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Case Studies

Dream Big Construction // Redwood Case Study

Dream Big Construction in Lafayette, California offers new construction services but excels in remodeling existing spaces to meet the needs of the homeowner.

Travis Johnson, principal of Dream Big Construction in Lafayette, California knows a thing or two about wood.

“Wood is my first love when it comes to building products. I have been working with wood since I was very young alongside my father and grandfather,” says Johnson.

Johnson has built a very successful business in Dream Big Construction over the past 15 years plus. The company serves the greater Lamorinda area within Contra Costa County, California.

Home values in the area are sky high, typical of the greater San Francisco Bay Area. When older homes with original features are sold, the new owners often have remote or hybrid work schedules, and many are families with young children. When the new owners are ready to upgrade their homes with modern design features and amenities to better match their lifestyles, Dream Big Construction is there to help.

The company offers new construction services but excels in remodeling existing spaces to meet the needs of the homeowners, while also bringing the projects up to current code and/or HOA requirements. And while the market for remodeling is red hot in the area, Johnson is careful not to overextend himself or his crew.

“We focus much more on quality and craftmanship than quantity and turnover”, states Johnson.

Dream Big Construction works with Dolan Lumber to source the materials for its projects, including lumber. Dolan Lumber is a family-owned and operated building material supplier with a more than 60-year history in the Bay Area. Dolans in turn sources Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC® C013133) certified Douglas-fir and redwood from Humboldt Sawmill, as well as preservative treated lumber from Allweather Wood.

Some of the projects Dream Big Construction has completed utilizing FSC certified Humboldt Sawmill Douglas-fir and redwood are described here.

The Carport

Serious damage to an existing carport on a beautiful, wood shingle-sided home resulted in the homeowners needing to replace the entire carport. Dream Big Construction worked with Dolan Lumber to source large, Douglas-fir timbers from Humboldt Sawmill for the project. The timbers were structurally graded for strength and painted to match the home’s exterior.

Carport featuring large Douglas-fir timbers from Humboldt Sawmill Company.

The Stage

The owners of a stunning mid-Century modern home with a beautifully landscaped courtyard enjoy hosting friends and neighbors, often with live music involved. Dream Big Construction translated the homeowners’ desire for a redwood deck into a stage location complete with dry storage and integrated power and lighting, both of which are smart phone controlled.

Homeowners in Lafayette, California had a redwood stage built in their voluminous backyard so as to host musical gatherings with friends and family.

The Pergola

A spacious backyard with an in-ground pool needed a focal point for gathering and relaxing. In consultation with the homeowner, Dream Big Construction utilized Humboldt Sawmill redwood dimensional lumber and timbers to create an integrated deck and pergola structure adjacent to the pool. The structure has gas and electric plumbed in to power a barbeque, lights, and fire pit. Redwood was chosen for its beauty and the ease with which it integrated into the natural surroundings, which include several large redwood trees.

A young family in Moraga, California hired Dream Big Construction to upgrade their pool area with a redwood deck and shade structure.

Redwood specification information including CSI 3-part and Canadian CSC formatted specification, BIM objects, CAD drawings, product catalogs, and LEED credit information, along with American Institute of Architects (AIA) LU/HSW credit hour webinars may all be found by visiting https://www.getredwood.com/architects.

Builder: Dream Big Construction

Photography: Jack Hutch Photography