38 YEARS OF BUILDING WITH INTEGRITY IN HAYWARD, CA
When you hire C.J. Skeeles General Contractor, you are working directly with Christopher Skeeles, a hands-on builder with 38 years of construction experience and a career that spans everything from single-family homes to schools, commercial facilities, and large-scale infrastructure. Based in Hayward, CA, and proudly serving the East Bay, CJ brings the same structural discipline to a bathroom remodel as he does to a ground-up commercial build. That consistency is what "building with integrity" means in practice, and it is the standard that has defined this company since day one.
Christopher Skeeles Construction Experience
A Career Built From the Ground Up
CJ picked up his first tools at age 15 and never stopped. Over nearly four decades, he built a resume that most contractors can only read about: 300 residential homes, 10 schools, Home Depot facilities, and large-scale transportation infrastructure across the Midwest. When he brought that experience to California, he spent the next 10 years learning the specific demands of Bay Area construction, including seismic compliance, hillside framing, Title 24 energy standards, and CALGreen regulations. That combination of broad national experience and deep regional knowledge is what separates C.J. Skeeles from contractors who have only ever worked in one market. Today, the firm operates out of Hayward and focuses on high-value residential and commercial projects throughout Alameda County and Contra Costa County, with a particular emphasis on the structurally complex neighborhoods of Oakland Hills, Piedmont, Montclair, and Berkeley.
38
YEARS IN BUSINESS
East Bay Contractor History and Philosophy
Structural-First. Every Project, Every Time.
The core belief at C.J. Skeeles General Contractor is straightforward: a building must last. That means every project starts with a serious look at the structural systems, the framing, the foundation, and the steel, before any conversation about finishes or aesthetics. This structural-first philosophy is not just a tagline; it is the direct result of 38 years of construction expertise that includes in-house ironwork fabrication, seismic retrofitting, and load-bearing wall removal for open-concept redesigns. CJ operates a true Design-Build model, coordinating structural engineering, architectural design, and interior design under one roof. This integrated approach reduces friction, keeps timelines tighter, and gives clients a single point of accountability from the first consultation to the final walkthrough. With a 90% close rate on leads, the results speak for themselves. Clients in Piedmont, the Oakland Hills, and across the East Bay trust CJ because he shows up, tells the truth, and builds things that hold up for decades.
Common Questions
What Clients Want to Know
How long has Christopher Skeeles been working in construction?
Christopher Skeeles has been working in construction for 38 years, starting at age 15. He spent the bulk of his career in the Midwest, where he built approximately 300 residential homes along with 10 schools and large commercial facilities. He then brought that experience to California, where he has spent the last 10 years focusing on high-end residential and commercial projects in the East Bay. The firm is headquartered in Hayward, CA, and is fully licensed and insured for California operations.What sets C.J. Skeeles apart from other general contractors in the East Bay?
Most contractors in the Bay Area focus primarily on cosmetic renovations. C.J. Skeeles takes a structural-first approach, meaning every project begins with a thorough assessment of the building's framing, foundation, and steel systems. CJ also offers in-house ironwork fabrication, which is uncommon among residential contractors and allows for faster, more controlled execution on structural steel components. Add to that a full Design-Build model integrating structural engineering, architectural design, and interior design, and you have a level of coordination that most firms simply cannot offer.Is CJ personally present on job sites, or does he manage projects remotely?
CJ is a hands-on contractor who is present on job sites throughout each project. He manages both the client relationship and the field execution, which is a major reason the firm maintains a 90% close rate on leads. Clients in Piedmont, Oakland Hills, and across the East Bay consistently cite his direct involvement as a key reason they chose the company. He does not run projects from a distance; he works alongside his crew, ensuring that quality and sequencing meet his standards at every stage.What types of projects does C.J. Skeeles General Contractor typically handle?
The firm handles a wide range of residential and commercial work, including ADU construction, high-end kitchen and bathroom remodels, whole-home overhauls, structural steel and ironwork, concrete foundations and flatwork, and commercial ground-up builds and tenant improvements. Project values range from smaller focused jobs to large residential expansions. Plumbing and electrical are provided on a project basis only; the firm does not take standalone repair calls for those trades.Which communities in the East Bay does the firm serve?
The firm is based in Hayward, CA, and primarily serves communities within roughly a 30-minute radius. Core service areas include Oakland, Piedmont, Berkeley, Montclair, Alameda, Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Union City, Fremont, Concord, and Walnut Creek. The firm also takes select projects in San Francisco and San Jose. This geographic focus on the East Bay allows CJ to manage job sites efficiently and maintain the hands-on oversight that defines the company's work.How does the firm handle seismic and hillside construction requirements in California?
Seismic compliance and hillside framing are areas where the firm has built significant expertise over 10 years of California construction. CJ's background in structural steel and ironwork gives the firm a practical advantage when dealing with the complex framing and foundation requirements common in neighborhoods like Montclair and Oakland Hills. The firm uses galvanized hardware and structural steel components in line with California seismic standards and manages full regulatory compliance, including Title 24 energy standards and CALGreen requirements.
























