Acton Construction Inc.

While in junior high school, Stanley Acton became enamored with carpentry through his studies in industrial arts. Acton continued to hone his craft in residential remodeling while in college and in 1990, he founded Acton Construction Inc. Located in Campbell, California, the company has been serving Silicon Valley as a general contractor specializing in residential remodeling for the past 25 years.

Acton’s passion for building began as a young boy in his father’s garage. Always testing his limits, Acton one day accidentally broke his father’s prized wooden mallet. He would go on to construct a replacement for the device while educating himself on the vast array of tools in his father’s workshop. That replacement mallet is still in use today.

After graduating with a degree in computer science, Acton worked in engineering for several years before realizing his passion for carpentry still remained strong. “I decided that what I really wanted to do was be back in the construction industry,” says Acton. “In 1989 I quit high-tech and went back into residential remodeling.”

Utilizing all skill sets

Acton is now using his engineering background to better keep homeowners informed and engaged throughout their home remodeling project, using technology as a catalyst for opening lines of communication and ensuring their project completes on time and on budget.

As a design-build remodeling company serving the Silicon Valley, Acton Construction is also uniquely qualified at upgrading the technological capabilities of the home, particularly for those who value “smart home” technology innovation. “We handle all the details, from design through construction,” explains Acton. “Technology integration is just another way we add value in revitalizing older homes.”

An opportunity to expand

When the recession hit in 2008, the construction industry experienced the repercussions firsthand. While many companies slashed workforces and some even shut down completely, Acton viewed this situation as an opportunity. “In 2008 as things started to turn down, I recognized that talent would become available, and I decided it was time to expand,” says Acton. “At that time we were a company of three people. I put together a business plan to grow the company and that’s what we did. We fought the recession by expanding our business.” Acton Construction now employs 10 people.

A common factor for the longevity of a business is customer satisfaction. Acton Construction has built a reputation as a company that stands behind its work 100 percent. “While we do measure our stability on gross profit, we measure success by our satisfied customers,” says Acton. “Being on-time and on-budget is what we focus on.”

Working in a center for entrepreneurship such as Silicon Valley, Acton Construction has the unique opportunity to witness the fruits of successful startup businesses. “We work with a lot of people who have sold their startup idea and are in a position to do some work to their home,” says Acton. “We also do a fair amount of work for executives from companies like Apple and Google.”

Acton recalls a recent project as a personal favorite. The renovation involved converting an old ranch home into a craftsman-style home. “The owner grew up in the house and really loved it but his wife wasn’t wild about it,” says Acton. “The design challenge was to utilize the existing structure and turn it into something that they both really loved.”

A positive presence in the community

Acton Construction is not only in the construction business, but also in the people business. “We are in the business of helping people realize their vision, externally and internally,” Acton explains. “Whether it’s an employee or a customer, to see someone use this company to create a transformation for themselves is what brings me the most satisfaction from my job.”

Acton Construction is also known for giving back to the community. The company is a corporate sponsor for various organizations and events that concern shelter and housing, including Preservation Action Council San Jose. Having a strong passion in supporting child education, Acton Construction is also involved in a school sponsorship program. When an Acton client signs on, they are given an opportunity to designate a sponsored school as a recipient of local funding. Acton Construction will donate a percentage of its income from the job to that school.

As Acton Construction moves forward, the company plans on seeing a fair amount of growth in the next five years. The expansion will include moving the headquarters into a new facility, as well as increasing staff. “We’ll be bringing on additional full-time design professionals, as well as adding to our production staff.”

As the company expands, Acton Construction Inc. will continue to realize the visions of employees and customers while remaining a positive presence in its community.