We approached Calibuilder for our bathroom remodel after hearing great reviews from our neighbors…read more We worked with Azeen as our project manager. At the time, I was 32 weeks pregnant and hoping to have the remodel completed before our baby arrived. Azeen came over, listened carefully to our needs, and patiently discussed all the details with us. Our project was a like-for-like bathroom remodel, and Calibuilder's quote was competitive compared to other companies we considered. Knowing that our neighbors also had a great experience gave us confidence in choosing them. Throughout the project, we had a group chat with Azeen, where we documented all the finer details to ensure nothing was missed. This was incredibly helpful in keeping everyone aligned as the project progressed. Azeen also recommended a few stores for finishes and tiles--we went with Porcelanosa and are very happy with the final result. She prioritized our project, which we really appreciated given the baby could arrive any day. While there were a few things that initially didn't turn out the way we had hoped, calibuilder was responsive and came back to address and fix them. If you're particular about the small details, like we are, we recommend clearly communicating them upfront and documenting everything. Also, be sure to discuss any potential additional costs for smaller tasks that may not be included in the original quote to avoid surprises later. Overall, we're very satisfied with how our bathroom turned out.

CaliBuilder team did a complete bathroom remodeling for us. It took longer than expected (~ 6…read moremonths all together), but we loved the final result! This turned out to be a very detailed and complicated project with many moving parts. We ripped out the entire old bathroom including walls, ceiling, the floor, and redid everything from scratch. We also repositioned the bathtub, vanity, and redid the entire plumbing system. The project manager, Azeen was very responsive, involved and caring. Along the way, Azeen was always available to answer any of our project/progress related questions, to address our concerns, and to discuss next steps. Azeen jumped at resolving any issues, and she also helped with finished product selection, provided her advice and guidance on design. It was a pleasure to work with her. Despite some bumps, and challenges, which alway come up with any construction project, overall we are very happy that we've selected CaliBuilder for this project and we are fully satisfied with our new beautiful bathroom. One note - we've realized that the project success does not only depend on the professional and detail-oriented project manager but also on the skill and attention to detail of the workmen. Initially we had someone who did not seem to be as focused and often produced results below expectation, but then the new crew was amazing! We highly recommend this team!

Working with Alex and Jay on our full gut remodel in Millbrae made a huge difference. They know San…read moreMateo County and local building codes inside and out, guiding our plans through the review process to finish in minimal revisions with only minor comments. Beyond permitting and design, they acted as true partners rather than just a standard business, actively pointing out how to avoid costly, unnecessary upgrades and helping navigate challenges with our GC during construction. Jay's dedication stood out during a key site walk when he climbed up into the attic with me. Together, we caught framing, shear-wall, and electrical details that even the inspector missed (during the building phase). Having their architectural expertise on-site before insulation and drywall went up saved us significant money and ensured the structural integrity of the build. Not only did they handle the architecture and permitting in reasonable timeframe, but they supported us through every phase to ensure quality throughout. I genuinely appreciate their responsiveness and ongoing support.

I've worked with many talented professionals, but Alex Tzang stands out as one of the best…read morearchitects I've collaborated with. He has an exceptional ability to translate vision into thoughtful, functional, and beautifully executed designs. Alex listens carefully, understands goals and constraints, and consistently delivers creative solutions that exceed expectations. His communication is clear, his process is organized, and he works seamlessly with contractors and stakeholders to keep projects on track. I highly recommend Alex Tzang to anyone seeking an architect who combines creativity, precision, and professionalism.

Ashish and his team have been great with our remodeling needs and overall management of the…read moreproject. We have done 2 designs with him, and both have been very smooth and at the right pace. The team is easy to reach out to and has been very responsive with communication and updates. The design team is very accommodating to the needs and very knowledgeable about the latest trends in design and material options. Highly recommend them as they are providing high-quality services at a reasonable price.

Had very good experience working with OR homes. Ahsutosh was very helpful. Came up with good…read moresuggestions to meet our needs. Shweta and Ashish made sure getting through city was smooth.

I recently had the pleasure of working with Eyal. He demonstrated incredible skill and expertise…read moreand went above and beyond to deliver an outstanding result which got me access to an over the counter permit with SF's building department - which saved a lot of headache! His attention to detail and ability to understand and translate my vision into reality was truly remarkable. He took the time to listen to my ideas and requirements, and then used their expertise to create a design that got though the approval process without any delay. Throughout the entire process, he maintained a high level of professionalism and communication and kept me informed every step of the way Eyal's work truly speaks for itself, and I loved working with such a skilled, talented and reliable architect!

Working with Prestin Ravid Architects on our home addition and renovation has been amazing…read more Navigating the City of Palo Alto's complex permit process could have been stressful, but Eyal and his team made it smooth and enjoyable. With Eyal's extensive experience, his strategic, efficient approach and clear communication helped us get our permit in about half the expected time. His designs are thoughtful, detail-oriented, and perfectly balance aesthetics and practicality. Highly recommend!

I am a General Contractor who has worked in the trades for 18 years. I have dealt with 9 different…read morestructural engineering firms throughout my career; some great and some not so great. I have built two projects with ATA Engineering and am in the process of starting a third. I appreciate ATA's rapid response to me needs and their ability to save me thousands when the crews make a mistake. A lot of factors go in to engineering a structure including Soil Engineering and the California earthquake codes. While I feel these other entities play a huge role in the overengineering of a structure, ATA has always found the most cost effective approach to keep everyone happy. 7 of my other structural engineers are truly guilty of overengineering the structures to save their own skin, ATA is not. I appreciate the pricing that I receive from ATA to engineer my projects. They are fair with their pricing and if anything they are under priced. It is not uncommon for them to make changes to the plans due to architect/client revisions and not charge for them. My other 8 engineering firms charge by the minute for anything that changes, even to talk on the phone. Give ATA Engineering a shot at your project, you will not be dissapointed unless you expect someone to work for free.

I would steer clear. While we made it through San Carlos permitting, it was not an easy process…read more The plans were over engineered in many areas which ended up costing us thousands (i.e. the inspector asked us if were building a 3 story house, based on the foundations and structure called for, while we were only doing a one story remodel). He was also very hard to reach and not super responsive dispite how much we were paying him (not cheap, so I thought that I would get better service). If all you are looking for is to pass the permitting process, then he could do that, but it will cost you in more ways that just his bill.

Michael did a great job renovating our house in Los Altos. For us, Michael was not only a general…read morecontractor, but also a designer and consultant. We had no experience in renovating houses, but Michael guided us through the whole process. He took the time to understand our needs and make great recommendations. For example, Michael designed our kitchen skylight which was dated, and it turned out amazing. We love the modern look and the auto open/close feature recommended by Michael. We had a designer for our master bathroom in the beginning but decided we didn't need one for the rest of the house because Michael was like one. We loved all of his ideas and he also let us know when we had terrible ideas. Michael was also great at helping us manage the budget. Our house was a fixer upper, but not everything needed to be redone. For example, we didn't like the windows and were considering replacing them. But Michael recommended a fresh paint instead, which saved us a lot of money. Even after the house was done and we paid in full, Michael was still very responsible and came back a few times to make sure everything was perfect. We highly recommend Michael for your renovation projects. If you're looking for a general contractor who does amazing work and requires minimal supervision, Michael is the one!

Zume Builders did a great job managing a major renovation and expansion of our Palo Alto home. We…read moreenjoyed working with them and we love the end result! Our initial contact was with Zume's sales manager Alan. He prepared a detailed quote explaining the scope of work and expected timetable. Zume provided more information and on a quicker basis than several other contractors we interviewed. For the project itself, we worked with Michael and Aaron. They both did a terrific job managing the construction. It was very important to us that the project progress quickly and efficiently, and they really came through! Michael was the overall GC. It's obvious he has lots of experience with construction in the Bay Area. He had great recommendations for outside vendors: for everything from lighting, to bathroom fixtures, to flooring and appliances. We also appreciated that he could handle the Title24 process (which allowed us to avoid dealing with another outside consultant). Aaron oversaw the day-to-day site management. We were a demanding client! He was very patient and responsive with the questions we sent on an almost daily basis. A major construction project is always stressful, and Zume's professionalism reassured us that we were in good hands. Michael and Aaron also did a great job coordinating with the city to ensure that the project was never held up because of failed inspections. Also, the buildertrend.com project management portal that Zume uses is a very convenient way to understand the status of the project and the schedule of progress payments. We are very happy with Zume's work on our project. We love the beautiful renovated home they helped us achieve!

We worked with Ellis on a major addition in 2007 and have asked for his advice on a couple of…read moresmaller design/architectural management issues since. In each case, regardless of the size of the effort required, he has been willing to help. His design advice is superb. In 2007, his attention to detail was so good that he sailed through design review with San Mateo County on the first try when no one else did. We trust his judgment and skill. If you're looking for a first rate architect and someone you'll enjoy working with, contact Ellis.

We couldn't be happier with the process and results of our work with EASA Architecture in our…read morerecent bathroom remodel. Since we were working with a small space (and a limited budget), Lisa and Ellis took the time to understand our needs, and then presented us with a variety of design options, offering creative solutions that matched our tastes, while making the best use of limited space. They were especially helpful in coming up with a color scheme that integrated the bathroom elements, and blended with the qualities of the adjoining room. Lisa then worked closely with us in choosing tile, paint, fixtures, window treatment, cabinetry, etc. so that they all worked together. We are completely happy with our new bathroom, and would recommend Lisa and Ellis and EASA Architecture for any design or architectural work. [Previously, we worked with EASA Architecture in a major kitchen remodel, and our satisfaction with their work at that time made them our obvious choice for this recent project.]

We worked with Jay as our architectural designer for our home remodel, and I honestly couldn't…read morerecommend him more. He is incredibly hardworking and reliable. There were multiple times he stayed up late to get revisions done, and every time we requested changes, he responded quickly and efficiently--no delays, no back-and-forth frustration. What really stood out to me was his attitude and attention to detail. On his very first visit to our house, he went straight into the attic to carefully inspect the roof structure himself instead of making assumptions. That level of responsibility and hands-on approach gave us a lot of confidence in his work. Jay is also very easy to communicate with, thoughtful, and takes his work seriously. Throughout the entire process, we felt that he genuinely cared about getting things right. If you're looking for someone dependable, responsive, and detail-oriented for your project, Jay is a great choice.

Jay helped us to obtain remodel permit for our recent purchased home at Santa Carla, and we are…read morestrongly recommend him for your projects. Jay introduced us as a residential designer with 8 years of experience in design and permitting process, and he is the one following through the entire process, preparing the drawings from the very beginning until we obtained the building permit. During each online meeting, we exchange ideas, and Jay is very patiently listened to us, and he will explain every critical points how the design is relating to the permit process. After meeting, we sent over after thoughts, and Jay will always promptly responding to us. He is super proficient when he is drawing the plans, lines and ideal come together from his shared screen in minutes. In less than 2 weeks, our 1st drawing was completed and ready to submit to the city for review. During the review process, we instructed a minor revision, and we got the revision updates in less than a week. His building knowledge, experience, turnaround time, patience and care is above and beyond than an architect. After the working with Jay, we strongly recommend him.