Hammer & Hand: General Contractor Serving Portland and Seattle
Hammer & Hand is a general contractor and home builder with over 30 years of experience serving Portland, Seattle, and the surrounding Pacific Northwest region. The company works across a range of project types, including new homes, remodels, commercial spaces, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Their approach combines building science knowledge, hands-on craftsmanship, and modern project management tools.
As an employee-owned company, Hammer & Hand is built around its workforce. Career carpenters and experienced project supervisors handle the day-to-day work on every build. The company covers much of the work directly — including framing, window installation, trim, siding, and concrete — and relies on a network of trusted subcontractors developed over three decades.
ADU Building Services in Portland and Seattle
Hammer & Hand has built a range of accessory dwelling units across the Portland and Seattle metro areas. As an experienced ADU contractor, the company has worked on projects serving a variety of purposes — from helping families with multigenerational living arrangements to creating dedicated studio or workshop spaces on residential properties.
Their work as a custom ADU builder reflects the broader flexibility that accessory dwelling units offer homeowners. Whether the goal is a detached ADU in the backyard, a garage conversion, or another configuration suited to the property, Hammer & Hand approaches each project with the same level of planning and craftsmanship applied to their larger builds.
Each ADU project requires architectural drawings and permits, and Hammer & Hand works within a collaborative model involving the client, their chosen architect or designer, and the construction team. The company does not employ in-house designers or architects, which allows clients to work with a design professional of their choosing. Hammer & Hand can also connect clients with architects from their established network in Portland and Seattle if needed.
How Hammer & Hand Works
Hammer & Hand operates as a traditional general contractor, meaning they partner with external architects and designers rather than offering in-house design services. This structure is intentional — the company focuses on the construction side of the process and collaborates closely with the design team and client throughout the project.
Project management is handled through a cloud-based scheduling tool, which is updated regularly — often daily — and shared with both the client and their architect. A dedicated project supervisor is assigned to each build, and a three-week look-ahead schedule is used to stay ahead of potential conflicts.
For clients considering budget management, Hammer & Hand applies value engineering to identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising the project's goals. This involves close coordination with subcontractors and suppliers, many of whom have long-standing relationships with the company.
In addition to construction services, Hammer & Hand operates a 3,000 square foot in-house woodshop staffed by two to three shop carpenters. The shop produces custom cabinetry, as well as bespoke, handcrafted windows and doors — including options built to passive house standards. Custom woodwork can be shipped across the US and Canada.
Hammer & Hand provides a standard one-year warranty on workmanship. They do not offer standalone handyman services, though ongoing maintenance work is available to existing clients following project completion.
