SF Lofts

I live in a very typical SF studio, i.e. tiny but with very high ceilings, and thus perfect for a loft!
Prior to calling up Dave, almost every square inch of my living room was covered by a piece of furniture; I had no walking room whatsoever and having people over was out of the question.
Dave transformed my place from an uncomfortably crowded mess to a very aesthetically-​pleasing and roomy studio!
Dave is an amazing carpenter who worked wonders. He is passionate about his work and takes great pride in delivering the best results he possibly can. He also works fast and charges very reasonable prices for his top-​notch work.
Thanks Dave!

I found David on
. I live in a very small studio and I needed to make the most of my space. David came over and had a thorough consultation with me, asking me my preferences about how I wanted the loft to be built. We scheduled a day that would be convenient for both of us. David and his assistant are hard workers, they finished the job in 8 hours as predicted. David is very professional and perfectionist (in a good way).
I’m happy with my loft, it makes me gain more than half the space. I finally have a living room, a desk, a library and a real bed. I highly recommend David’s services because of his skills, the quality of his work and the reasonable price he offers.

Dave built me an awesome loft! I trusted his expertise to guide me no what would be best for my needs and available space. Dave really cares about his craft and it shows in the end product! I’m really happy to have a solid and affordable structure. I would recommend SF Lofts to friends and family seeking lofts. Dave also constructs the lofts so that they can be disassembled if you ever move, which I really appreciate.

I knew I would need a loft in order to make my teeny-​tiny studio work after living in fairly spacious apartments the last few years and accumulating so much stuff, but did NOT want another flimsy Ikea one. I had an Ikea loft bed in my tiny room in college and although I did give me the space I needed for a study zone and seating under neath, it was so cheap and flimsy that it barely survived my next move to another apartment and eventually became scrap wood! I’m on the «fluffier» side so I really wanted something strong and durable and the loft David and his assistant built is quite sturdy and provides ample space for a small couch or futon. I loved having the ability to make customizations that meet my needs like height, latter width, shelving, etc! All for the price I would have paid to have a very basic solid wood loft bed shipped to me and would have still had to figure out complicated assembly!!! David and SF lofts was far more convenient and cost effective.
I’m so glad David agreed to build my loft even though I live way out in (the extremely hot in the summer part of) the East Bay making transportation and access to his usual lumber supplier and means of material delivery much more complicated, but David was willing and able to work it out with a local Home Depot and the result is my awesome space-​saver bed!

I love my new loft bed! If you check the before and after photos, I have so much more usable living space now. My bedroom turned into a living room and a bedroom.
Dave, who builds the lofts with his partner and his dog, was punctual, professional, and honest. There is nothing better out there for even three times the price! He came by about two weeks before for an evaluation, we agreed on a date and time. He showed up with all the materials and got to work right away.
The loft is made of lumber held together with real bolts and screws, no ikea clips here. It is extremely sturdy and easily supports 2 people and a cat, who loves it by the way, he now has so much vertical space.
If you live in a small sf apartment like me, this is the best way to maximize your space! Building up was the best idea! Can’t wait to start adding some mods to it!(a carpet post for my cat, some hooks, and rope lighting.)
I highly recommend Dave!

Dave builds sturdy, custom lofts at a low price. He is very knowledgeable about all the ins and outs of the structure and how it will work within your space. We are very happy with how it completes our space, above and below. It feels perfect!
There were, however, many areas in which we did not have a good experience during the project. Perhaps my expectations around professionalism were way too high.
Communication was very difficult with Dave, despite my best efforts to spell everything out including diagrams. Due to this, we felt like he needed to be supervised just in case there was some misunderstanding. Our roommates didn’t have good feedback with him and I feel bad we disrupted them with our project (frequent loud cursing). The project ended up taking much longer than expected. He showed up late and made my fiancé late for work. Then he took longer than planned which caused him to be overbooked for his next appointment which lead to him rushing on the project. You could tell the job was rushed in the end, but I really appreciate that he made all the necessary corrections once we pointed them out. He also arrived underprepared and my fiancé had to do a Home Depot run with him during the project among other things.
Finally, something that is kind of a big deal… some of the wood is dripping sap! We have hardwood floors, clothing, and expensive electronics under the loft. I have no idea why or how this wood is dripping sap but that is pretty unacceptable!
If we weren’t so happy with the overall finished product, and how it improves our room, I would be incredibly upset with the whole experience and request a substantial refund. But we are very grateful to have this loft and are just «dealing with it» on the aspects that were disappointing.

Dave managed to design an excellent solution to our space issues. We are very happy with his work and it has alleviated our concerns with limited square footage.

Thanks Dave! We had a queen size bed loft installed in our Berkeley apartment by Dave (aka SF Lofts) and his assistant builder, Ben. The loft they constructed looks awesome. Our customized loft really helped to create some much needed space in our apartment. Dave was very specific and helpful when it came to measuring and calculating the loft’s dimensions before building it. He went into great detail about its possible height and width /​length, explaining clearly the ups and downs of our different options. Dave and Ben are nice guys and we highly recommend their work. Even though he could have charged us more, he gave us a very fair price knowing our financial situation. We love what we have and we are thinking of having Dave add more shelves in the future. Thanks again!

Simply put… Dave is the man! He is very accommodating and flexible, offering great ideas and showing a genuine interest in the client’s input. My studio in Oakland is microscopic, and my black lab was climbing all over my mattress. I needed a solution to maximize my space and elevate my bed.
After looking at IKEA and combing the internet, I realized there are very few pre-​fab options for adult lofts. The only ones that are decent quality and able to support the weight run well over $ 1,000. That simply wasn’t in my budget so I turned to Unilocal,and luckily I stumbled across SF Lofts. He met me in Oakland and performed a free consultation which included exacting measurements, a rudimentary floor plan and specs. Within a week, I had a sweet loft that completely opened up my apartment, transforming a 150 sq foot dungeon into a much more hospitable and livable space. The fresh lumber smells great and adds a rustic charm. Aesthetically, the loft is clean and well designed. I couldn’t be happier, and I owe Dave a debt of gratitude. Look no further… he’s the real deal!

My sons room is ridiculously small but he is growing ridiculously fast! So i figured– a loft! Perfect right? I started doing some research on lofts and they are pricey and most are flimsy. So i turned to Unilocal.Yesss. Bingo. I found sf lofts and am so happy i did :)
Dave was very accommodating with my schedule and building requests. We went over the specs of the tiny room we were working with and decided to build it over the frame of the door to gain as much floor space as possible. He was very concerned with making sure we were happy with the final product. We set up the time for the build day and a couple days before he called me with so money saving news :) he had a previous customer that was selling their used loft– would i like to purchase it for a discounted price? Uhh of course!
He brought a helper with him and started building– using the previous loft, he just added some additional wood and support to raise it above the door frame. We were so happy with the final result!
Fast forward a couple of weeks– I bought a 6inch memory foam mattress so my son could have as much head space as possible, however it was just too tight of a space for comfort. I called Dave and he was happy to come back and lower it for a very reasonable price. We tried making a new date for the adjustments but ultimately (and by no fault of Dave) I did it myself! –when i say myself I mean I directed my father and boyfriend :) Which leads to me to another plus of sf lofts: they can be easily taken apart and put back together when moving or rearranging.
Forgive the quality of the pictures– its an iPhone and, like I said, the room is really small and hard to get the whole loft in one shot (its the sports themed boys room).

Hello,
Dave built a custom loft for my wife and I in our studio apartment. We are extremely grateful as he created much needed office space below.
I give him the highest marks for guidance, value for money, and timeliness. He will work with your schedule, cleans up afterward, and checks in at a later date to ensure everything is going ok.
Dave also went with me to the store to buy supplies and the lumberyard for wood. He definitely knows what he wants and is not afraid to reject the wood for not being good enough or «knotty».
He also helped hang shelves and gave top-​notch advice about which anchors to use.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures to share.
Truly, you will not go wrong if you hire Dave. He works diligently to get your job done quickly but don’t be surprised if he you have to wait because of his workload. The wait is worth it. He really cares about his work and his customers.
Patrick Shaughnessy
San Francisco, CA.

Had loft built for small studio. The job was done quickly and David really helps to work around his clients.

Hired Dave for a loft project for my place. My place is literally the tallest/​widest loft he has done and has been wonderfully put together with shelves. Sturdy as can be, it feels like i am on a second floor! He took the time to make sure ever bit was right for the height and length. I would recommend Dave for anyone who wants to utilize their space and needs a bit of a creative inspiration on what to do and the best way to going about it.

I was looking to purchase a loft for my 11 year. I just wanted a simple sturdy twin loft made of real wood so I started searching online. I saw how expensive the lofts were and the cost of shipping was a lot because of the weight of the wood. I decided to search for a used loft on Craigslist and unfortunately nothing appealed to me. The lofts were either too high or too low for my apartment ceiling height but then I came across a search for Loft Beds and Bunk Beds and found Dave — «SF Lofts». After reading some of his Unilocal reviews, I was thrilled to know I had this option to build a customized loft and the price was affordable. I realized it would be worth my money to invest more into the customization then paying $ 150 worth of shipping costs!
He did an amazing job building my son’s loft! He chose every piece of wood as if he were building it for his own use. He was very accommodating in making final changes to the height and flexible in considering the adjustments for the roll bar. He brought someone with him to assist with the building which made the process much more efficient.
I appreciate all the hard work that was put into this masterpiece! My son was overjoyed and he loves his new loft!
I don’t hesitate to recommend Dave to anyone who wants a strong and safe loft built with quality wood.
Thanks so much Dave! You are awesome!

I needed to find a way to share a room while still having some semblance of my own space. Best way to do it? Have David design and build you a super sturdy custom loft!
If you are considering a loft, seriously, look no further. He helps you plan out the design and figure out what’s best for you and your unique space. David even rigged up a custom ladder for me at no extra cost. What a guy.
Top quality & AFFORDABLE!

I had a loft built a few months ago, and after sleeping on it for so long I can very highly recommend SF Lofts. The process was quick, exciting and very noisy. The loft is very well built, my wife and I are both over 6′ tall and never feel the construction is anything less than sturdy. We practically consider it a «second floor» inside our jr. 1 bedroom. It was built exactly to the dimensions quoted and Dave managed my myriad of requests and customizations with ease. He has a wealth of knowledge and is confident in his abilities to achieve your desired loft or recommend safer alternatives to similar effect.
We had the stairs built, which our cat loves to climb, and keep books and other items inside. While the stairs are solid and very useful, the vertical lines don’t perfectly match so it does look like someone built them a little wonky. It’s charming if you’re into it.
Note: The vertical 4“x4″ posts for my loft started dribbling sap. This may be specific to my loft or a rare occurrence but the sap can definitely ruin clothes or bedsheets.
Like I said, the loft is sturdy, custom and built within a day.

I moved up to the Bay area a few weeks ago, and everything went smoothly… until I saw the size of my room in person. My roommates warned me that it was a very, Very small space (about 9X9 generously), but I figured I could deal with it because the rent basically paralleled the utilities in my last place. Boy was I wrong. I thought that there was no way that I could live in that room comfortably, without reliving my college days in a twin sized bed. Then, I thought to myself, the only way to make this work with a full sized bed was to loft it and get it out of the way. Twin sized mattresses just won’t fly at this age.
So I looked around to try to find lofts, and nowadays, I wouldn’t even sleep on half of the lofts out there, let alone try to support two people on it. So I called up Dave via his craigslist ad, and from the first conversation, I knew that it was a great decision. My budget was also a concern, but he was able to quote me a price, and guarantee that I would pay no more than that!
This guy is very thorough. Dave came over for the loft consultation – no charge – and did an amazingly thorough job illustrating what would soon become of my room for me. He and his coworker really hit all the spots to make sure that the loft was everything it needed to be before even beginning the building process. The work would have been done in one day, but I had a time mishap, and he generously offered to come back and put the roll bar on, no problem. My roommates thoroughly tested it out by hanging, swinging, and basically hacking it to test the sturdiness. It passed all tests, and the best part is that it breaks down completely to be transported elsewhere. I can’t say enough good things about this whole process, and I’m definitely glad that I found Dave to make this room work! My loft is the pictures with the blueish comforter!

Going from a one bedroom to a studio sucks, but there are lots of ways to make it better. One of the best things you can do is hire Dave to build you a quality loft and get back that floor space.
My loft is well built and sturdy. I also have a slight book addiction and Dave built me custom box stairs that gave me shelves to put my books away in. It is all about the double duty furniture when you live in a small space, and I am so happy with the results.

I commissioned two loft beds for my small Tenderloin studio to increase the space. Boy did it ever create the space. I know have room for a kitchenette, bikes, and living room. Underneath each of the lofts there is a cozy place for an office or additional bed. I suggest a loft for every studio in SF.
Dave built the lofts within two days. He brings along somebody to help. The two were very nice and easy to talk with. I was able to express what I want and they created it. They also gave their insight. He even returned when I needed additional step support. I suggest everyone who asks about my cute studio to Dave.

My first apartment in SF. I was so excited to move in and found the most amazing room in the heart of the Mission for only $ 600 a month. The downside? The room was small and an unusual shape. Photos 9 – 13 and 17 are my loft, to help you visualize.
I found David’s ad on Craigslist, actually, and was pleased by his speed of response. Within 3 emails, David and I had set up a time for a free consultation for him to come over, check out the space, and dream up some solutions. David was awesome at collaborating. He wanted to hear my ideas, asked me questions about what I wanted, and even humored me by letting me sketch out some ideas. We came out of our metting with all the dimensions, expectations and timeline for building worked out.
David arrived the next weekend with all the pieces of aromatic wood pre-​cut and ready to assemble. It took about 5.5 hours from start to finish, but, hey, good work takes time and is not rushed! He was also working within a very small space with no wiggle room.
At last, I had an awesome, solid built, sturdy, rustic-​chic loft that is 100% what I wanted. David was sweet and even custom built a ladder for me.
I went to his apartment to pick up my ladder and was pleased to find he had built his own loft in his apartment. It was even cooler than mine– bookshelves built in, a seating area below, desk/​work area built into the side. This guy really knows how to build practical, sturdy functional lofts on the cheap.
Call up David. He’s a good guy, using a skill that makes him happy to make others happy. His loft transformed my space and I am very thankful.