The Great (+2 stars) ==========…read more * The structural work: Our home is on a great, new, solid foundation (with shear walls), so we feel as safe as we can be in our home for an earthquake! * Our basement is also now more usable. * Drainage: There is now drainage around the foundation and under the basement slab, so we are no longer worried about our basement flooding! * The working crew were very friendly and considerate. The Bad (-1 star): ========== * The electrical subcontractor was quite bad. The electricians didn't install the dryer outlet properly (one conductor came loose before I first used it), most outlets they installed are loose (they give when pushing in a plug), and they installed a used, old (not LED compatible) dimmer for the LED lights they installed. Also, the owner yelled at his team a lot. * The plumbing subcontractor was bad, too. They misdrilled several holes, damaging the interior of the home. They didn't seal around exterior penetrations into the house. They didn't put a cover over the branch of a wye that was no longer needed. They wouldn't do anything about the loss of hot water pressure in a bathroom faucet that occurred after they moved some plumbing around (I ended up having to disconnect and disassemble the hot water valve myself and I found a piece of silicone clogged in there). They over-glued the drain of the laundry supply box making it nearly impossible to remove the cap, and they lost the o-rings on my faucet aerator. The Ugly (-2 stars): ========== * They overlooked details in the plans about where walls and doors should go, and denied responsibility since they weren't in the structural engineer's plans, which they opted to not have updated with the revisions I told them about. This lead to a sewer pipe being installed in an inconvenient location (it went through the foundation, so it can't be moved), a structural wall that was almost built in the wrong place (I caught it while they were digging the footing), and a room that was built with no doorway (they had to cut some framing to make the opening). * The pricing/scope was negligent at best, but I'd put it closer to misleading or deceptive. During the initial visits, they talked about all the things they would do (including putting up framing, drywall, and insulation), and then sent over an estimate that I accepted. I didn't realize until halfway through the project that the estimate didn't include many of the things they talked about (including the framing, drywall, and insulation); those apparently would be part of "Phase 2," not included in the price of the first estimate. I had chosen E&F over another estimate that was less expensive even though it did explicitly contain the "additional" scope. I was also surprised that the electrical and plumbing (most of which was necessary to get them out of the way for the structural work) was billed separately; i.e., an unexpected additional expense. * They chose to rebuild a segment of stairs (rather than just adding two steps at the bottom, per the plans), which ended up having insufficient clearance with an overhang halfway down. They tried to convince me there was no new problem because they built them the same as before (but the run of the new stairs was one inch longer, causing the 4th step down to be 4 inches closer to the overhang) and resisted remedying the issue. They just ended up taking a sawzall to trim the overhang -- a joist -- which I just have to hope doesn't compromise any structural integrity! Further, they didn't even finish the stairs (sand and seal); "Test your staining skills," they said. * They ghosted before Phase 2. As the structural work was reaching completion, we were going back and forth on scope for Phase 2. However, when the structural work was actually completed, they just stopped communicating, left dirt and demo debris they left on our driveway for a month, then disappeared. There were lots of things they removed to get out of the way (like several segments of fence) but didn't put back. I could easily add 3x more issues and details, but this review is already too long.

We used E&F for a foundation replacement as well as seismic retrofit, including brace and bolt…read more They finished on time and under-budget, with good communication from both the owner and site foreman. I'm definitely planning to have them quote the next phase of our remodel!

We are very happy we used Tinka Construction to remodel our small bathroom and update our kitchen…read more George and his crew are super friendly, clean, and creative at solving transitions between spaces. His team is resourceful and they did not generate excessive work to add cost. For our kitchen / laundry facelift, we updated the flooring, backsplash, lighting, and reconfigured our laundry area. George's crew helped to side vent the dryer which the big box store was unable to do. George gave valuable input on our bathroom design to optimize the small space. He had suggestions for an in-wall toilet, a corner sink, window ledge niche, and talked us out of a doorless shower (thank you!). He knows small spaces very well and was able to place the fixtures in their best locations. George would give us a heads up on our requests that were going to cost more than ~1k. He had some subcontractors come in to help with varying degrees of quality and cleanliness. We are glad he managed the plumbing contractor who had to come back 3 times. His paint jobs varied quite a bit in consistency depending on who was painting. The best part of working with George was that we were expecting our first child, and he worked very hard to complete the project before her due date. To our surprise and delight he totally finished it before she arrived!

George helped us with a complete remodel for our home in Berkeley. He and his crew (Oni, Enrique,…read moreMarvin, Wuillian) are extremely smart, honest, professional and creative. His pricing is also reasonable and transparent. We started with an awkward layout (even no room for fridge in the kitchen!) and ended with a tastefully transformed home: open, modern and feels much more spacious than before. George is patient, transparent, detail oriented (with a special eye for safety!) and always a clever problem solver on behalf of his clients. What he did for our project was too much to list, but I'm attaching a few photos where the end results can speak for itself! Contractors like George is hard to come by and highly sought after in the current environment, we would recommend him to any one who values craftsmanship and quality!

We have worked with Sorin and his team on a number of projects: addition of a basement room, new…read moredecking, some seismic retrofitting, pergola replacement, door repair, and a bathroom remodel. We have been continually impressed with their attention to detail and their craftmanship. Sorin was very accommodating of our long drawn-out decision making process, offering suggestions to speed things up, and offering patience for long delays we created with the materials we ordered. At almost every step of the way, his team pointed out small but important details that we would have missed and worked with us to come up with solutions and balance between the tradeoffs. I would be absolutely happy to go with Feraru & Associates again on another major project.

I would definitely recommend contacting Feraru & Associates for any home renovation projects you…read morehave. Their design/build capabilities, broad experience and portfolio of completed projects are all very impressive. We were considering various approaches to a bedroom/bathroom remodel, and Sorin and his team walked us through multiple possibilities, listened carefully to our feedback, and set us on a path that matched our needs precisely. They also provided us with a lot of insight into the steps need to take the project from start to finish, and all of this was reflected in a very thorough bid. Sorin's communication, promptness, and follow-through have all been exemplary. We'd be glad to work with Sorin on any other projects in the future.

I happened upon Kevin by word of mouth at the perfect time! I was visiting my sister and the water…read moredamage in her bathroom was well beyond my ability to cope with. He also dealt with some rot around her windows and managed to fix her deck that had been a hazard for far too long.

Kevin is great! I had him come and install an oddly-positioned custom gate in my backyard and the…read morequality was top-notch! Kevin not only does great work, but he is easy to communicate with and has an excellent customer service orientation. I was so impressed with all his work, that he is now my go-to handyman for all jobs in Berkeley. He is also very reasonable and fair in pricing. I highly recommend Kevin for any projects that you may have around the house.

We extensively researched how best to retrofit our Victorian house in San Jose. While other…read moreearthquake retrofit companies provided generalized quotes, only Bay Area Retrofit gave us a plan tailored specifically for our house. Howard Cook, the owner, did a comprehensive evaluation of the vulnerabilities that were extant and clearly explained the whys and wherefores of the proposed work. His knowledge is exhaustive. Furthermore, Bay Area Retrofit definitely take pride in their work, and the carpentry and fittings were neatly finished. As with many older homes, unexpected issues arose during the course of the work. A supporting beam hidden behind ducting had been improperly cut decades ago. Chase, the site manager noticed and installed a connecting, stabilizing bracket as a matter of course. In addition, he thoughtfully installed screws rather than nails so that a shear wall panel could be removed for ready access to plumbing. This on-site, adaptive problem-solving was invaluable. For anyone undertaking an earthquake retrofit, we cannot recommend Bay Area Retrofit highly enough. Start by visiting their website, www.bayarearetrofit.com to gain a fundamental understanding of the principles and processes. Howard has generously provided informative articles and videos. Then, give these folks a call to get this critical job done right.

Quick and friendly service. Thoughtful explanation of estimate. Came in much lower than other…read morehighly rated contractors (the other ones claiming our current bracing and bolting was not up to standard when it had been reviewed by home inspectors and a structural engineer who felt it was appropriate except for securing the bracing to the structure). They seem to know their stuff and aren't too big to estimate jobs appropriately.

The Green Group Remodeling just completed replacing the master bathroom shower in my home. Omri and…read moreBen were a pleasure to deal with to negotiate a no pressure contract for the work required. The project commenced within days of the agreement and Jose, the technician, did an excellent job on the actual construction. Omri visited the job on a daily basis to monitor the progress. The job site was cleaned after every day and caused no disruption in the household activities. The material used was of the highest quality and the resulting shower far exceeded my expectations. I can recommend the Green Group for any remodeling work and would not hesitate to use them again. J Sanders Martinez

I had an excellent experience working with Ron from Green Group Remodeling over the last few weeks…read morewhile exploring a garage conversion. Although I've decided to put the project on hold for personal reasons (finishing a campervan project first!), I wanted to specifically highlight Ron's incredible professionalism and dedication. I did a lot of research for this project, and Green Group was the only one out of five companies that offered both competitive pricing and a payment plan that strictly followed California law. That level of transparency and commitment to legal standards is rare and was deeply appreciated. We spent over three weeks going back and forth on the quotation and contract details. Ron was extremely patient, answering every single question I had and providing a highly detailed, transparent 16-page proposal. If you're looking for a team that is thorough, communicative, and professional, I highly recommend reaching out to Ron. They will be my first call as soon as I'm ready to move forward with the conversion!

First: I have not used Troy Construction. So why am I reviewing them? Because out of half a dozen…read morecontractors we met, Bulent was my favorite. We did not choose Troy Construction due mainly due to timing (he couldn't start our project for 3-4 months due to his busy schedule). So why was he my favorite? He was down to earth, was very enthusiastic, clearly understood what we wanted to do, and had a lot of useful advice for us. Even though he had a busy schedule (which we didn't know until we asked him when he could start the project), he spent over an hour with us discussing our project. While we ultimately chose another contractor, we already know we want to use Troy Construction for our next big house project...

We had Bulent and his crew install a new bedroom and 2 bathrooms to our existing home in Richmond…read more It was quite a undertaking! Bulent and his crew were awesome to work with! They were polite, efficient and made the disruption as minimal as possible. Bulent kept us informed every step of the way. He is professional, personable and very easy to work with. Can't say enough good things about Troy construction!

I just completed an ADU build with Alexis and his crew. My in-laws need to live closer and we felt…read morethis was the right decision. He was very clear on the pricing from the start and communicated effectively before a contract was signed so we knew exactly what to expect. The work went smoothly and they kept the yard clean. We have a lot of plants that they remained cautious of. Alexis took us to different vendors to pick out materials within our budget. He finished within the expected time frame. One random thing that I enjoyed was, at the end of the project he came to do a final inspection and gave us a homemade company branded candle. Definitely recommend this company.

Very high price for garage conversion quoted $500 per sq ft probably the highest I have heard in…read morethe Bay area.

We had an unpermitted sunroom that was improperly supported. Darren was very professional,…read moreknowledgeable, and responsive. Ignacio did the work for the project, and he is extremely good at what he does and a very hard worker. I am very happy that at least one of our walls is properly supported by a concrete foundation and our sunroom is properly supported from below.

Golden Bay Foundation Builders has been excellent throughout my entire foundation repair and…read moreretrofit process. Our home required a few horizontal cracks patched, and a section of the foundation replaced. We also did a complete retrofit in the process. Darren the project manager has been very communicative throughout and just an overall joy to work with. Special mention to Kyndell who assisted with the inspection process to make sure everything passed. I would definitely recommend this company to any one looking for foundation work!

I called this company and spoke to a guy named Damon who asked me to text him photos of the project…read moreI had in mind as well as a diagram with measurements. I did that. In fact, on the call he said I could text or email him and I asked specifically which mode he preferred - he said that text would get the fastest response. So I texted. No response. Called a couple times. No reply. This place has either closed or has awful customer service and communication. I'm grateful that I didn't spend long on this company but I still wish I could get my time and energy back spent schmoozing this guy who would end up ghosting me Edit: I got a notification 35 minutes after posting this review that he commented and I couldn't be happier that I left one star. Bro wrote an actual essay on yelp instead of doing good business

I contacted Damon about a complete kitchen gut and remodel, but he refused to come in person for a…read morequote. He asked me instead to measure for cabinets and countertop dimensions. No, that's the GC's job. For a ~$100K project, that's extremely unprofessional and I would never hire a GC that starts by de-prioritizing my project and delegating work to me. I have interviewed a dozen GCs for multiple projects over the last year and never had anyone refuse a site visit. The pictures posted by this business give the impression that they do major remodels, but the reviews indicate that they seem to specialize in small handyman-type jobs and do well at those. Most of the Yelp reviews describe minor plumbing repairs like replacing faucets or toilets or small partial room projects.