SIERRA MADRE CUSTOM HOME BUILDER & GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Built With Intention. Foothill Homes Hardened To Last.
SIERRA MADRE HOMES ARE BUILT DIFFERENTLY
Heart Construction is a general contractor serving Sierra Madre, specializing in custom homes, full renovations, and fire-hardened foothill homes. We work with homeowners, architects, engineers and designers through organized pre-construction, transparent budgeting and steady execution.
The fire came to the city line. Half the town is now mapped Very High.
In May 2025 the city adopted the updated state fire hazard map, and homes in a Very High zone must maintain defensible space around the structure and meet wildland-urban interface building standards. We start every scope from that hardened base specification and a clear permit owner.
Add the Hillside Development Permit on the northern edge, Canyon massing limits, and demolition and historic review on pre-war homes, and sequencing matters.
We guide the process so decisions feel informed, not reactive — from Sierra Madre Village bungalows to the streets near Richardson House.
Expect fire-hardened full remodels of 1920s–60s homes, ADUs for family, and hillside custom homes and additions. We bring the same structure and discipline we apply across the San Gabriel Valley and every project in Los Angeles.
RECENT PROJECTS
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![Malibu Pier home interior featuring a warm modern living space with built-in seating, layered textures, custom wood furniture, and an open layout flowing into a minimalist kitchen, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal design.]()
MALIBU PIER
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![Pacific Palisades ocean-view backyard with custom pool, palm trees, lounge seating, and manicured lawn overlooking the Pacific coastline.]()
MALIBU
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![Marina del Rey home interior with warm modern design featuring a natural wood dining table, sculptural pendant lighting, plaster walls, and an open kitchen with custom cabinetry, showcasing Heart Construction’s intentional coastal craftsmanship.]()
MARINA DEL REY
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![Open-concept living room in a Hollywood Hills home remodel with folding glass walls, custom built-ins, soft neutral furnishings, and seamless indoor-outdoor flow overlooking canyon views, showcasing Heart Construction’s warm modern design.]()
HOLLYWOOD HILLS
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![Pacific Palisades luxury bathroom with freestanding soaking tub, marble walk-in shower, herringbone tile walls, and sculptural glass chandelier framed by natural light and greenery views.]()
BRENTWOOD
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![Pacific Palisades modern custom home with smooth stucco façade, black-framed windows, vertical wood garage door, and drought-tolerant landscaping.]()
MAR VISTA
OUR REMODELING SERVICES
At Heart Construction, we specialize in creating thoughtfully designed homes that reflect the way you live. From custom ground-up builds to full-scale renovations and refined living spaces, we guide every project with craftsmanship, clarity and care for homeowners in South Diamond Bar, San Pasqual, South El Monte and beyond.
OUR CONSTRUCTION COMPANY SIERRA MADRE PROCESS
PLAN
First a Strategic Visioning Session: A conversation about your goals, budget and timeline, and a frank read on what your site will allow. Complimentary.
TEAM
Second we assemble the architect, structural and geotechnical engineers, civil engineer, biologist and designers your project needs — matched to your style and site's constraints.
CALL
Third a Professional Services Agreement and a small retainer begin feasibility, permitting strategy, design coordination and line-by-line budgeting.
PERMITS
We assemble and file the complete CDP and building-permit package, coordinate Fire and Environmental Health reviews, and lock scope, finishes and schedule before groundbreaking.
CONSTRUCTION
Milestone-based build. Change orders are priced and approved in writing before work begins. You get a weekly update every week — progress, decisions needed, what's next.
CLOSEOUT
Finally Walkthrough with Final inspections, punch list, documentation and warranty handover. Payments are tied to completed milestones, never arbitrary percentages.
After you contact us, Within one business day, Asaf will call to understand your property and goals. If it's a fit, we schedule a site visit. There's no obligation and no pressure — just a clear picture of what's possible.
What to Know Before
You Build in Sierra Madre
Pace here is set by the small Planning & Community Preservation counter and a multi-division plan check at the City of Sierra Madre. Routine permitting runs 3–6 months; hillside, demolition-threshold or historic-review projects run 6–12 months. Construction of a custom home typically takes 10–18 months. The lever that protects your schedule is a complete, zone-correct first submittal that avoids repeated correction cycles, and we file and track it ourselves.
What It Costs
Costs sit high because foothill and canyon lots mean slope, narrow access, fire-resistant materials and hand-detailed work on older homes. Custom homes typically run $600–$950+ per sq ft; whole-home renovations $400–$700+ per sq ft; detached ADUs $275,000–$550,000+; pools $150,000–$400,000+. Soft costs — design, geotechnical and survey studies, permits — are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins.
Permits, Rules & Fire Codes
Every application goes through the city's online permit portal, and we submit it ourselves. Hillside homes need a Hillside Development Permit, Canyon lots follow their own massing standards, and a remodel that removes half of a home can trigger a demolition review. Fire-zone construction standards and residential sprinklers are our base specification, not upgrades. We sequence these from feasibility so design decisions are made with the constraints known.
Where We Build in Sierra Madre
Sierra Madre Village, Mount Wilson Trail, Grandview Avenue, and the foothill streets beneath the San Gabriel Mountains. Steep lots near Mount Wilson Trail Park bring hillside permits, defensible space and geotechnical work, while flatter blocks near Sierra Vista Park have simpler plan check and easier access. Not sure which rules apply to your parcel? A feasibility review answers that in two to four weeks.
Meet the Builders Behind Your Project
Asaf Bar-Hen — Co-Founder & Developer Asaf leads design and development from concept to completion. His background spans 15 years in hospitality design, seven years in renewable energy and energy-efficient building, and real-estate work across the U.S., Asia and Central America. He leads every first call and brings a sustainability lens to each project, from energy-efficient design to fire-resilient construction.
Jason Aizenberg — Co-Founder Jason runs the operational side of every project — permits, design meetings, scheduling, subcontractor coordination and site logistics. Clients describe him as the person who "managed everything so we could focus on our family.”
California Contractors State License Board #1146456 — Class B General Building Contractor. Verify on CSLB ↗
25+ years of combined experience across high-end residential construction in Los Angeles
Frequently Asked Questions
About Renovation in Sierra Madre
Does a fire zone change my permit?
Yes. Since the city adopted the 2025 map, homes in a Very High zone must keep at least 100 feet of defensible space and meet wildland-urban interface materials rules for roofs, vents, siding and windows. We document the hardening for your insurer.
How long does plan check take?
Routine plans take 3–6 months; hillside or historic-review projects 6–12 months. A plan check is valid 180 days from first submittal, so we file complete, zone-correct sets, track every correction and send weekly written updates.
Cost to build a home here?
Custom homes typically run $600–$950+ per sq ft. Slope, narrow access and fire-rated materials push a project toward the upper end of that range. Soft costs are additional. You receive a line-by-line budget before construction begins. See our custom home cost guide for the full breakdown.
Will remodeling trigger a review?
It can. Demolition includes altering or removing 50 percent or more of a structure's floor area or value, which may require a Discretionary Demolition Permit. We size your scope against that threshold at schematic stage and add historic pre-review for older homes.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Heart Construction holds California Contractors State License Board license #1146456 and is bonded and insured for large-scale residential construction, major remodels and structural work. You can verify the license on the CSLB website.
Guides for Sierra Madre homeowners:
- Altadena Fire Rebuild Guide 2026: Permits, Timelines & Requirements
- Custom Home vs Remodel vs Rebuild in Los Angeles
- ADU Los Angeles: Is It Right for Your Property?
Nearby areas we serve: South Diamond Bar · San Pasqual · South El Monte · San Marino · South Pasadena · San Gabriel
Region: All San Gabriel Valley communities we serve · Everywhere we build