Straw Dogs Construction Inc

I have known Mark for the past 20 years and had great pleasure working closely with him on many projects. He has a keen eye for detail and has a great relationship with all of his clients. He is always able to use my Designs and Construction Documents to get the job done right. In this industry, the small details make all the difference, Mark handles all of these. Thank you Mark! Sincerely, Steve Kinnunen AIBD CPBD Prime Home Design, LLC.

Mark Thomas of Straw Dogs and his contractors did an amazing job. Mark came in and rescued us from the work a previous contractor had started (and made a mess of). Mark was professional but friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to take the time to explain each step of the process, and he hired great subcontractors who share those qualities. We were a bit nervous after our experience with the first contractor, who took our money but either did not complete contracted work or provided shoddy work, but Mark worked with us to stick to our (reduced) budget and gave us detailed information during each step of the process so that we understood exactly what we were paying for and why. Work completed included: framing; insulation; drywall; plumbing and adding fixtures and shower tile for a 3/4 bath; installing a water heater; adding an electric panel, lighting, and outlets; adding windows and skylights; hanging doors; and adding a mini-split for AC/heat; daily clean up; and working with city inspectors to make sure that all permitting requirements were followed. The work was done in a reasonable amount of time, and the finished product was excellent. All of the subcontractors were skilled, hard-working, and gracious (Augie on framing, Eric of Schultz Electric, Eddie and the rest of the team at Pioneer Plumbing, Mark at Summit Heating and Cooling, Roberto with trenching, pavers, and other jobs, Preston Insulation, Gallagher Home Renovations, Lee Hoofman Roofers, Ricardo and his team at Detail Flooring, and everyone else who worked on the project). We are so happy with our experience with Straw Dogs and the end result. We now have an additional 400 square feet of usable living space that we all want to be in!

The work was done in a timely manner.

I wanted something really nice that would elevate the looks and the value of the house from the ramshackle HUD home it had originally been. I looked at various contractors and handymen who gave me low prices, but none of them seemed to be concerned with building permits, adhering to codes. When I contacted Mark Thomas of Straw Dogs I was pretty sure he was the guy for the job, because he immediately understood my concerns and started out by referring me to a licensed building designer. I spoke to the designer who came out on the same day Mark Thomas did, and together, we discussed our ideas and I wrote the designer a check for a down payment for drawing up plans I could take to the City and have stamped and approved. I had the plans about 2 weeks later, they were approved easily and when I had the permit, I let Mark know. He said he was so busy he would be at least six weeks or more before he could start. He picked up the plans a few weeks later. He took the plans to his various sub-contractors to get bids on various phases of the job. After another few weeks he telephoned me to say he had a contract drawn up to go over with us. I like the fact that he took about an hour and a half to chat with us about all of his figures and how he arrived at them, and showed me all of the estimates from the concrete guys, the stucco guys, the roofing guys and framing guys. It was all very clear and concise. He takes 60% up front as a down payment and collects the final balance when he gets the final bills from his sub contractors. He hires really skilled craftsmen. They are all very personable and answer questions if you have any. Another positive note I would like to add here: Everyday that Mark has someone at your house working, he stops by and checks on how the job is going, or he calls...or both! Please note that when business hours are done, he shuts off his cell phone because he is on that doggone phone all the time. He usually runs about 3 or 4 jobs at the same time. He's that good! He made sure there was a Porta-Potty at the job site for the workers because they are not allowed to use your facilities. Anytime there is a change that you decide to make he will bring you paperwork to fill out and sign, called a change order. This may affect your final balance. All in all, my screened in front porch was done in about 6 weeks, is gorgeous, sturdy, comfortable and just perfect!

Mark was the general contractor for all work. He did a great job and because of his many years in the business, he has a great "list" of the best local folks for the needed work. He is easy to deal with and VERY attentive to customer issues and the work as its being performed. The subs he used were all very experienced and really knew there trade inside and out. All work was completed on-time and the overall job came in about 10% under budget! I have no doubt the attentiveness to customer issues will continue long after the work is completed which gives you a bit of peace-of-mind knowing Straw Dogs and Mark will be available to work out any future concerns and THAT is worth a lot! We will absolutely have Straw Dogs Construction perform additional work for us on other houses/projects.

We cannot recommend Mark highly enough. We feel very fortunate to have found him on Angie's list. Mark's estimate for the cost of the project was extremely accurate. Much of the project was completed in our absence. Mark went out of his way to be accommodating, keep us continually updated, ask questions and to work with our deadlines. Throughout the project we felt assured the project was in good hands. His subcontractors were all outstanding craftsmen. The painting, tile work and woodworking were all exceptionally well done.

It went very well. All of the work done was top notch, excellent quality. The communication and coordination was excellent. Mark, the owner of the company, used great sub-contractors with whom he had great relationships. The job stayed on budget.

It was great working with this company - kept me updated, informed, very professional. I will be remodeling my bathroom soon and this company will be the only one I will call. I always refer people who are looking for a contrator to Straw Dog - personally I wouldn't use anyone else. I have used a number of contractors in the past and this one is by far the best.

See above

Estimate was timely and competitive. Mark is very cordial, informative and easy to work with. Work commenced as scheduled with demolition of old bathroom. Mark's expertise was readily evident as he handled  an unexpected wiring issue creatively and in a very professional manner. Mark closely supervised the plumbing, electrical, tile, and carpeting contractors assuring the best job was obtained from each. Mark personally performed any remaining miscellaneous work himself to assure an excellent finished product. We are extremely happy and would highly recommend Mark in the future. Having a general contractor with his knowledge is invaluable in being sure the entire job is done right and on time.

Mark Thomas of Straw Dogs is terrific. He's thorough and will go over everything with you. When he bids, he doesn't guesstimate, he actually get bids from all the subs, which might take longer, but you will know exactly what you're getting and the cost. My design for the casita was occasionally a 'moving target' and Mark was happy to work with me as the project evolved. 
I could go on and on, but suffice to say that Mark is great. He's extremely conscientious and honest. And friendly. He bent over backwards to make sure everything was right. No project goes without a hitch, but when things came up, he was right there for us. He works with subs he knows and is completely accountable for every aspect of the work.
I have to add that it became a running joke on the job that Mark does not text, and barely emails. He's strictly a phone guy. If you can live with that, hire him for your project! You won't be sorry. We love our casita!

Straw Dogs was one of eight general contractors we interviewed for this complex job, which involved stucco work, framing and sheathing, electrical issues, roofing, and concrete work. We called him because he had been highly recommended by knowledgeable clients. Mark decided not to bid on the job because he was concerned (correctly, as it turns out) about unseen problems behind the original walls, which had to be removed. We were so impressed with his knowledge, forthrightness, and honesty that we asked whether we could hire him as a consultant, so we could call him for an expert second opinion if we had questions about contracting procedures, processes, work quality, best practices, or billing practices. Mark had not acted in such a capacity before, but we explained that we needed his expertise because we were not experts about construction, and would benefit greatly from his years in the business.
It turned out that we made a superb decision. Questions arose about everything from the the way to put up sheathing to how electrical problems should be addressed, and we needed help evaluating options, contracting practices, and the work itself. Mark answered our questions and came out to examine work. If there were a technical issue involving a subspecialty, he knew whom to call to do additional research. His excellent communication skills enabled him to explain everything in terms we could understand, so we could make informed decisions.
Mark's expertise and experience, which we paid for on an hourly basis, saved us time and money. We avoided mistakes and were able to feel comfortable about the decisions we had to make. Having Mark as a construction consultant gave us confidence in the work being done and the structural integrity of our home. You can't put a price on that kind of peace of mind.
For all the reasons explained above, we recommend Mark most highly.

It was very good.  The price was reasonable.  A friend recommended them.

Mark and the people he brought in to do the demolition and tile (Babich Tile) were professional, timely and great at what they do.I found Mark to be honest, professional and easy to work with all the way around. I would recommend him to anyone looking for quality work. He was very responsive and worked with my schedule and needs. The final cost was less than estimated because of demolition cost ended up be lower than expected. Mark returned my calls in a timely manner and answered all my questions.

Overall we were extremely pleased with the result. Once the work got underway, things were done well and promptly. The contractor was very responsive when we had concerns, and worked with us to make us pleased with the result (we had issues with paint color).  They cleaned up nicely after they finished each day. We would definitely work with Strawdogs again.
The only reason it is not A's all around is that we had a significant delay because we got incorrect information about the wiring in the kitchen, which delayed our ability to order applicances, and thus finish the project. They also made a mistake with the paint color in two rooms (not actually getting a match made, just relying on old paint lying around the house). Ultimately we were happy with the final colors and we got a discount on a paint job to correct one of the problems.

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great

Mark was very responsive in his estimate. His prices were competitive and his expertise obvious so we went with his bid. He subcontracted much of the work but did an outstanding job of selecting the subcontractors and overseeing thier work to be sure it was done well. He finished the details himself to our complete satisfaction.

All work done on budget, on schedule and with highest competence.

All projects have gone wonderfully. I just can't say enough good things about him & his business practices. A true pleasure to work with and i've recommended him to several friends.

Mark Thomas gave us an estimate and went through every line on the estimate so we had a good understanding of the price and what work would be performed.  Once we accepted the estimate, we set up a time frame with Mark.  His sub-contractors were friendly and professional.  We have absolutely no complaints working with any of the sub-contractors that came into our home. All communications were done through Mark so we knew who was coming and when.  At the end of the project we were very happy with the work performed.  I have asked Mark for an estimate on another project we are hoping to tackle in the month August.   We made the final payment to Mark this morning and he came in over $500.00 LESS than the estimate.  We were not only totally pleased with the work and the work ethics of Mark and his entire crew, but what a pleasant surprise to see the final bill.  I would highly recommend Mark Thomas and crew after the work they have done for us.

Staw Dogs is a full service and very professional home remodeling licensed contracting firm. I was presented with a detailed statement of work regarding what/when/how work would be performed.  Straw Dogs performed to specs, kept me well-informed of progress and schedule and provided excellent work and craftsmanship and a cost effective price.

I can't say enough good things about Straw Dogs Construction - Mark, his workers and subs. Everyone arrived on time for the days they were to be at the house. Even when Mark wasn't doing the physical labor himself, he still came by to check up on the work being done and touch base with me. He was always in contact with me and kept us informed of any updates or changes. He uses a cost plus contract proposal, so all of this information was very helpful. Whenever I made any changes or additions he was willing to do them. When the shower enclosure and final painting were contracted out to other companies he still made sure I was happy with the work being done. He is very animal friendly, having cats and dogs himself, and always makes sure the client's animals are secured and out of harm's way before he starts working. We never felt uncomfortable leaving the house for work every day or going about our daily lives while the work was being done. Everything went smoothly steady. Mark had a key to the house and always locked up before leaving. At the end of the project he promptly returned it. I have called him to do other jobs for us and he's always happy to help out. Mark is very friendly and will call every so often just to say hi and make sure everything is going well. He also wants to make sure the work done is still to our liking. When I was sick last summer he even came to the hospital to see me! His website, strawdogsconstruction.com, has many testimonials also happy with his work and work ethic.

The owner, Mark Thomas, was personable, faithful to all of my requests, supervised the jobs effectively, and made sure that I was completely satisfied. He did all of this with good humor, good communication, cleanliness, punctuality, and excellent craftsmanship. 7 years later, the first remodel of the bathroom is still beautiful and looks brand new. 5 years later, the second bathroom is still attractive and in perfect working order, and the kitchen is a dream to work in. The latest project from this summer of energy efficient doors and windows has lowered my electric bills, the house is quieter, and it looks fantastic, both inside and out. With the help of Straw Dogs Construction, I have turned this 1970 fix up into a beautiful, comfortable home that I am very proud of. Having used another provider to install 300 feet of new fencing in September, I now appreciate Straw Dogs Construction even more. The fencing crew was messy, didn't listen to my concerns, did poor workmanship, and was improperly supervised. In retrospect, I wish I had pressed Straw Dogs Construction to manage the installation of the new fence. I am completely satisfied with all of the work that has been done by Straw Dogs Construction. Even if they are not the least expensive, the old adage of "You get what you pay for" holds true. For any future work, I would call Straw Dogs first and know, without a doubt, that my project would be in good, capable hands.

We interviewed several contractors and ended up choosing Straw Dogs because of Mark's excellent communication skills and his excellent subcontractors. The bid was slightly higher than others, but his adherence to a timetable, the minimal disruption and the overall quality more than compensated for the difference. We knew what to expect every day of the job. In Mark, you have someone who is both an excellent craftsman and an excellent manager. This combination is unusual and made for a smooth construction experience. And, hey, how many of us can claim to have had that??? In addition, Mark was not territorial about his and our people. He coordinated well with our own granite and tile contractors, even though they were not his own subcontractors. FYI: The work included moving one wall, beaming out a bearing wall, sheetrocking between beams on ceilings in three rooms and doing a host of other updates for the home. He was good about checking on the quality of the work each day, fixing any problems and making the operation run as smoothly as it possibly could. He was realistic about the timetable and he was generous with his advice. Highest marks for Straw Dogs.