We cannot say enough about Sebastian , the quality of his work, professionalism, responsiveness and patience. If you are looking for a general contractor who takes pride in his work and wants the best outcome for you, then he is your person. He is thoughtful and is a problem solver - all the things you want in a partnership when it comes to complex construction projects and dealing with City permits and public works. I highly recommend him, especially if you are thinking about an additional dwelling unit (ADU) or casita for your home. I will be hiring Sebastian for any future work we need for our home. read more

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We just finished a (primary) bathroom remodeling job with Sebastian and are very, very pleased! Our new bathroom turned out great. He and his crew were fantastic: they were very punctual and respectful of our home and our three cats, and were masked the entire time during the COVID-time construction job; they did beautiful work; and they gladly worked to accommodate any changes we came up with. Sebastian had many excellent suggestions and offered advice when we needed it for any design and building issues that cropped up, both large and small. Unlike other contractors who I reached out to, who either didn't call me back or were all booked up for over a year, Sebastian was very responsive, and his schedule worked out perfectly for us. He was very responsive throughout the project as well, and our communication was easy. He also helped us with ordering the fixtures and trim pieces, and his online billing management system was clear and professional. We just finished this big job, but are eager to start work on another house project with Sebastian as soon as we can! read more

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Sebastian Francese undertook extensive remodeling of our home and did a fabulous job; we could not recommend him more highly. Sebastian came recommended to us by a friend whose two bathrooms he had remodeled (they turned out beautifully); she said he had done a wonderful job. Before contracting with Sebastian we contacted the three additional references he provided and visited the home of one of them; they all gave him rave reviews. Our job involved demolishing about 300 sq. feet of our 85-year old home, and building back about 550 new square feet. From the beginning Sebastian showed his attention to detail and professionalism. His response to our bid request was detailed and well thought-out. We were relieved that we were Sebastian's only project. There was no concern about him or his crew disappearing to another job (as other friends had happen to them); Sebastian and his crew worked on our house, and on our house only, every weekday. When the roof was off and the weather was worrisome, they worked week-ends and holidays as well, in order to get the house buttoned up before the rains came. The new parts that Sebastian built for us were a kitchen, bathroom and laundry area, two bedrooms, an entryway and an additional excavated garage. He also did an extensive rebuilding of our foundation, levelled the house, added shear walls, replaced floors, replaced almost all of the siding, and had the house reroofed, among other tasks. He and his crew are excellent builders; we are delighted with the outcome. Sebastian is a creative thinker and a terrific problem-solver; he came up with innovative solutions to the many difficulties our old and poorly built house posed. Our job was challenging, but Sebastian was always calm, good-humored, patient, and easy to talk to. Sebastian made the point in our initial interview that you have to trust each other for the builder-owner relationship to work; we are happy to say that trust was there and maintained throughout the project. We loved BuilderTrend, the website Sebastian used to manage the project. BuilderTrend allowed for all of us to easily see the finances, send messages, and track the choices we had made (for appliances, or lights, for example). Our completed house is really amazing - we are delighted with the result. Over the years we've heard more than one horror story of contractor relationships gone bad, or work that wasn't done properly. We feel very fortunate to have had Sebastian Francese as our contractor, and would definitely hire him again. You can reach Sebastian at: (510) 290-6455 http://www.sfgc.biz read more

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I hired Sebastian to do a complete bathroom remodel. I couldn't be more pleased with his work and his work practices! This was the first time I ever did a remodel of anything so I was a bit apprehensive having heard many tales of contractor nightmares. Sebastian was wonderful from the start. He went over everything in detail, he is extremely knowledgeable about fixtures, codes, structural issues, electrical problems, etc. He is extremely easy to work with. I explained what I wanted and he figured out how much wall tile I should order, how much floor tile, what size bathtub, etc. He drew a plan that we took to the permit office. He even went with me to get the permit which was good because they started asking questions that I wouldn't have known the answer to. I had discovered that there had been a leak under my toilet for years. This on top of an amateur remodeling project that was done years ago without permits, had caused extensive wood rot in the floor and subfloor. Sebastian and his crew totally gutted my bathroom. Of course, there were more problems than either of us suspected once that was done. Shoddy electrical work and an improperly vented fan were also discovered. Sebastian is a perfectionist and made sure everything was redone the way it should be. Every inspection passed first time with no problems. He does a lot of the work himself but has a few very talented guys who help him. I decided to put in a lot of tile, so that took some time. You can see in the photos how perfect it is. Sebastian kept me informed on what was happening pretty much daily. Since this is my only bathroom I couldn't stay there so I was anxious to get home soon. He was either working everyday or one of his crew were, unless we were waiting for an inspection. He totally protected the rest of my house, laying down cardboard and putting up plastic sheeting to keep the dust out of the other rooms. When the job was finished he cleaned up my backyard where all the cutting and sawing had been done, better than it was before. I would definitely hire him again if need be and highly recommend him. read more

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We worked with Sebastian and his crew over the summer to do a full gut and remodel of our two upstairs bathrooms. Right from the start Sebastian was great to communicate with in discussing all of our custom design ideas while adding many options we didn't know about (like rearranging our plumbing to more optimal positions). I really appreciated the use of Buildertrend to keep track of purchases and invoices through the process. We wanted to purchase all of our own tiles, fixtures, cabinetry, etc and it was a great tool for communicating what we needed and when. Everyone Sebastian brought to the job site was professional and did excellent work and checked in with us frequently. I really appreciated the eye for detail and the final result was better then we imagined. read more

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Sebastian managed two projects for us, as we couldn't be more pleased with his work. First, he remodeled our laundry room, which was simply a room off of the garage. To keep costs down, we purchased off-the-shelf cabinets from a home improvement store. However, since the concrete floor in the laundry room was not level, he spent quite a bit of time building a custom base so everything was perfectly level. He then installed granite countertops above the washer and dryer, an additional power outlet and knobs. So that we wouldn't have to look at the hoses, and so socks wouldn't fall off the back, he also built a false wall which finishes it off. We couldn't be happier with his attention to detail and passion for getting everything perfect. We were so pleased, that we had him oversee our kitchen remodel. This involved taking the kitchen of our 1920s home down to the studs, removing two doorways, adding a new entrance, relocating heating registers, and perfectly matching the hardwood floors from the existing dining room into the new kitchen. It also included updating the electrical from knob and tube, installing our custom cabinets, granite countertops, lighting, sink and appliances. Throughout the process, Sebastian could not have been more accommodating. He is passionate about doing things the right way, and will spend a little extra time to make sure that the outcome is perfect--never cutting corners. He was very respectful of our time, scheduling meetings to discuss progress or show up before work to review some unexpected issue he needed advise about. In the end, working with Sebastian was a dream. In addition to having a skilled team, he does much of the work himself so the quality is always exceptional. Sebastian's prices are very reasonable for the quality of work performed, and the work area was always left clean and neat before they left each evening. I cannot recommend Sebastian enough and will continue to use him for other work we need done to the house. read more

Sebastian Francese General Contractor - Jennings Laundry Room - General Contractors Near Me - Richmond, California

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Our project is complex and involves structural repairs. Sebastian came out to look at our project as a favor to the architect we're working with. He warned us that he's tied up until the end of the year, so I don't know if we'll get the opportunity to work with him. Having met with many contractors at this point, I felt that Sebastian was among the most knowledgeable, clear in his communications, and completely professional. read more

Sebastian was simply wonderful to work with as my contractor for a remodel of a 1902 bungalow including kitchen, bath, bedroom, laundry room, living room, and exterior deck. He helped me transform the old house into a beautiful space that also included ADA/wheelchair elements. On the very last day of work, I took a photo of Sebastian and me - we were both smiling about a job well done! There are 4 aspects of working with Sebastian that made this complex project a smooth and pleasant experience rather than the nightmare I so often hear from friends. 1. Honesty & Integrity: Sebastian and his crew were true to their words in all areas of working at my home. The project extended over several months and I was living in the house during remodeling. I was impressed by the care and concern extended by all members of the crew to keep me, my dog, and my home safe and secure. 2. Project & Budget management: Sebastian is organized and provided excellent project & budget management with frequent updates. He provided detailed spreadsheets and we had routine sit down discussions to address work status, adjustments , and changes. 3. Competency & Craftsmanship: The final result of the project was beyond my dreams. My project required reworking the interior layout of the structure plus all the details of tile work, fixtures, paint, molding, floors, doors, hardware, appliances, and on and on. In all areas of work, Sebastian and his crew listened to my goals, brought craftsmanship and creativity to the details, and delivered beautiful results. 4. Listening: My first experience interviewing Sebastian revealed someone who both listened and cared about my vision for my home. This quality was not strong in other contractors I interviewed. As a complex project, some details were straightforward and others required more in depth discussion and some changes. I always felt listened to and respected in working through the project details. That respect was not just giving into my position, but rather finding the proper solution through dialog. read more

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We worked with Sebastian and his crew to gut remodel a bathroom, bedroom, laundry area, and add a driveway with retaining wall, thereby legalizing a previously converted garage conversion in an early 1930s Richmond home. We are extremely pleased with the work, and enjoying working with Sebastian throughout the entire process. He is highly detailed oriented and adaptable. For instance, he and his crew learned how to lay a finicky concrete tile in a complex pattern, and the result was stunning. He focused only on our job, and he and his crew were here everyday until it was finished. He is easy to communicate with and accommodating of work schedules, kids, and dogs. His prices were competitive with other bids, and he closely tracked changes (both subtractions and additions to the project) in a transparent way. I would work with him again with no hesitation. read more

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We first met Sebastian in 2013 when we left a note in our condo lobby asking if anyone had a reference for a remodel contractor. A neighbor gave him a 5 star rec and we had him remodel 2 bathrooms. He did a great job advising us since we had very little knowledge of how to go about it. From where to go to pick materials, to options for design, color coordination, to various hardware decisions, he was patient and knowledgeable. He was also clear about a budget and was on time, on budget, and meticulous about cleanup and the finished product! 4 years later we decided to remodel the kitchen. We were very happy to reconnect with Sebastian who met to discuss various options with us. He was then able to give us a written proposal detailing both the stages of work, and estimates of prices for both materials and labor. Sebastian renovated the entire condo from top to bottom. Painting, tiles, carpet, cabinets, countertops, appliances, electrical, and beautiful backsplash tilework. Again, he was meticulous with the details and making sure that we were happy at every stage. He also interacted with the various companies and vendors, picking up materials or being present for deliveries which made life much easier for us and took out a lot of the hassle and inconvenience of remodeling. Two things one hopes for in life is to have a good and honest auto mechanic, and the same in a contractor. I only wish Sebastian worked on cars too! read more

We hired Sebastian for a big remodel project for our 3 bedroom home in Alameda, which included our kitchen, two bathrooms, fireplace and entryway. His work exceeded our expectations and he was very easy to work with. Our project was his top priority and he excelled in communication, keeping us constantly in the loop via email, text, telephone or in person. Most importantly, he stayed on budget and a tight two month timeline. Sebastian did most of the work himself with the help of a couple talented, dedicated employees. We highly recommend Sebastian and look forward to working with him on other projects in the future. read more

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I have seen his work on other homes and hired Sebastian for that reason. He and his crew do beautiful work and Sebastian is communicative and keeps us informed at every step. read more

Sebastian is conscientious, reasonable, and very hard-working. He did work for us twice, including a major remodel job, and both times we were very pleased with the results. His attention to detail is impressive - he matched new wood floors to existing wood floors (which were over 50 years old) and no one can tell the difference. He also carefully matched the trim that had to be replaced in our dining room. I cannot recommend Sebastian highly enough. read more

Sebastian is very responsible, meticulous and patience with his work. He is one of the best contractors whom I've worked with. Highly recommended. read more

We originally hired Sebastian to simply repair and retile our bathroom floor. Quickly into the project we discovered extensive dry rot, and the previously installed plumbing and electrical work (not to code) by the former owners of the house required that we gut the entire bathroom. Fortunately for us, Sebastian turned out to be the perfect resource for the entire project, and we could not be more satisfied with the results. He and his crew are a pleasure to work with, and their care, thoughtfulness and concern are on par with their expertise and professionalism. His assistant, Oliver, is as talented and dedicated a craftsman as you'll ever work with. As both my husband and I had careers in the graphic arts, our eyes are trained to focus on every little detail, so we were delighted that Sebastian and his crew were there right along with us, maybe even more so. His pricing is fair as well as transparent. We cannot recommend them more highly. read more