The Great (+2 stars) ========== * 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. read more

We used E&F for a foundation replacement as well as seismic retrofit, including brace and bolt. 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! read more

We hired E&F for an elective seismic retrofit, including brace and bolt and soft-story reinforcement, and they exceeded all expectations. From the initial inspection and quote to project completion, their team was professional, knowledgeable, and efficient. They clearly explained the process, handled permits smoothly, and completed the work on time and within budget. The crew was respectful, kept the site clean, and delivered high-quality workmanship. They had excellent communication with us throughout the project and are very knowledgeable about the EBB grant program as well. We now feel much more secure knowing our home is structurally reinforced, and they even provided all the documentation needed for insurance and rebate programs. Tony is an upstanding and empathetic person and would not hesitate to refer E&F to a friend or hire them again for another project. read more

Highly recommend this company for earthquake retrofitting! Tony was so helpful in guiding me through the EBB program to receive grant money for the project, and the crew did excellent work. Very professional and courteous. Everything was done on time and as quoted with no delays at a very reasonable price! read more

E&F Construction did a fantastic job on our seismic retrofit. They worked very quickly, keep everything tidy in the workspace and went out of their way to make sure we were satisfied with the work being done. They even proactively put siding and painted an exterior portion of the sheer wall. I can't recommend them enough. read more

We used E&F for a bathroom remodel. They did a fantastic job on a job that was not easy. This bathroom had not been remodeled in over 70 years. Yes, 70 years. Everything needed to be torn down and replaced. The wiring was old. The plumbing was leaking. And the flooring needed to be completely replaced. They produced an estimate. And came in on budget. They gave a time frame. And finished on time. I'm not sure what more you could want in a contractor. We will use them again! read more

We were so happy to find Tony Elenteny at E&F Construction Services and have his team do the work for our Oakland retrofit! They were fast, efficient and Tony had excellent communication. He also helped make sure we stayed on track so we could take advantage of the California EBB program and get a rebate. We appreciate having an excellent business to refer to our real estate clients in the inner East Bay. Thank you Tony and E&F, we are very grateful! -April and Doug read more

E&F Construction Services - Team Howell Young - General Contractors Near Me - Oakland, California

I HIGHLY recommend E&F Construction for home construction/remodeling/repairs. We had dry rot repairs needed on our 100-year old home in Oakland and Tony and Juan and his crew did a fantastic job. They were right on with what was estimated and completed the project right on time. While it did take longer to get started than I anticipated, the issue was with permitting from the city, not E&F's fault. We have stucco, which they removed, and had rotted wall studs and boards which needed replacing. The new repair and stucco perfectly matches the existing structure. You CANNOT tell any work was done. Juan was the team lead and he communicated with me throughout the project. They were prompt, courteous, and kept the workplace neat and clean. I can't say enough about this crew. As Tony from E&F put it, "Our business model is hire great people, pay them well and give them a work home. We have found this to be a winning strategy to provide the best outcomes for our customers and our business." Their strategy is working. A+ on this project!! read more

It was a great pleasure to have Tony and his crew to help my earthquake retrofitting. Details were clearly communicated and all questions were answered. The job was beautifully finished, per his estimate of time and cost. The shear wall looks intact that I can only notice the change from the edge. Tony's price is good, at the median of the quotes I received. And Tony is creative or we can say experienced. One contractor requested me to hire a 3rd party to build some stairs for the excavation. Tony simply said he will create an entrance from the back of the house. read more

E&F Construction Services - in the basement - General Contractors Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

We hired Tony and E&F Construction to work on our house after we were funded through FEMA's Earthquake Soft-Story Retrofit program. They were easy to work with, explained each step well, and finished on time. Highly recommend them! read more

See all

E&F Construction completed a partial foundation replacement in the basement of our home and we are extremely satisfied with their work. This portion of the foundation was bowing and cracking over a long period of time, way before we purchased the home. A friend recommended Tony to us after he successfully completed her foundation job in Alameda. Owner Tony Elenteny was professional, knowledgeable, and gave a great referral for a structural engineer. He educated us on what was needed to done before construction could start, and we are very appreciative of that. The cost proposal was competitive with other estimates that we had received from other contractors. Communication with Tony was overall great - prompt responses and my questions were always answered. There was a period of time at the end of year where it was hard to contact him, but Tony responded once available and was apologetic. The E&F operations manager Paul was on site on day 1 and briefed what to expect during the construction period. The construction crew was led by Jhonny, the foreman. Jhonny and his crew are top notch - very knowledgeable, respectful of our space, informed/educated us at every step of process, and an excellent communicator. E&F coordinated an inspection with the structural engineer before the cement pour, inspections with the city, and a stucco guy to patch up the exterior wall where the foundation was replaced. They replaced all the pre-existing seismic retrofitting that had to be removed for the foundation replacement and even rebuilt the table in the basement. Honestly, they left the area surrounding the foundation replacement cleaner than how they found it. Overall, I would absolutely recommend E&F Construction to anyone looking for foundation work. Tony, Paul, and Jhonny are fantastic. It is stressful hiring skilled contractors and engineers for a job of this nature and their expertise gave us peace of mind. Thanks to their excellent work, our home is solid and sturdy! read more

I am very happy with the decision to work with EF Construction on this seismic retrofit project and we plan to have them back for future construction projects as needed. From start to finish, Tony and his entire team were professional, talented, and prompt. The construction also looks and seems great. I trusted the process with the engineer (Dan Szumski) and their communication with him. The new foundation work looks solid and well done, as does the sheerwall, etc. I am very happy with the entire process. Antonio (and Luis and the rotating cast of team members involved with the construction) went above and beyond on site. From prompt arrival and departure to quality work, they did it all and were great communicators where need be. They took care of all of the big things easily and also managed the small things, leaving our space clean, our laundry machines accessible when we asked, and our cords nicely organized and secured when the job was finished. They went above and beyond to ensure that we had access to the Internet when and however possible and did not break our fiber internet connection. Now that it's done, everything looks fresh and well done. Last but certainly not least, while this was definitely not cheap, they did give us a better priced bid than competitors on the same work and it felt fair and accurate. The bid matched our final payment requirements. Payment was easily done and communication with Tony was always clear and low stress. They handled the Piedmont permit process, BB (Brace and Bolt) process/dashboard, etc., very well. We'll work with them for future renovations as needed! Overall very happy with the entire experience! read more

I would highly recommend E&F for retrofit. They are very knowledgeable about the EBB grant program. Tony is super responsive and very helpful. The crew we had was great to work with and super respectful. They let us know when to expect a lot of noise, which was to be expected. They also did great quality work and left the jobsite clean. The only thing that could have been improved was they wanted to start the job with about a week of notice. We did have to put them off a couple of days, but they were completely understanding and worked with us on that. This was overall pretty minor and they made up of it by getting the job done quickly. read more

Tony and the E&F crew completed our EBB retrofit this past September. I originally started the EBB application in 2019, but paused due to a separation (now divorce) and COVID. When I restarted in early 2021, Tony and E&F were one of the 5-6 companies we interviewed. In addition to the EBB work, we also had a structural issue related to a very small addition which included pouring an additional structural member and lifting the sagging end of the addition. Some contractors would only focus on the seismic retrofit, others seemed to be asking to be excluded by pricing the structural work super high... E&F were the best price for the combination of work. Not the lowest, but the difference was in how E&F described the work, what they intended to do, why, etc... I was sold on the combination of pricing and expertise conveyed in their proposal. Juan was our day:day foreman and Paul was our project manager. Our start date was moved a couple times, but given my travel schedule and the busy market, all that was fine with me. Juan and the team did a fantastic job. They were punctual, kept to their schedule, and were diligent to ensure the work was high quality... As we went thru the project, they'd surface any challenges along with the proposed remedy. If I noticed something (e.g., foundation cracks or wood rot), they were already on it and tracking with a solution. They worked with my structural engineer and addressed all the issues and aligned on proposed solutions. For the additional work related to the small sagging addition, Juan and Paul offered their opinion, cautioned on risks of jacking up the corner (vs other solutions), and walked me thru their reasoning on better (and less $$) approaches. We had to do some of the work, unexpectedly, from the outside, i.e. remove stucco, remove siding, reinforce, and repair. Another corner had considerable dry rot... Everything was tackled professionally,... A+ work start to finish. After the project was completed, I started a pre-planned project to install french drains. That contractor found an additional foundation crack... Juan came out and completed the repair. I've lived in 3 fixer-uppers over my 25 yrs in the Bay Area, and I like to do full restoration work, ... so lots of experience with contractors. E&F might be the best team I've worked with. Highly recommended. read more

I received a grant through Earthquake Brace and Bolt for a seismic retrofit. When I contacted E&F Construction, Tony got back to me almost immediately, walked me through the process, answered all my questions, and recommended an engineer to draw up the plans. Then, when I messed up my deadline and needed to get an estimate on short notice, Tony was there for me again. He took time out of his busy schedule to get me what I needed before my deadline, taking a ton of stress of my shoulders and saving the day. I would highly recommend this business to anyone in need of a seismic retrofit (and in general as well). read more

Tony and his team did an outstanding job on my seismic retrofit! Tony communicated clearly and accurately about every detail of the job, and was always available to answer further questions in a friendly fashion. He handled the entire permitting process and uploading of documents to the CEA BB website in a timely manner. The crew, led by Carlos, was very punctual, courteous, and efficient. They took breaks at regular and predictable times, which was very helpful due to the necessarily high noise level of the work. Due to the very professional approach of Tony and his team, the job was completed earlier than expected. I highly recommend Tony Elenteny and EF Construction for a seismic retrofit or any other relevant job! read more

We recently completed our seismic retrofit work under the Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) Program. Tony did a great job specifying and coordinating the work for our late 1940s home. The team that did the work was very professional, showing up on time and communicating effectively with me each day. They left the work area clean when the job was done. The EF Construction was in the middle of the pack of the quotes I received. It included some additional work that other contractors did not include. E&F handled the permitting and made navigating the somewhat confusing EBB process easy. Tony and E&F are highly recommended if you are considering doing the EBB retrofit program. read more

We hired E&F for our Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) seismic retrofit, which was completed in December. E&F was excellent from start to finish. * The bid was not too high, but not suspiciously low * They explained clearly what would be done, and suggested ways to tune the standard retrofit plan to our home's particular construction, which includes a full unfinished basement and two crawlspaces * They offered suggestions for addressing other structural issues, primarily regarding the framing of a rear addition * The crew was skilled, diligent, hard-working, super friendly, and provided daily progress updates * When the crew encountered unforeseen problems - a certainty in construction work - they consulted me and we decided on an approach, and they never took the easy way out nor left a problem unaddressed * For one aspect of the project that required stucco repair, they not only had their own crew to handle the work quickly, but did the best stucco texture matching I've seen Adding to all of the above, E&F is knowledgeable and experienced with the EBB program and handled their parts of the process responsibly. When I hire someone to work on my house, more than anything else, I need to trust them to do good work. E&F earned my trust and then some. I would highly recommend them to anyone for their seismic retrofit project. read more

I chose E&F Construction after reading their good reviews for retrofit projects. Tony was the project manager. Henry was the contractor who did the job. Such a great guy! I asked him if he can show me the before/after situation and he kindly spent some time to crawl in the crawlspace with me and showed me what he will do to for the retrofit project and some dry rots repair. It was so fun! I was really happy they way they worked. Very hardworking and professional. read more

See all

Tony and his crew handled our retrofit professionally, efficiently and with as little disruption as possible. Better yet, they made sure we were able to take advantage of the Brace & Bolt grant program making the project affordable. I highly recommend E&F. read more

We had an excellent experience with E&F Construction and recommend them to anyone for seismic retrofit. We have a 1950s ranch house in El Cerrito with two separate crawl spaces. Our neighbors recommend E&F to us, and we also asked two other contractors to provide estimates. E&F offered the best quote--they offered to go beyond the minimum required work for less cost than the other contractors offered to do just the minimum work. Tony, the owner, was very helpful and responsive. The foreman, Carlos, was punctual, professional, friendly, and communicated expectations clearly with us. E&F is very knowledgeable about the Earthquake Brace & Bolt program, and they took care of almost all the work needed for that program. I appreciate that E&F made the whole process very simple. read more

Tony was easy to work with for our Brace & Bolt retrofit. We had an electrical issue come up afterwards but he had someone out to fix it the same day. Appreciated his timely communication and commitment to quality. read more

I did an earthquake retrofit through Berkeley's EBB program. Engineering plans, and substantial foundation work were also needed. EF Construction had the most reasonable bid. Tony from EF Constructions responded quickly, he was friendly and knowledgeable. His bid was clear and reasonable. He was also highly recommended by the engineer who drew my plans. He's done tons of EBB jobs and can navigate the portal. The crew completed the job sooner than was anticipated, the inspections cleared with no problem. They were communicative, respectful, and timely, Tony was quick to respond when I had questions. I highly recommend them and would work with them again. read more

We had a great experience with Tony and EF Construction for EBB retrofitting, and are so glad we found them. Great and quick communication, competitive quote, and friendly, professional people who did great work in a timely manner. EF Construction has done many retrofit jobs in the East Bay, and made it really easy for us to navigate the EBB dashboard and permitting process (they even applied for and received the permit on our behalf). I would absolutely hire them again for EBB work or other reno needs. read more

I contracted EF Construction to do a seismic retrofit of my home through the Earthquake Brace & Bolt Program. Throughout the process Tony Elenteny and all the company workers were courteous, clear, and professional. Their bid was high, but not the highest, and it included additional structural work that other contractors I contacted did not. Tony knew exactly what to do to manage the EBB dashboard and the EBB permit process, as well as the county permit. The work crew worked quickly, and finished earlier than projected. I fully recommend EF Construction for your seismic retrofit or any other home construction project. read more

E&F completed our EBB retrofit timely, professionally, and at a fair price. Tony took care of all the permitting and made navigating the EBB process easy. Would recommend Tony and E&F for anyone looking to complete EBB retrofits or general foundation work. read more

Our experience with E&F Construction was superb - Carlos and his crew were meticulous and efficient, and Tony was responsive to all our questions and requests. They've been doing these retrofits for years and it shows - the EBB folks as well as the Oakland building department were familiar with E&F Construction and respected their work, which went a long way to ensuring a smooth project from start to finish...plus the price was the best in a very crowded field. Two thumbs up, E&F gets our highest recommendation. read more

I qualified for the Earthquake Brace & Bolt (EBB) program to earthquake retrofit my house. I went out and got 5 quotes. Of the 5, 1 was a no show, 2 gave estimates without seeing my house. Of the 2 that did come out to give estimate, we went with E&F Construction. Tony came out and took his time to answer questions and explained what brace and bolt actually meant. The process of going thru the EBB dashboard went smoothly, and Tony answered the questions I had during the process. His team that came to do the work were very professional and friendly, and the work took 5 days. I would recommend. read more

Tony and his crew were fantastic! They just completed seismic retrofitting of our basement / cripple wall. - Tony led the initial conversation and bid, and stood out by being friendly, comprehensive, and flexible - His crew, led by Henry, was fast and super clean. I asked them to do what they could to reduce the dust (given our stuff in the basement) and they were awesome about it... covered everything in plastic, and used the shop vac to pull the dust while drilling. I highly recommend! read more

Tony and his E&F crew completed our EBB retrofit this January on time. Not only did they do great work, but they obtained the Permit and helped us with our EBB application. Tony answered all our questions in a very timely matter. I highly recommend E & F Contruction to do your Seismic retrofit. Benton G read more

We were very pleased with the earthquake retrofit we recently got from E&F. Tony and Henry were professional and easy to work with.

E&F completed an EBB retrofit and some additional foundation work on our house and we had a great experience. From the start, Tony was easy to work with and responded quickly to any questions we had. The crew provided clear communication, progress updates, and left the job area clean when they were done. read more

Working with this company was a stress-free process. Owner Tony Elenteny responded to all of my emails in a timely manner and his workers delivered on-time, with no upset to our daily home routines. His rate was in the mid-range of other bids I received and I am glad I was able to chose quality over economy. Based on my experience with the retrofit, I would consider this contractor for other work in the future. read more

I chose E&F construction to perform my seismic retrofit after seeing the great reviews on this site. At first, things went pretty well. They took care of the retrofit permitting process with Berkeley and the construction began on time in July 2021. The crew were all very nice and the work seemed solid. The problem came when they discovered water intrusion from the second floor deck during the retrofit process. In order to prevent future water intrusion, they suggested dismantling the old deck and installing a new deck. They quoted us a little less than 11k for the new deck. We were sad of course to discover the water damage in our new home but also glad that it could be fixed and wouldn't cause problems down the line. So we said yes to the proposed new deck and signed the contract and everything. We were told that they would submit the new deck plans as a revision to the existing permit with the City of Berkeley (this was back in September 2021). In fact, Tony explicitly emailed us saying "Still waiting on permit for deck. Thanks". I checked in again in December with the same response that they are waiting on permit for deck. By Feburary, I start getting quite worried that something is wrong. I email Tony for update about the deck permit and don't receive a response. I tried multiple times to get in touch via call and email (waiting a few days in between each to give them a chance to respond). No response at all this time. I finally check with Berkeley's Permit Services Center and discover that no revision has been submitted for the deck at all! 7 months wasted and my bedroom door still opens onto empty air. I realize that I could've been more diligent in terms of checking on whether a revision had actually been submitted. In my defense, this was my first time working with contractors and permits and the process was intimidating. I chose E&F in part because I read in the reviews that they were very helpful with the permitting process. I trusted them and that was my naivete. As I sit here writing this review, I wonder why they couldn't have just said, sorry, we're not interested in doing the deck project or we're really busy and won't be able to get to the deck? (not sure what the real reason is). Instead they tell me that they are waiting for a permit and then they just abandon me with complete radio silence. read more

E&F did our earthquake retrofit as Tony and the team were battling the issues with the global pandemic and ability to work. In the end, he was able to get the job done quickly and painlessly as the team he had on site was courteous and conscientious. Would definitely call Tony again and work with him in the future. read more

I selected E&F Construction Services to do seismic retrofit work on my home. Their bid was very reasonable, and the work was well done in a timely manner. The work crew was punctual and respectful, minimizing as much as possible inconvenience to me and my neighbors. Tony was available to answer my questions, handled the entire permit process, and uploaded all relevant documents to the EBB dashboard. E&F is a quality no-nonsense construction company that I can enthusiastically recommend. read more

We received a notice that we were eligible for the Earthquake Brace + Bolt Program and decided to do it. I looked through the contractors listed on the EBB web site and researched them fairly thoroughly. Many of them did not appear to really be home foundation contractors, they just were trying to cash in on EBB. But E&F looked like they did a lot of this work and knew what they were doing. I called and spoke to Tony and only became more convinced that these guys were quite experienced, knew the whole EBB process very well, and seemed to apply a quality standard towards their work. so we decided to go with them. Tony was VERY helpful in informing us about and guiding us through the process, not just with E&F, but with EBB, as well. Yeah, I had to follow up with him a couple of times when I hadn't heard anything in a while, but nothing that made me feel concerned. We are fortunate that our house has a foundation running down the center, in addition to the main foundation around the perimeter, and we decided to pay the extra money to have the center foundation bolted, in addition to the standard job, which is only the perimeter. The cost to do that was not insignificant, but we felt what E&F charged was well within bounds. The process is not a fast one, of course, because EBB has to do their thing and, especially, the city is slow in the permitting process, even when everything is done right. I had to jump in and push the city, but finally everything was in place. E&F sent out a team of two guys, and they were the shizzle. Carlos was really friendly, but, more to the point, he really got the job done. There was an in-process inspection by the city and a post-construction inspection. On both occasions, the city building inspector made a point of telling me what quality work had been done. He said that he often saw sloppy work that he had to call out, but that Carlos had really done an excellent job. Carlos had said he liked to go beyond what was required, and the inspector's unsolicited feedback confirmed that he, in fact, had done that. Although Carlos' partner was out sick for two days, they nevertheless completed the work in the time they told us it would be done. A week or so later, Tony followed up, not only to collect E&F's payment, but to, once again, inform of us of what we needed to do to complete the process. I can be very wary of contractors; many of them are sloppy to do business and sloppy in their work. So I was pretty picky in choosing our contractor for this, but I feel I made absolutely the right choice with E&F, and I would definitely recommend them for foundation work, or anything else they do, frankly. Thanks Tony! Thanks, Carlos! read more

Highly professional, easy to work with, good communication, job well done. Thanks to Tony and his crew.

E and F Construction are amazing! Extremely professional and knowledgeable. Tony provided excellent guidance both in writing and verbal about the process, and Henry and Tito were fabulous. Prompt, professional, and true experts. They take pride in their work, and went above and beyond. We feel so confident about the structural seismic condition of our home. E and F Construction explained every step and made the entire process very smooth. If your home is on a hill anyway in the bay area I recommend connecting with E and F Construction to ensure the seismic condition of your home is in good shape and to be proactive. read more

I highly recommend E & F Construction to do Earthquake retrofitting to your home in the Bay Area. This is expensive work, but well worth it. Specifications have markedly changed since I braced my house in 2000. Based on an engineering study from an independent contractor (suggested by them), they provided two options, one less invasive, but more expensive and one more invasive, but significantly less expensive. The work is unavoidably noisy and dusty, but they diligently minimized the disruption during the week long project. They provided pictures of the work in progress including under the house. Initially, they did not contract to paint, however, upon nearing completion, this was offered and saved my hiring another painter. They did a beautiful job. read more