitchen, San Rafael duplex — Open-plan lower unit with wood-look floor, mini-split and kitchen, San Rafael duplex

Flooring: Living room with white painted brick fireplace and dark hardwood, San Rafael duplex — Living room with white painted brick fireplace and dark hardwood, San Rafael duplex

Flooring: Refinished dark hardwood floors leading to a white kitchen, San Rafael duplex — Refinished dark hardwood floors leading to a white kitchen, San Rafael duplex

Bathroom remodel: Duplex bathroom with white vanity, new tub surround and patterned floor tile, San Rafael — Duplex bathroom with white vanity, new tub surround and patterned floor tile, San Rafael

Bathroom remodel: Glass shower in white wave tile with a heated towel rail, Terra Linda — Glass shower in white wave tile with a heated towel rail, Terra Linda

Deck: New ADU with a wraparound redwood deck and wire-panel railing among the oaks, San Rafael — New ADU with a wraparound redwood deck and wire-panel railing among the oaks, San Rafael

Deck: ADU exterior with redwood deck and railings above, built into the hillside, San Rafael — ADU exterior with redwood deck and railings above, built into the hillside, San Rafael

Emergency preparedness cache: Shared items box contents, 2- Maglight flashlights, 4 walkie talkies, Gerber multitool, 65w po… — Shared items box contents, 2- Maglight flashlights, 4 walkie talkies, Gerber multitool, 65w power bank, paracord, charging cables, Jackery battery instructions and charging cord, water purification tablets, Midland hand crank emergency radio.

Emergency preparedness cache: Shared items packed in sturdy box — Shared items packed in sturdy box

Emergency preparedness cache: Personal items packed in sturdy box — Personal items packed in sturdy box

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