Recent Work Nearby
A sample from our project gallery — real jobs, from framing to finish.
From Old Town Victorians to Browns Valley ranch homes, Howard Construction has served Napa homeowners since 2000 — with Philip Howard personally overseeing every project from first walkthrough to final inspection.
Napa is a city of very different houses standing close together: turn-of-the-century Victorians and bungalows in Old Town and Napa Abajo, mid-century ranch homes in Alta Heights and Westwood, newer construction out toward Browns Valley and Big Ranch Road. Each era brings its own surprises once the walls open up — knob-and-tube wiring, undersized foundations, framing that predates modern shear requirements. We've spent twenty-five years learning what each vintage of Napa home hides, which means fewer change orders and no mid-project panic.
The 2014 South Napa earthquake also left a lasting mark on how work gets done here. Foundation condition, cripple-wall bracing, and seismic anchoring come up in almost every older-home remodel we scope in Napa — and addressing them during a planned renovation is dramatically cheaper than retrofitting later. When we open up a floor or wall for your kitchen or addition, we tell you what we see and what it actually costs to fix, in plain numbers.
Our clients in Napa call us back for their second and third projects for the same reason clients in Santa Rosa and Calistoga do: Phil shows up, communicates, and never cuts corners. Every job carries our CSLB Class B license, and you'll find our license number on every estimate and contract without asking.
Permits, soil, seismic history, and design expectations differ block to block in Napa. Here's the local knowledge that keeps your project moving.
Projects inside city limits go through the City of Napa Community Development Department; properties outside city limits fall under Napa County Planning, Building & Environmental Services (PBES). We prepare the drawings, handle submittals, and attend corrections so you don't have to learn two bureaucracies.
The 2014 earthquake exposed how many pre-1970s Napa homes sit on unbraced cripple walls and unbolted foundations. We evaluate foundation condition on every remodel bid and price seismic strengthening as a clear line item — never a buried surprise.
California ADU law plus the City of Napa's ADU program make backyard cottages and garage conversions one of the best value plays in town — for family housing or rental income in a high-demand market. We handle feasibility, plans, permits, and construction as one contract.
Kitchen, bathroom, and whole-home renovations built around your daily life — including phased work while you live in the home.
Primary suites, second stories, great rooms, and in-law wings engineered to match the existing structure seamlessly.
Detached ADUs, garage conversions, and junior ADUs handled end-to-end: feasibility, plans, permits, and build.
Outdoor kitchens, covered rooms, pool decks, and entertaining spaces built for wine-country indoor-outdoor living.
Engineered decks, pergolas, and shade structures — including ignition-resistant assemblies for WUI parcels.
Detached garages, shops, barns, and carriage houses with finished living space above.
A sample from our project gallery — real jobs, from framing to finish.
Yes — any remodel that touches plumbing, electrical, or structural elements requires a permit from the City of Napa (or Napa County PBES if you're outside city limits). Cosmetic work like paint and flooring generally doesn't. We pull and manage all permits as part of every project, and we never suggest working without one.
Most room additions in the Napa market land between roughly $400 and $700+ per square foot depending on complexity, finishes, and site conditions — a primary suite addition typically runs differently than a great-room expansion. After one site visit we can give you a realistic range for your specific house, free.
Almost certainly yes — state law requires cities to allow ADUs on most residential lots, and Napa processes ADU applications ministerially (no public hearing). Detached units up to 800–1,200 sq ft, garage conversions, and junior ADUs inside the main house are all on the table. We'll confirm setbacks, utilities, and fire access at a free feasibility visit.
Yes, and we enjoy it. Older Napa homes reward contractors who respect original proportions and trim while quietly upgrading structure, wiring, insulation, and plumbing to modern code. We've spent two decades doing exactly that kind of work across Napa and Sonoma counties.
Philip Howard personally reviews every inquiry and walks every site. One call gets you a straight answer on feasibility, timeline, and budget — no pressure, no runaround.
Request Your Free Estimate