The Beacon (The Tiburon Chamber of Commerce Newsletter) March 2008 Plath & Company General Contactors, founded by Steve Plath in 1975, is dedicated to the building and renovation of fine homes and historic structures of uncompromising quality, superior craftsmanship and enduring value. As President, Steve is the artistic visionary with his head planted firmly in the past – exhibiting a passion for historic building restoration. In 1985, he brought on Bill Ballas as Vice President and Managing Partner. Both men bring an impressive resume of construction and development, in addition to their own stylized interests. Steve is a soldier, actor, craftsman, sports car collector and humanitarian. Bill is a collector of 1915 Panama International Exposition memorabilia, organic gardener, musician and traveler. With their diverse styles and compatible goals, they have grown the company into an over $25 million player in the world of high-end construction. Plath & Company does more than just create custom made homes and residences with an uncanny eye for detail. Their custom homes represent a variety of historic as well as contemporary styles and have been built throughout the Bay Area, including San Francisco, the Peninsula, the East Bay and North Bay. Every home Plath builds demands a high level of craftsmanship and artistry. From the outset, Plath provides detailed estimates to insure that a project runs efficiently with a minimum of cost overruns. During construction, Plath combines the best materials with careful workmanship, so that the completed residence is distinctive and one-of-a-kind, exceeding the expectations of its customers. If a client wants marble from Italy, rock from Greece, a unique handcrafted fixture from France or detailed finish work from around the corner or across the globe, Plath will make the necessary arrangements to make the service or item part of the remodel project. Each detail, from the quality of the cabinetry, the finish on the trimwork, the shape of the staircase, the carving of the fireplace mantels are part of an overall mosaic that make the home a special place. To insure the highest level of quality, Plath works with a collaborative team of architects, landscape architects, engineers, subcontractors, artists and craftspeople that operate in an environment of trust and open communication. A Plath remodeled home in the Bay Area generated this response…”I wish we had another house, so we could have them remodel it.” Plath & Company’s reputation for historic restoration continues to be a passion for both Steve and Bill and these skills have been applied to some of the most treasured historic homes in Northern California. The range of architectural styles spans Victorian, Spanish Revival, Arts and Crafts. Steve himself served for 12 years on the Board of the Foundation of San Francisco Architectural Heritage and is considered to be one of the Bay Area’s experts in the restoration of historic residences and landmark buildings. Their restoration projects combine the sensitive use of historical resources with professional building expertise that meet today’s exacting standards and codes. In Steve’s own words, “Preservation…NOT renovation!’ Plath & Company has achieved local and national recognition through This Old House (Featured in program’s inaugural feature section on “How to Hire the Best,”) The National Preservation Society, Gentry Magazine, Design & Build Magazine, Daily Builder, California Construction, Link, Marin Independent Journal, The Oakland Tribune, Pacific Sun, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Business Times and San Francisco Gate.