Cairn Construction

Short version:
Cairn did a great job, communication was always very good, and the price/​value is right on target.
Long version:
We desperately needed to have our deck replaced, the old one was not only pretty bad looking, but also a hazard and we certainly did not want to get sued by anyone breaking their neck on our broken deck. At the same time we needed part of our foundation replaced, a scary job.
Besides Cairn, we checked out three other companies and got bids. Cairn’s offer was very reasonable, and they left a good impression (as in being knowledgeable, polite, thorough etc.), so we decided to go with them.
The construction took a few month longer than expected, but this was mostly our fault due to permits we handed in too late, or expected earlier. They had to raise the cost a bit because of this, but I cannot blame them for it.
Once the deck was done, it was pretty impressive. I did find a few small glitches, but believe me I am very picky because I do a bit of furniture construction myself, and can’t help looking for mistakes. But of course, I cannot expect a deck to be built like a furniture piece.
One handrail broke about two month down the road, glue alone did not do the trick. When I carefully asked if they could do anything about it, it took no longer than three days and a couple of guys were here to fix it. Certainly great customer service even after you paid.
The scary part, the foundation being knocked down while your house is on temporary supports, went really smooth. They covered all of our belongings in the basement and kept everything very clean (daily).
Overall I am very glad we chose these guys and can recommend them. The only thing I was a bit unhappy about were the estimates for some additional jobs that I inquired for, half-​way down the road. It seemed a bit overpriced, so I did most of this myself (cabling and stuff like that). So I guess my recommendation is to make sure to include everything you wand done in your first bid, it may save you some money.
good luck.

Well, I’ll add my five stars too. Cairn really is as good as it gets.
Shay and his crew did a front stair replacement for our Haight St Victorian last year and I couldn’t be more pleased or impressed. At the outset Shay recommended an architect who was a pleasure to work with to draw up plans and get the necessary permits. The whole way through he worked carefully with the architect to make sure the project stayed within our budget – no easy task here in San Francisco! And when it came time for the actual construction everything went smoothly and stayed on schedule. I hate to say it, but (without being gaudy or flashy in any way) the stairs may now be the focal point of our house. Shay and his crew are complete pros and have a great sense for finish and detail. They didn’t even stop after the last nail. After the project was done Shay came back and was able to defuse a potentially bad situation with a neighbor. Yes, the five stars are completely warranted. Thank you Shay, Mack, and Trish!

Cairn construction remodeled the bathroom in our Russian Hill condo in November of 2009. They were professional, easy to work with and very nice people to boot. The job was completed on budget and and we very happy with the quality of their work. They will be the first people we call if we ever take on other construction projects.

Woohoo! My dream bathtub/​shower combo is no longer a dream — it’s a reality! And I have none other than Shay and Cairn Construction to thank. I could not be a happier woman. :)
I’ve wanted a bathtub for 3 years now. In this time, I had several estimates from different contractors. At first, I thought that since Shay and the Cairn company was so well put together (and since they insisted in doing it the «right» way), it would be obscenely expensive. However, after bringing in a few «shadier» contractors (read: no license), it turns out the price estimates were actually pretty damn close.
You know that «twice as expensive, twice as long» saying, when it comes to construction? Not here! It actually came in slightly lower than I anticipated and the time frame fit exactly what was promised.
Furthermore, I’m not that girly interior decorator type; it’s not my specialty. So I really depended on Shay to take the initiative and pick the products he knew where good quality, affordable, and classic looking at the same time. With little to no direction, he pulled off a damn beautiful bathtub.
The best part? The water temperature actually gets hot AND the water pressure is amazing. Yeay for me!
Oh, and he is great at being responsive, but isn’t at all pushy. None of this disappearing act stuff or trying to pressure me into something I don’t want to do.
Oooh ooh, and he’s fantastic for referrals! I found my electrician through him. Do yourself a favor and call him!

This review is long overdue. Who better to build-​out the Unilocal HQ offices than Cairn. Shay, Noël, Trevor and Mack were tasked with taking office space that had not been touched in 30 years and making it spectacular. No small feat, upon initial inspection even I was skeptical.
Cairn specializes in all forms of residential construction. As a favor they took on our project of revitalizing 30,000 square feet of commercial space in San Francisco. Little did they know they would deal with some pretty finicky clients. We came in under budget and right on schedule, no small task with our very condensed and aggressive timeline.
Cairn was a pleasure to work with, they were flexible and always with a can-​do attitude. Most of us have heard of experienced horror stories relating to construction projects, this was the complete opposite experience. I could not more strongly recommend Cairn.