As first time home buyer's purchasing a MAJOR fixer upper we were glad to have a recommendation from a friend for a home improvement specialist. Ippolito Refinishing of Oakley , Ca. We were happy he would come to the Oakland Hills. Our new home needed a full remodel .Floors were done in nasty tile Rick the owner suggested we use traventine and Hardwood .He was right then matched up the counter tops with Granite . We wanted a clean semi modern look with under mount sinks. We redid the whole house 3800 sq. ft. Its my Palace thanks to Rick and Ippolito refinishing. They were clean ,punctual ,professional and always helpful went out of his way to go with me to chose our fixtures and flooring. I would never recommend anyone else . We are more than pleased. read more

I originally hired Rick Ippolito for painting the interior and some of the exterior of the house I just bought in Oakland. The paint job came out great beyond my expectations. Then I learned that Rick is a building contractor with a wide range of capabilites. He ended up remodelling my bathroom and building new kitchen cabinets that perfectly matched the ones already there (built in 1940's). All the work was done expertly and according to schedule. I would hire Rick again in a second because, as a contractor he is: 1) highly skilled with expert employees, 2) professional - great communication and follow-up. 3) very reasonably priced 4) on time and on schedule 5) and I trust his aesthetic sense. read more

After interviewing a couple contractors for a kitchen remodeled we wanted to undertake we decided to go with Ippolito Refinishing/Renovations. We were able to see a kitchen renovation done by Rick Ippolito and his crew on a house in our area. We were impressed by the quality of the renovation workmanship. In addition we were able to talk to the homeowners of this renovation project. The home owners were not only satisfied by the outcome of the renovation but also they were very happy with the working relationship they had with Rick Ippolito. We subsequently set up a consultation with Rick about our project. After the meeting both my wife and I felt the suggestions Rick had about our project as well as the pride he conveyed about doing a first class job and our having seen a project he completed, sealed our choice that Ippolito was the company we wanted to go with. As the project got underway, our confidence in our decision to hire Ippolito Refinishing/Renovations were confirmed. Rick was very open to making the designed decisions that happened along the way a collaborative effort. Another positive part of the project was Rick's crew. They were both pleasant in attitude and trustworthy. Both my wife and I were frequently away from the house at the same time. We felt comfortable about leaving them there without our supervision. They showed up each morning by 8:30am without fail. As needed, the crew also worked on Saturdays to insure the project would be completed by the deadline we wanted. The completed project turned out beautifully. Friends and family were impressed by the kitchen transformation as well as renovation work we had Rick do on our adjoining family room. While the project turned out to be more expensive than I initially envisioned because of unforeseen structural problems, I feel the price charged by Ippolito Refinishing/Renovations for the project was reasonable and appropriate. In summary I would highly recommend Ippolito Refinishing/Renovations for any renovation project you may have. Ed & Patricia read more

We used Ippolito Renovations (aka Ippolito Refinishing) for a major remodeling of our home, which included the replacement of our heating and A/C systems. The remodeling part was long and drawn out over 7-8 months, far beyond the initial estimated time frame of several months. We couldn't help but feel our project was a lesser priority than other projects on the contractor's docket. However, his work crew was very friendly and professional throughout. The reason for the two star review had to do with the heating/AC replacement phase of the work. The contractor used a long-time friend to replace our heating/AC systems, but he was totally not the right person for the job. What should have taken no more than 1-2 weeks at most to install an attic furnace and the outdoor A/C compressor took 1 1/2 months which meant having Thanksgiving, Christmas and January without heat. We entertained our family by putting up plastic sheeting in one room and plugging in several portable heaters. The installer would sometimes be a "no show" for days he promised he would be there or stay past midnight to continue his slow installation process. When he "finished" the installation, the system did not work properly and we were left to call out an independent installer to find out what was not working, which in part turned out to be an improperly connected thermostat to the new furnace. Later, Ippolito Renovations fired the original installer and called in another A/C company to finish the work as there were items that were not completed with the original install. Even to this day, the A/C output is uneven across many rooms (with barely any airflow in certain rooms). According to one A/C installer we called out because the A/C did not turn on the fuse was blown and the original installer should have replaced the old disconnect box outside near the compressor, as well as the old fuses, at the time of installation. To make matters worse, our contractor could not provide receipts for the Marvin windows or the furnace/AC units that we could use to document our energy-efficient installations for tax purposes. These receipts are also critical for warranty purposes, as we found out when our new A/C system went out during a hot stretch this summer. Without the receipt, our ten-year warranty is void and only a basic, lesser warranty period could be honored. We called and/or emailed Rick Ippolito, the proprietor, many times well over a year for the receipts and the manuals. Each time, he told us our request was his top priority and that he would get to it once he got to his office. To this day, we have nothing, and have not heard from him. To me, what matters most in choosing contractors is not only the quality of their work, but timeliness, dependability, and follow-through. In our case, timeliness, dependability and follow-through were totally lacking. I sincerely wish I didn't have to give this negative review, but I've lost patience with his empty promises, and the questionable work on our AC system. read more

Dear Rick I want to thank you for doing such a beatiful job painting the house and doing the concrete work. I couldn't be happier! I appreciate having your expertise and experience regarding the color pallet, color tones and types of paint, all of which helpede me achive the results I desired. Your workers took their time to perform a quality job and the work was done in a timely manner. Each night after work the areas around the house were picked up and cleaned and any concerns I had were quickly addressed. You were responsive to all my questions and suggestions. The brand new sidewalk and extended patio couldn't be more perferct. The design of the concret walkway compliments the house and garden. I appreciate the time spent consulting with me about the curves which create an appealing and graceful walkway. I am really proud of the end results. Pleasing a Virgo is not an easy task, yet somehow you made it happen! I'd like to compliment you on how well you managed several ticklish situations. For example, when the gardener questioned you about the way the concrete would be designed you took the time to talk with him explain. In the end, this former concrerte layer was your biggest supporter, even calling you at home to praise the results! You possess a collaborative style with workers and clients that actively involves them. For example, you invited one of your employees to give his opinion about the curves we designed saying that "three heads are better than one". Your friendly demeanor makes it easy for people to approach and work with you. You have a great smile and a positive upbeat manner. Great service is hearing and understanding the need of your clients and doing everything possible to address those needs. It involves helping clients attain their goals, resolve their concerns and exceed their expections ---all of which you accomplished. You understood exactly what was wanted---a quility job to enhance the appearaance and enjoyment of our home. I am so happy we selected Ippolito Refinishing and Design once again. Sincerely, Sharyn and Ron Morra read more