We give Duce the highest recommendation…read more It was time for us to replace an old wooden fence. We live in the Berkeley Hills it was also time to install an alternative to wood (for fire safety). After doing some research, including a neighbor's recommendation, we found Duce. They did a great job for us. Susan was professional throughout the process, from planning to installation. And she or Kayla returned our calls in a timely fashion. The crew was hard working and they worked quickly. They left the site very neat. They were done in 3 days. At the time they did the job Duce used Knotwood aluminum fencing. Knotwood offers a wide range of colors to choose from. And compared to the company our neighbors used, it shipped the material much more quickly. We wanted the fence to look like the fence we were replacing and we couldn't be happier. Showing how Susan takes care of her customers, we requested a small change. She took care of this without any additional charges. As far as cost goes, metal fencing can cost a lot more than wood. From talking to other neighbors who installed metal fences, I'd say Susan offers competitive pricing. One more positive about aluminum fencing is it's going to last a long time.

We had Duce Construction Deck and Fence install our new aluminum Zone Zero compliant fence. Kayla,…read morewho answers the phone, was our first contact with Duce. Kayla is so personable and helpful and set up an appointment for Susan Duce, the owner, to come to our house. Susan is amazing, answering our questions and making helpful suggestions. Susan then emailed us a list of properties that they had completed with addresses, so we could drive by and see them firsthand. Of all things, we knew one of the property owners, and she invited us to take a closer look. We ended up getting the same style fence and color, Wenge. The installation went perfectly, and the cleanup couldn't have been better. The quality of the fence is top notch, and it looks fantastic! There is absolutely no reason to choose anyone other than Duce! They are The Best! We couldn't be happier! Roger and Jan Gregory

It's been a long time since Gayler worked on our house but we have to provide an update…read more We moved out of California and finally got around to selling the California house. So why the review update? We sold the house for WAY over ask, cash deal, quick close, in large part because of the Gayler work done on the house. Everyone who viewed the house was impressed with the quality of the work Gayler did and wanted to know who did the work. When we told the potential buyers it was Gayler, the offers came in. So we loved the work they did on the house and it turned out to be one of the rare times when home improvements turned into a very lucrative investment. Something to consider when choosing a design/build firm.

Beware. They put on a good show ... slick marketing materials, fancy offices, a slogan, etc. We…read morehired Gayler to draw up plans for our kitchen renovation with a very specific budget. My husband and I eagerly showed up for our meeting, excited to see the plans they had prepared for transforming our '50s kitchen. After they wowed us with the renderings and all the possibilities, they showed us the estimated fee, which was approximately $200K over our budget. I almost burst into tears. After an awkward silence, the Gayler team found it appropriate to pour salt in our wounds, with a comment to the effect of, "Well, maybe you can afford it if your stocks do well this year." It was the humiliation on top of disappointment that was the nail in the coffin for us. We were already out of pocket in the thousands with Gayler, but the thought of working with them made me nauseous. So we took our money and ran ... to a contractor who was open, honest, and trustworthy. He built the kitchen of our dreams, within our budget.

I highly recommend KCK Construction & Remodeling!…read more They repaired my pocket door quickly and professionally. What really impressed me was their honesty--they actually reduced the final bill below their original estimate after completing the work. About a month later, the door jammed again. KCK immediately honored their three-month warranty, opened the wall, installed a completely new sliding door frame, and didn't charge me a penny. It's rare to find a contractor who is this honest, dependable, and committed to standing behind their work. Professional, courteous, and trustworthy from start to finish. Five stars!

Outstanding experience with KCK - great family business. We hired them to renovate a kitchen, but…read moreplan to have them come back for a home addition and other larger projects. Highlights are - Communication and Timeline: They were extremely responsive and kept us informed every step of the way. What impressed me most was their ability to stick to the agreed-upon timeline. They completed the entire project in exactly 3 weeks as promised, with no delays or surprises. - Attention to Detail: The quality of their work is exceptional. Every aspect of the renovation shows meticulous attention to detail, from the precision of the installations to the finishing touches. It's clear they take pride in their craftsmanship. - Cleanliness: Despite the nature of renovation work, they kept our space remarkably clean throughout the project. They cleaned up thoroughly at the end of each day, which made living through the renovation much more manageable than we anticipated. - Flexibility: One of the things I appreciated most was their flexibility when we decided half way through to remove a cabinet that wasn't originally in the plan. They adapted quickly to the change without any hassle and incorporated it seamlessly into the project timeline (of course there were some change fees $$) I would absolutely hire them again for future projects and recommend them without reservation to anyone looking for a reliable, skilled, and professional contractor.

We sustained damage to our home from a tree falling onto it during the storms in Jan. We needed a…read morenew roof/supporting structures, and repairs to the interior and exterior walls. We had interviewed several contractors and chose Creekside Pro Construction, and we're glad we did. From our first meeting with one of Creekside's Project Manager, Barak, his professionalism and demeanor left us with a good feeling. This positive impression held true throughout the entire project, reinforcing our confidence in Creekside Pro Construction. Working with Barak was a truly positive experience from start to finish. He consistently demonstrated excellent communication skills, actively listening to and addressing concerns throughout the project. Barak's patience and timely estimates made the entire process smooth. The project was completed on schedule and within the agreed budget. I highly recommend Creekside Pro construction and our project manager Barak for his professionalism and commitment to customer satisfaction. Thank you Barak and Creekside Pro Construction for getting us back in our home before the holidays.

Update after the company's response:…read more For transparency, I am adding screenshots from the signed contract and project email correspondence. The contract (Quote #3975 - $150,000) clearly includes upgrading the main residential electrical service to 200 AMP and installing the awning above the ADU access door as part of the project scope. These items were presented in the company's response as if they were additional work, but they appear explicitly in the signed contract. I have also included an email dated Aug 20 from the project manager confirming the project was "on track for completion in 3-4 months." The project ultimately took around 6 months to complete. Additionally, the electrical work referenced in their response included an EV circuit, which is typically required for new construction and ADU projects under the 2022 California Electrical Code. This is a standard code requirement rather than a discretionary upgrade. These screenshots provide context for my experience during the project. Throughout the build I frequently had to verify measurements, coordinate ordering timelines, and raise planning questions that would normally fall under project management. The on-site crew worked hard and treated the property respectfully, and I appreciate their effort. My review reflects the overall experience managing this project as a homeowner and is shared to provide transparency for others considering a similar project.

I want to thank Tim and his crew for the outstanding work they provided. They were punctual,…read moreprofessional, and clearly very experienced--you can tell that their 40+ years of experience really shows. Most importantly, they delivered exactly what was promised, and they did an excellent job. My mom is extremely pleased with the work they did, and we couldn't be happier with the results. Thank you, Tim and the entire crew, for a job well done! P.S. I recommend this company 100%!

Starting out, my kitchen remodel was not a straightforward job as the property is part of an HOA…read morethat very particular on how things are to be done. Toupin Construction was able to navigate and work alongside the requirements of the HOA while not disturbing the other owners in the building. They were very good with details, details that come with experience working in an HOA environment. For example, when it came time to shutting off the water, they made sure to follow CC&R's and bylaws in regards to proper procedures. Furthermore, when their was a small accidental bump to a neighbors deck, virtually no visible cosmetic damage, Toupin Construction notified the HOA immediately and remedied the situation. I was never even contacted by the HOA or the neighbor, which tells me the handled the situation with the upmost professionalism. Prior to hiring Toupin Construction, we got bids from two other contractors. Their prices were within 10-20%, one higher and one lower, but the quality of the materials were inferior. They didn't inspire confidence in working with an HOA. The finished product is beautiful, we couldn't ask for more. We are grateful that Toupin Construction was able to fit us in their schedule and travel the distance to Tiburon. Honestly, I think it was just good timing because I couldn't get any contractors to cross a bridge to get bid in the beginning. They were within budget, finished in time and didn't gauge us because of our address. Lastly, as a fellow business owner I appreciate professionalism, follow through and quality workmanship. This is exactly how Toupin Construction handled my kitchen remodel and we couldn't be happier.

TL;DR: Don't give these guys your money. Strong sales pitch, but the reality did not match what was…read morepromised. In late 2024, my husband and I met with Reggie Keding to see if New Key would be a good fit for a major renovation on a 1950s ranch-style home we had just purchased in Pleasant Hill. We loved the idea of working with a local contractor and were initially impressed by Reggie's communication, professionalism, and assurance that he could accomplish everything we wanted within our substantial 6-figure budget (with mid-range fixtures and finishes, which we agreed to). We signed a schematic design agreement, writing a 5-figure check and trusting that they'd deliver on those expectations. We had an initial walkthrough with Maya, New Key's designer, and were excited about her ideas. Reggie encouraged us to "dream big" and share inspiration. However, the vast majority of our emails to Maya went unanswered, and there was very little collaboration or back-and-forth during the design process. After raising concerns, we were shown interim designs that were largely based on our own ideas and didn't add much new direction. A few weeks later, we had our formal design presentation and were beyond disappointed. All three options ("good, better, best") felt underdeveloped and missed key priorities. For example, two versions did not include vaulted ceilings in the main living space (which we had clearly identified as a must), and even the top-tier design featured a very small kitchen window despite the home's natural light and backyard views. Some design choices also introduced significant added cost without clear benefit, such as removing a load-bearing wall where simpler alternatives seemed possible. But the kicker was the price to build New Key's designs: even the cheapest "good" design came with a price tag of $1.2 million to build, pretty much doubling our budget and definitely overvaluing for our PH neighborhood. At that point, we lost confidence and decided to part ways after the initial design phase. While Reggie remained professional in tone, we did not feel the process or pricing aligned with what had been communicated at the outset. We lost a 5-figure design fee and about 3 months in the process, having to start over with a new architect and builder. Now, a year later, I'm writing this from our fully remodeled home, which includes everything on our original wish list. After starting over with a new team, we were able to complete the project close to our original budget--nowhere near the $1.2M estimate we were given. Losing the time and design fee was painful, but in hindsight, it was better than continuing down the wrong path. I would strongly recommend that anyone considering New Key get clear, detailed pricing expectations early and proceed carefully.

We worked with New Key Construction to remodel our backyard workshop and transform it into a 1…read morebedroom, 1 bathroom ADU for my parents to retire and live in. New Key did an absolute outstanding job and we are so happy we chose them for one of the largest investments we've ever made. - Quality Work - Reggie and his team do quality work; they do not cut corners, and they will always lean to do things the right way that is safe, compliant, and functional. You can feel the quality when you walk around; there is a meticulousness to the work that is hard to find anywhere else. - Project Planning - We were assigned a project manager and a foreman who kept us updated very frequently on the state of construction. The work was completed on-time if you account for the realities of construction which were largely due to supply delays and/or the occasional coordinate of some competing work. To convert a workshop (where we literally stripped it down) to a livable, high-quality ADU in 5 months is impressive! Also, they showed up on-time every day and if they were going to be late (or not come), we would be told. - Culture - Everyone that works at New Key Construction was a pleasure to work with; they hire people who care about the work they are doing and make an effort to get to know you. We could tell the employees enjoyed working at New Key, and it shows in the work. We looked at several companies before choosing New Key. I wholeheartedly will say it was worth it - you get quality work, quality communication, a 10-year warranty, and people who legitimately care about you and your home. You won't regret it!

Many years after my foundation was replaced, under my home, by these amazing technicians, It is…read morestill perfect!! No broken windows or doors... The home was 10 full inches out of level and now ( for years) is still perfectly level!! I saved an amazing amount of money dealing with them, and had their job approved by the City (With a final permit) thanks Dan and your family team !!!!

During the atmospheric rivers of early 2023 we had 2 large trees uproot and fall down the hillside…read morebehind our home. We also experienced a landslide that left our deck pier and foundation exposed. It was a very scary time for us but Dan Yust and his awesome crew saved the day. They're a very busy group but were able to squeeze us into their schedule. They built a concrete retaining wall, repaired the landslide area and installed drainage pipes to allow water to flow properly. They were responsive and communicated well. They also cleaned up nicely once the project was completed. This was not an inexpensive endeavor but when you're trying to save your house and property, I consider it money well spent. I highly recommend Acustruct.

This last spring (2025) we decided to rebuild the staircase in our home. We are very glad that we…read morechose the folks from All Things Interior for the job. Their teamwork was thorough, professional and skilled. We added storage space in the lower portion and it is so well designed, you would never know it was there. If you need their expertise, you won't be sorry you chose All Things Interior!

Wonderful job removing my former railing and putting in new railings, paint and stain. This was a…read morevery professional company. First I connected with someone online and was given an approx quote. Then I had someone else from the company come in person and take a look. He explained how stairs are done and showed me different types of newel posts and railings. I picked my preferred look and we discussed photos I showed as inspiration. He provided a more exact quote. Next I had a carpenter come and basically custom make my stairs. Two days later I had two guys come to paint and stain. They stained the newel posts to match my floor. Overall great job, very efficient, quick turnaround time.