TRUSTED HOME REMODEL CONTRACTOR IN SANTA BARBARA

We get to know your family before breaking ground.

From the first conversation to the final walkthrough, we never lose sight of the family we’re building for.

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A Message from the Allen Family

Your Trusted Home Remodel and Custom Home Contractor in Santa Barbara

As home builders, there’s nothing quite like crafting a space that becomes the backdrop to a family’s story. We’re a local, family-owned home remodel contractor and custom home builder in Santa Barbara, and that shows up in everything we do, from how we train our team to how we show up for our clients. At the end of every project, when we walk through the finished home and watch the owners take it all in, it reminds us all over again why this work matters.

If you’re thinking about remodeling or building your home, we’d love to hear about it. Reach out and let’s start a conversation.

—The Allen Family (Daniel, Johanna, and Anand)
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Family Owned Since 1996, So Every Project Is Personal

DAC Builds (formerly Daniel Allen Construction) is a family-owned home remodel and custom home contractor serving Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Malibu, and other select Central Coast and Southern California communities since 1996. We handle full-scale luxury home renovations and custom home construction for homeowners who want one accountable team, no surprises on the cost, and a builder understands what this home means to the family living in it.

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The Story Behind Daniel Allen Construction

Daniel Allen founded his company on a few simple principles: work hard, build with integrity, put your clients first, and the rest will follow.

That principle took root long before he ever set foot on a job site. When Daniel wanted to build something as a kid, his father would set a bucket of bent nails in front of him and have him straighten every one before he started. It was his first lesson in the idea that has governed his work ever since: the preparation before the project starts determines everything that comes after.

Green circular logo with the words 'DAC Builds' in the center and 'Built with Integrity' written around the perimeter.

Daniel came to the trades after several years working as a chef in a high-end restaurant. He started out carrying lumber on job sites and working his way up through every stage of the craft. A six-month project restoring a castle in Italy deepened his understanding of what genuine craftsmanship demands, and when he returned to Santa Barbara, in 1996 he founded Daniel Allen Construction, now DAC Builds.

Today his wife Johanna and son Anand work alongside him as partners. Three decades on, and the standard remains the same: prepare well, build with integrity, put your clients first, and the rest follows.

Meet the Team

  • Daniel Allen

    Founder and President

  • Johanna Allen

    Partner and Accounting Administrator

  • Anand Allen

    Managing Partner

  • David Sutton

    Human Resources Manager

  • Alen Susak

    Senior Electrical Project Manager

  • Jessica Allen

    Administrative Coordinator

  • Cesar Corona

    Assistant Project Manager

  • Don McLean

    Senior Field Craftsman

  • Edgar Morales

    Senior Project Manager

  • Brian Rodriguez

    Field Craftsman

  • Pedro Cortez

    Field Craftsman

  • Cristian Jimenez

    Field Electrician

  • Carlos Ibarra-Garcia

    Field Craftsman

  • Joel Martinez

    Field Craftsman

  • Gavin Ormand

    Field Craftsman

What Our Clients Tell Their Friends About Working With DAC Builds

The homes we build, from luxury home renovations in Montecito to full-scale remodels in Santa Barbara and Malibu, start with a relationship and end with a client who would refer us without hesitation.

Family-Owned & Operated

You Are Known Here

We know our clients' names, their families, and what matters most to them before we ever break ground. That culture has been part of our company since the beginning and it runs through every person on our team.

In-House Trades

Your Project Stays in Fewer Hands

Electrical, cabinetry, carpentry, and millwork are all self-performed by our in-house team. That means fewer handoffs, tighter timelines, and one accountable crew from start to finish.

Fixed Cost Transparency

You Know the Number Before We Break Ground

Every project begins with a pre-construction phase and a fixed-cost proposal. Our clients know their financial investment before work starts, and we stand behind it.

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Our Mission

Family-owned builders focused on fostering strong relationships, delivering an incredible experience, and building beautiful, timeless homes.

Our Values

  • We put the quality of the work and the wellbeing of the client before our bottom line. When something needs to be made right, we make it right.

  • Construction is an emotional process and we treat it that way. We know your family, we show up for you, and we stay in your corner from the first conversation to the final walkthrough.

  • This business was built by a family, runs like a family, and serves families. Every person on our team is hired to carry that forward, from the owners down to the crew on your job site.

  • We do it once and we do it right, because a home built for the long term deserves nothing less.

Happy Clients

  • "We had an incredible experience working with DAC Builds. From start to finish, their attention to detail, craftsmanship, and professionalism were top-notch.

    DAC Builds completed a custom wrap-around banquette at Hook & Press. From start to finish, their attention to detail, craftsmanship, and professionalism were top-notch. This wasn’t a simple install. It was a fully custom build designed to fit our space perfectly and they absolutely nailed it. The curves, the fit, the finish… everything came together exactly how we envisioned (honestly, even better). It completely transformed the seating area and elevated the entire look and feel of our shop.

    They were easy to communicate with, showed up when they said they would, and clearly take pride in their work. You can tell they care about getting it right, not just getting it done. If you’re looking for high-quality custom work, I can’t recommend DAC Builds enough. We’ll definitely be working with them again.”

    John B., Commercial Client

  • Trusted to Finish a 100,000 Square Foot, 5-Star Resort Project

    "I was in the process of trying to finish a 100,000 square foot hotel project at a 5-star quality. Daniel Allen Construction [DAC Builds] stepped in and helped guide the project to completion with precision and quality workmanship. Whenever a task needed a keen eye and a professional finish, Daniel Allen was the crew we asked to do the work. Exceptional leadership and easy to work with."

    Brian S., Owner, Inn at Matteis Tavern

  • "As an interior designer with over a decade of experience, I have worked with many general contractors. Daniel Allen Construction is certainly at the top of my list.

    Their team is thoughtful, thorough and collaborative. They have a fantastic team of trades and craftsman, who deliver exceptional work every time and are easy to work with. They truly respect the design process and strive to make every project the best it can be. The owners, Anand and Dan are lovely people as well. They are both highly involved, and truly experts in the industry. It is always a joy to have them on site bringing such a positive and energetic attitude.”

    Sarah K. (Solid Studio), Santa Barbara Interior Designer

  • "Incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and honest!

    Over the past several years we have used Daniel Allen Construction [DAC Builds] for several projects including renovating our kitchen, building an ADU, and most recently building a 3,500 sq ft home from the ground up. Dan, Anand, and their entire construction team are incredibly professional, knowledgeable, and honest. Their pricing has always been very reasonable and projects get completed in the timeline stated. We have always been incredibly pleased with their work and look forward to more projects to come.”

    Missy T., Luxury Home Build Montecito

  • "Daniel and his son Anand are people with integrity and it was a pleasure to be around them and their team every day.

    We embarked on a remodel of our 1920’s Spanish Colonial home in Santa Barbara. We interviewed several excellent builders in the area and decided on Daniel Allen (DAC Builds) and his team. We were impressed with their great communication, willingness to work within our budget, and their in house cabinet work. They left our home clean every day, showed up always and on time, listened to our needs and vision , and paid attention to every detail . His team of artisans are very gifted and polite. Their work is excellent! If we have another project in the future, we will most certainly hire them again!”

    Carla & Alain L., Santa Barbara Remodel Client

  • "Honest, trustworthy, and really a joy to work with!

    DAC Builds did a renovation of our house in Montecito on Summerland Heights Lane in 2024. The main thing we did was add a huge deck off the master BR with an accordion door to the outside to take full advantage of the ocean view. This was a game changer for this house! They removed the original shed roof and replaced it with the deck, plus added new lighting and heaters for the patio below. They also added beautiful distressed beams to the master BR ceiling, and totally redid the master bath, as well as the other bathroom and powder room. In addition, they changed the wrought iron stair railing, rebuilt the fireplace surround in the LR in porcelain ( which looks like marble and turned out gorgeous), and added a large fire pit outside. They also put in a gasoline line for a BBQ, redid the electrical panel, and put in an electrical car charger. The work done by the entire team was very high quality. If something took a little longer than expected, it was only because they were figuring out how to do it correctly, not cutting corners. We highly recommend DAC Builds!”

    Sally & Hans F., Montecito Renovation Client

  • "DAC Builds was professional, thorough, and patient through the process of rebuilding our fire-damaged home.

    Unfortunately our home in Malibu had severe fire damage and the rebuilding process is very difficult with city permits, insurance claims and remodeling upgrades. DAC Builds has been extremely professional, thorough and patient through the whole process, including doing two separate pricing exercises. Getting full sub support and extending all resources necessary to help us get through this process. We would highly recommend them as a contractor.”

    Shane & Jennifer C., Malibu Renovation Client

  • "They did a wonderful job listening to what we wanted and were always helpful and willing to go the extra mile.

    Daniel Allen and his team are amazing! They are professional, on time, hard working, creative, and kind. They completely redid our master bath to make it handicapped accessible for our ailing aunt. I cannot say enough good things about them!”

    Sherry H., Bathroom Remodel Client

  • "DAC Builds are the only people we would work with because they are honest, accessible, and they know their trades.

    We have worked with DAC Builds on two major remodels. Dan, Anand, Edgar, Joel, and the rest of the crew are pleasant and friendly. There is daily cleanup, and the job site is quiet and clean. Our calls are returned promptly. They are professional and really good at what they do. They can make the impossible happen. You are in good hands with DAC Builds!”

    Jessica K., Home Remodeling Client

  • "If you are looking for a reliable, top tier contractor who delivers quality across every trade, we highly recommend DAC Builds.

    We recently worked with DAC Builds for a full home remodel and our family could not be happier with the results. Their team is incredibly professional, highly skilled, and experienced with exceptional attention to detail. They managed a massive scope of work for us, including a complete update of our kitchen, bathrooms, millwork, electrical, plumbing, roof, HVAC, hardscape, and more. Every single aspect of our home was updated beautifully. If you are looking for a reliable, top tier contractor who delivers quality across every trade, we highly recommend DAC Builds.”

    Joy P., Whole Home Remodel Client

Bathroom vanity with a mirror, towel, and soapstone on the countertop.

Build With a Team That Knows You

The right builder knows your name, your family, and what this home means to you. When you’re ready for a team that treats you like their only client, we’re ready to get started.

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