Building and remodeling the San Diego coast.
From a one-room addition to a complete interior and exterior renovation — or a custom home built from the ground up — Surfside Developers guides your project from concept to completion, with your own general contractor on the job site.
A legacy of three generations building and remodeling in California.
With three generations of experience behind it, Surfside Developers would like to be your home improvement and remodeling contractor. We take care and pride in providing clients with reliable, quality work.
When you choose Surfside Developers you also get personalized attention — your own general contractor on the job site, who listens to what you need and gets the job done. We’ll make your home more beautiful and more livable, and make remodeling a positive experience along the way.
From a one-room addition to a complete interior and exterior house renovation, our experienced staff can guide your project from concept to successful completion.
Remodel & renovation, kitchens & baths, new construction, design-build, and commercial TI.
One general contractor accountable for the whole project — including the parts of it that happen before demolition day.
Home Remodeling & Renovation
From a single-room addition to a full interior and exterior renovation, we guide the project from concept to completion.
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Kitchen Remodeling
A well-designed kitchen is the social center of your home. We handle design, cabinets, counters, lighting and flooring.
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Bathroom Remodeling
Thoughtful planning and attention to detail are the keys to any bathroom remodel — more light, more storage, more usable space.
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Custom New Home Construction
From the first planning conversation to the day you move in — a custom home built to your site, your preferences, and your budget.
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Design-Build
One entity, one contract, one continuous flow of work from first concept through final completion.
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Commercial Remodel & Tenant Improvements
Complete build-outs for office, retail, and industrial space — partition walls, custom millwork, and precision trim carpentry.
Learn moreGenerations of California builders behind the company
Projects referred by a single San Diego real estate professional
San Diego County communities we build and remodel in
General contractor on your job site, start to finish
Kitchens, baths, custom homes, and the structure underneath them.
All of San Diego County — and the coast in particular.
Coastal work has its own rules: Coastal Development Permits, height limits, view ordinances, bluff setbacks, and salt exposure that punishes the wrong specification. We build these into the plan from the first conversation.
What our clients say about Surfside Developers
We specialize in helping our customers receive the biggest return on their investment — and we’d welcome the chance to give you a custom evaluation of your home.
“The quality of the finished work was great, delivered on time, and within our overall budget. What more can you say than that?”
Our experience with Surfside Developers has been outstanding. They came highly recommended to us by our trusted real estate agent assisting us in a remodel of our recently purchased home. With past contractors our experience has always been a hit or miss proposition, and so we were very nervous about committing to a major renovation on the order of $70K plus. Nevertheless, we were very confident of the plan upon our very first meeting with the owner, Derek Wattenbarger. Derek listened intently to our vision of what we wanted the remodel to accomplish and faithfully carried out the plan. And just as important, Derek provided great insight and advice to improve the execution of our plan when he saw opportunities to do so, as well as cautioning us when some of our original ideas were not economically feasible or may have contained an unforeseen downside. All through the process, Derek was completely straightforward, transparent, and respectful. Communication was terrific. All calls, emails, texts, etc. were returned promptly. He even introduced us to all of the various sub-contractors so that we had an opportunity to establish a relationship with them and communicate the details to the next level. Finally, and probably most importantly, the quality of the finished work was great, delivered on time, and within our overall budget. What more can you say than that? Highly recommended!
Jack and Sue SerrinoDel Mar, California“Derek has done over 25 jobs for my clients over the years and I hope to continue to do business with him in the future.”
Derek has been by far the best contractor I have ever worked with and his ability to listen to my clients and react to their needs is above what I had ever expected. Derek being classically trained and professionally educated shows. Derek’s knowledge of both the practical and the possible allow him to do both small and large scale jobs and for that there is nothing I will not refer his way. Derek has done over 25 jobs for my clients over the years and I hope to continue to do business with him in the future!
Seth O’ByrneSan Diego, California“Our job was completed on the day they said it would be and the pre-job estimate was nearly spot on.”
I was very pleased with my experience with Surfside Developers, Incorporated. Derek was extremely professional, pleasant, and easy to get in touch with. Our 1975 kitchen and bathroom desperately needed updating. They gave me a bid for the remodel and supplied me with sample granite pieces for the counters. Our job was completed on the day they said it would be and the pre-job estimate was nearly spot on. Both the kitchen and bathrooms turned out fantastic. I was very impressed with the work they did for me, and I highly recommend Surfside Developers, Incorporated to anyone who wants high quality service at a reasonable, respectable price.
Chelsea SokyrkaSan Diego, California“He is open and flexible and he listens to his clients. The boys take pride in their work and they clean up after themselves.”
Surfside Developers has my hearty endorsement. Derek spends time on consultations. He is open and flexible and he listens to his clients. The boys take pride in their work and they clean up after themselves! Surfside Developers works quickly and efficiently to achieve a great end result.
AnnetteBay Park, CaliforniaCommon questions
What areas of San Diego does Surfside Developers serve?
We work throughout San Diego County, with a particular focus on the coast — Del Mar, La Jolla, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Carlsbad, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Coronado, Point Loma, Pacific Beach, and Ocean Beach — plus the City of San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Carmel Valley, and inland communities including Poway, Escondido, La Mesa, Chula Vista, and Santee.
What does a free consultation involve?
One of our consultants meets you at your home, listens to your ideas, and gives you honest feedback wherever you are in the decision process — including whether a project is worth doing. There is no pressure and no obligation. The goal is that you leave with enough information to make a good decision, whether or not you hire us.
Do you handle permits and inspections?
Yes. Permit submittal, plan-check corrections, and inspections are part of the job. That includes the extra layers common on the San Diego coast — Coastal Development Permits, historic review, hillside and grading requirements, and HOA architectural review where it applies.
How much does a remodel cost in San Diego?
It depends on scope, the age and condition of the house, and the finish level, and any contractor who quotes a number before seeing the property is guessing. What we can do is walk the house, talk through what you want, and give you a real range early — before you have spent money on design that the budget was never going to support.
Do you work on older homes?
Regularly, and it is a specialty rather than an inconvenience. Older San Diego homes bring increased structural demands, aging electrical and plumbing, and the potential presence of asbestos and lead-based paint. Knowing that going in is what keeps an old-house project from turning into a series of surprises.
Call Surfside Developers today
We’re ready to get started. Tell us about your project and we’ll set up a free, no-pressure consultation at your home.