Compare Local Pros
Dollens Electric vs Washburn Construction
Santa Clara General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing an electrical specialist with proven customer feedback against a general contractor with no public track record.
| Dollens Electric | Washburn Construction | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 29 years |
| License # | 867376 | 734942 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | San Jose, CA | Sunnyvale, CA |
| Website | dollenselectric.com | washburnconstructionca.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Dollens Electric
Customers consistently praise quick response times, detailed technical explanations, and professional service across diverse electrical projects from repairs to complex installations.
Key Takeaway: Dollens Electric has verifiable customer satisfaction and documented electrical expertise, while Washburn Construction provides no public track record to evaluate their capabilities or service quality.
Customer Reviews
Dollens Electric
Great Company, very happy every time they do work for us.
I needed to upgrade my electrical panel. Dollens Electric did a load calculation and recommended a new panel that would accommodate the electrification of my furnace and water heater down the road. Th...
Fixed my problem and replaced my electronic door lock promptly.
Washburn Construction
Excellent service some of the best carpentry work I've seen in my life.
Consider Dollens Electric if...
- ✓ You need electrical work performed by a licensed electrical contractor with documented expertise in your specific project type, whether that's panel upgrades, EV charger installation, or generator work
- ✓ Quick response time matters to you, as customers consistently report next-day site visits and fast estimate turnaround
- ✓ You value clear communication and detailed explanations of work being performed, which multiple customers specifically mention
- ✓ You want to hire a contractor with verifiable customer satisfaction across projects similar to yours
Consider Washburn Construction if...
- ✓ You're hiring for general construction work rather than electrical-specific services and can verify their capabilities directly
- ✓ You have a personal referral or direct experience with Washburn Construction that provides confidence their reviews cannot
- ✓ Your project requires a general contractor license rather than an electrical specialty license
- ✓ You're willing to invest significant time vetting their electrical capabilities, crew qualifications, and past project quality through direct references
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Washburn Construction for at least three references from electrical projects completed in the past year, and contact them to verify quality and expertise
- → Ask Washburn about their electrical crew's qualifications and how long their electricians have been with the company
- → Ask both contractors for a detailed written estimate and timeline specific to your project scope
- → Confirm which contractor will personally supervise the work and whether subcontractors will be involved
The Bottom Line
For electrical work, hire Dollens Electric. They're an electrical specialist with 20 years of documented expertise across panel upgrades, generators, EV chargers, and complex installations. Their consistent customer feedback on responsiveness, technical knowledge, and communication provides confidence that Washburn Construction's empty track record cannot match. Unless you have a compelling personal referral for Washburn's electrical work specifically, choosing a general contractor without verifiable electrical experience over a proven electrical specialist makes little sense for your project.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Additional years matter most when comparing similar contractors, but Washburn holds a general contractor license while Dollens specializes in electrical work. For electrical projects, 20 years of electrical expertise with proven customer satisfaction is more relevant than 29 years of general contracting without verifiable electrical experience.
Without reviews, you cannot verify their electrical expertise, customer communication, quality of work, or reliability. Dollens Electric has documented customer feedback across the specific project types you're likely hiring for. You'd need to invest significantly more time vetting Washburn through direct references.
General contractors can perform electrical work within their scope, but electrical specialty contractors focus exclusively on electrical systems. For complex electrical projects like panel upgrades or generator installations, an electrical specialist typically brings more focused expertise and stays current with electrical code changes.
If you need electrical work, Dollens Electric is the clearer choice based on verifiable expertise and customer satisfaction. Only consider Washburn if you have a strong personal referral for their electrical work specifically, or if your project requires a general contractor rather than an electrical specialist.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 13, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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