This is an extremely long overdue review from work that was done two Summers ago. My deck had deteriorated to the point where it didn't make sense to just replace certain boards. It was also getting a bit wobbly and there was concern about it being attached to the house, which is on a hillside. Enter Oren of MyWorkshed. He figured out how to cost-effectively disassemble and salvage MUCH of the original pressure-treated structure. He also upgraded the design to meet current standards for structural support/integrity. I was worried about this undertaking because it was such a big deck (yes, yes, so many deck jokes ) and the whole operation was taking place on a hillside, but everything turned out perfectly and it didn't break the bank, which I though it would. MANY THANKS, OREN!!! read more

Myworkshed - Construction, contractors, deck - Carpenters Near Me

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Oren and his crew worked on our fixer-upper house for 4 days in April. We had a disappointing experience and would caution using him for anything larger than a very small, fixed-bid project. We were doing a lot of DIY work on the house, with everything fully permitted (by owner/us), but wanted a carpenter (preferably one with a contractor's license) to do the particularly skilled work like framing and installing windows. When we first spoke with Oren, he talked about having a crew of 2, himself and Greg. The day before he was to start, he said he had a crew of 4, including his son, who seemed unskilled in construction but happened to be in town visiting, and cost an additional $50/hour. (At this point, right before he started, we didn't feel in a position to dictate the composition of his crew.) They didn't do the work we asked them to do, did work we did not ask them to do, and then quit when they were no longer interested. We asked them to start with 4 tasks, including measuring window openings to order new windows. They did 3 of these, plus removing and re-framing a wall/header which we didn't want them to do until much later, and pulled up floor boards, which we wanted to do ourselves to save money. When I asked them to stop this demolition work, Oren got upset, saying I had "taken the wind out of their sails." After 4 days, they had still not measured the windows, which we had clearly communicated was a high priority. When I asked him about it, he jokingly handed me a measuring tape. Then he said he would come back to do that. I followed up several times, but he never came back. They charge hourly, ($70 each for the skilled carpenters), which might be fine if they worked at a good pace, but they were extremely slow. For example, it took Oren and his son 4 hours ($500) to level a drop-in tub in an already-built frame, using spray foam which is much simpler than mortar. We told him at the beginning that we did not want a "ledge" on the tub frame - we wanted the tub skirt flush with the tub lip, as the manufacturer advertised it. He disregarded this spec, adding a 3" lip on the sides, and then insisted (after it was too late, and contrary to the manufacturer's instructions) that it was the only sturdy way to do it. We had originally planned for Oren to be involved for longer, including to install the windows. But there was never clarity on how much time he intended to commit, and he never asked about our budget. He did not want to sign a contract, and even a few days before he started, we didn't know for sure if he was coming at all. After it was clear he wasn't coming back, we lost several weeks scrambling to find a replacement. His contractor's license was not a benefit, either: the only contract-like term I insisted on was a commitment that he would do everything to code. But the header they installed did not have the required number of nails, and I had to add more to pass inspection. His hit-and-run style also meant the work had no continuity: they installed a $200+ cedar sill for a window, without knowing what kind of windows we were getting and with no plan to waterproof it (we ended up removing the sill); and he covered the window frame with OSB (from the inside) and disappeared, so when it rained, the wall (which had rotted from water) got all soaked again. read more

Oren installed a ceiling fan and new keypad lock, all very quickly and correctly the first time. New lifestyle in an instant!

Oren was quick and responsive when I reached out regarding a broken fence post. In under 24 hours he came to my property, took a look at my fence and was able to put a temporary fix in given his busy schedule. He communicated clearly what the different options were along with pros and cons of each and what he thought would be the best option. read more

Oren is a great and reliable handyman who has done quality work for me at a residential home in Berkeley. Had him since 2014.

Oren was highly recommended by a trusted handyman and my first choice for a much needed door repair. I called and was asked to send an email. I sent an email detailing the needed repair and included photos. No reply. I sent a follow-up email a few days later. No reply. My husband called as well. No reply. I have double-checked my emails and voicemail, and there was absolutely no response. I'm sure the repair was well within the scope of Oren's talents, and I was willing to pay top dollar to have the work done well. If he didn't want to do the job, I would have appreciated that information. If he was too busy to take on a new project, he could have told me that during our initial phone conversation. Oren's website states "[m]y clients appreciate my punctuality, communication and problem solving skills..." I'm very disappointed to not receive that. read more

I can not say enough good about Oren. I have known Oren for a number of years now, ever since I met him in his signature classic red truck. In short, Oren is simply a delightful person. While he conveys warmth and good humor, one never doubts that he is serious and capable about his work. I have seen Oren handle small jobs, such as finding a rare fitting required to repair vintage blinds. I have seen him repair rotten wood windows so well that one would never know that a problem existed. I have seen new bathrooms, new kitchens, fences, and so on, that speak as one to the quality of Oren's work and character. I have never used his services personally. Rather, I have recommended him to dozens of my own customers. In my follow-up with referred customers, I have heard so many positive reviews and felt so much satisfaction that I continue to freely pass on his name and good reputation. Since the majority of my customers don't seem to be all that into social media, such as YELP, I wanted to put this recommendation on their behalf. Review Edit - Nov 18, 2012: I recently called Oren to help me with a difficult repair project that was beyond my ability. I can now say from personal experience that Oren demonstrates incredible commitment and energy to his work. His pursuit of quality is relentless. What's more, he really enjoys his work! I give him 6 stars! read more

I needed a table delivered, and let me tell you- Oren Leiman DELIVERED. Never has there been a handier man. I would trust this man WITH MY LIFE, and also with my table. I wanted a floating shelf, and he showed me the errors of my ways. He showed me that while, yes, hope does indeed float; shelves, not so much. I had a friend who had a broken door; I called Oren, he was there in 10 minutes and well, long story short: THIS MAN IS THE DOOR WHISPERER. Look no further, Oren Leiman can fix your house and YOUR LIFE. read more

Oren works extremely hard, fast, and with detail. He's also a great communicator, and knows how to build to a high standard of quality. His bids are representative of his work, and come on budget. Initially, he fixed a squeaky door for me (and showed me how I could have fixed it myself), then built a new gate (solid), and repaired an old gate (smooth). He and his colleague (his name escapes me) are very personable. Doors/gates are his specialty. Highly recommended. read more

Oren was great. Repaired a pocket door, which not just anyone can do, on a 1950's building. Good as knew. Prepped and cleaned up well for a meticulous tenant. Did what he said he would do when he said he would do it. Also a nice, trustworthy guy. I'm sure I will be calling you again... Thanks, Oren. read more

Over the past several years, we have had Oren do a number of jobs at our house. In fact, he is in the midst of replacing/re-buulding our fence as I write this. He is skilled, clever, collaborative, and loves a challenge. On every job, he has done excellent work at a fair price. We highly recommend his services! read more

I have a 4 unit building in Berkeley and Oren has always done great work for me. His rates are reasonable, and I trust him to do exactly what needs to be done. His work is very solid and he will go out of his way to ensure that everything he fixes lasts a long time. I come from an extensive background of home repair and renovation - this guy knows what he is doing and puts my mind at ease so I can focus on other priorities. read more

Oren is great! We rent an old house with lots of antique fixtures and have numerous small breakages and sudden repair needs. Today's emergency - our bathroom door knob suddenly broke and we couldn't unlock the door (one of us had to climb out the window to escape). We called Oren to help us out, and it was a great decision - he called back and came by immediately, even though it was a Sunday morning. He even tried to talk us through fixing the problem ourselves on the phone first, before it became obvious that the break was too intransigent. Oren was friendly, creative in solving the problem (because again...really old fixtures that are hard to find parts for), and very professional. We'd go with him again in a second. read more

I called Oren to see if he's come out and give me an estimate to rebuild some kitchen drawers. He said that he did not do that kind of work per se, but then went on to provide me extremely helpful consultation. I appreciated that he was not bidding on a job, but was willing to take some time to share his expertise with me! read more

I called Oren this morning. I was a bit desperate to fix my 3 year old's interior door. Yesterday I tried to install a new door handle so that she could open the door herself. Oren came quickly and took a look at the door. He brainstormed a way to fix it without having to sacrifice the antique door knob or install an ugly "door saver" metal plate. He did this all without charge. I'm definitely calling him the next time I need to fix something, I've been looking for a good handyman for a while. read more

I had what turned out to be a fairly minor kitchen cabinet job and, well, Oren disposed of it quickly and efficiently. I'm pleased. He's also a pleasant conversationalist, if I may say. read more

After receiving a prompt response from Oren and speaking with him I was excited about the potential of having him complete some handyman projects for us and a room division. He was insistent on needing my home address to get an idea if he would be able to make an appointment and provide a quote though I had provided my general area. Prior to me providing my address he shared that he may be able to stop by midweek but the chances were low. That day passed and no phone call. A couple days past and still no phone call regarding confirming an appointment. I texted him to confirm if the weekend in the morning was still a possibility since he had offered this before. No response so I called. He said he saw text but hadn't had a chance to respond and that he couldn't come out because he was busy. Disappointed with the poor communication from the onset. He gave the impression from our initial conversation that he had availability but seemed to busy to even give an estimate, was unapologetic and did not do the best with following up. read more

The first time I hired Oren was to seal off a floor duct in my parents' house a couple of years ago. He did a spectacular job that day, and since then, he's done tons of work on their old craftsman and converted carriage house, ranging from replacing a toilet to a complete kitchen renovation with custom counters and shelving and under-cabinet LED lighting... He's a creative problem solver and is great at thinking outside the box to come up with financially conservative solutions to challenging old-house problems. His work is always top-notch and he leaves the spaces he works in clean and tidy. He's also become a good friend and adviser and has seen me through several rough patches as I've navigated the waters of baby rearing, parental eldercare, and remote property management largely solo. He's basically the Yoda of carpentry, only much younger and a lot less green. I'm lucky to have found such a trustworthy and all-around great person to help me with my family's property. read more