Hillsborough, CA
Whole-house remodels, additions, and ground-up builds for Hillsborough's grand, timeless estates, by a team that knows the ARB process, the tree protection rules, and the people who approve your permits.
Why Westward in Hillsborough
Hillsborough's housing stock is dominated by grand 1950s–70s estates on generous lots. Most of our Hillsborough work is either a comprehensive modernization of a legacy property or a ground-up replacement that honors the neighborhood's scale.
Hillsborough's Architectural Review Board adds a layer most builders find frustrating. We've been through it many times, we know what the board looks for, what they push back on, and how to plan submissions so they move.
Hillsborough's tree protection ordinance and setback rules can make or break an addition or new build. We plan around them from day one, because discovering them at permit time means starting over.
Legacy estates come with legacy systems, old wiring, old pipes, old roofs. Having our own trades on the team means we can inspect, diagnose, and upgrade without the coordination overhead of three separate subs.
We know the people in the building department, and they know our work. That's not a shortcut; it's the difference between a permit cycle that takes four weeks and one that takes four months.
What We Build in Hillsborough
Whole-house, kitchen, and bathroom remodels. Most of our best Hillsborough relationships started with a single room, and grew from there.
Learn More →Second-story additions, primary suites, detached guest houses, and California-compliant ADUs, built with our on-site + off-site hybrid approach where it saves you money.
Learn More →Ground-up builds that fit the neighborhood's scale and your life. We handle feasibility, architects, engineers, and the full permit journey.
Learn More →Hillsborough FAQ
Common questions about building, remodeling, or adding on in Hillsborough. Have one we didn't cover? Get in touch.
For a typical remodel or addition, plan on 8 to 12 weeks for ARB review once plans are submitted. Larger ground-up builds or projects affecting neighboring views can extend to 14 to 16 weeks. We build this window into every Hillsborough project timeline so it's not a surprise, and we know how to structure submissions around what the Board looks for.
If your property has heritage-sized trees (Hillsborough's ordinance protects a wide set of species and sizes), yes. A tree protection plan is often required before permits, and sometimes before ARB review. We plan around the tree canopy from the first site walk, because discovering a protected tree after schematic design often means restarting a section of the drawings.
Most of Hillsborough's housing stock is grand 1950s-70s estates on large lots, and a lot of our work in the town is exactly this: modernizing systems, reopening floor plans, upgrading kitchens and baths, and bringing energy efficiency up to current standards without losing the scale or detail that made the house worth keeping. We can walk you through projects where we did this successfully.
Yes. Once we've had an initial conversation and the scope is roughly aligned, we'll connect you with past Hillsborough clients who'll take your call. Some of them have lived with our work for six years or more, and they're the most honest answer to the question of what working with us is actually like.
Legacy Hillsborough homes come with legacy systems: old wiring, old pipes, old roofs. Having our electrician, plumber, and certified roofers on our team every day means we can inspect, diagnose, and plan system upgrades during the first site walk, and we can sequence the work without the coordination overhead of three outside subs with three different schedules.
Planning a Hillsborough project?
No pressure, no obligation. Just a walk-through of your property and an honest read on scope, timeline, and what's actually needed.
Let's talk