ECS Construction Inc.

It went very well overall.

We did not sing a contract with ECS

The ECS Construction Inc. did a great job on my kitchen remolding. Eric is a very thoughtful and organized manager. He managed every detail along with the project, always planned ahead of the next step task and made sure everything stayed on schedule, very professionally. The other techs working on the project including the countertop fabricator, the plumber, the drywall specialist, all did excellent professional work. We are very happy with the result, and will definitely recommend them highly to anyone.

Eric impressed us at our first meeting, promptly understanding our needs and suggesting ideas to assist our decision making process. He quickly provided printed plans, then made modifications to satisfy our special needs and budgetary restrictions. So, out of the four Angie's List Remodel Contractors we had considered, Eric (ECS Construction) was our choice. There were no second thoughts for the plans were effected efficiently and expeditiously by Eric and his very dependable and professional subcontractors. The work proceeded on one bathroom at a time. Hence, we were able to stay "at home" with a minimum of inconvenience to us. Eric communicated with us frequently, keeping us appraised of day--to-day progress, work schedule and any need for input from us. Over-all, our experience with this contractor was a very pleasant one and our new bathrooms are beautiful. My wife and I highly recommend ECS Construction and we would contact Eric for any future project.

Excellent!

Excellent. Eric was very responsive. The workmanship was fabulous. We are very pleased!

ECS runs an excellent crew with good supervision. All crew members were polite, friendly and neat. The job was completed on time as contracted. Very little to be done in terms of a punch list.,

ECS and Eric did an excellent job with great attention to detail. They were on time and on budget. They were sensitive to cleanliness and cleaned up after themselves. The work product was outstanding and exceeded our expectations. We have used ECS Construction twice for projects and would use them anytime. We also would highly recommend them to others.

I interviewed and had quotes from 4 contractors. ECS (Eric) was the lowest and most complete. He was able to offer design ideas that helped steer me in the right direction and helped save cost. His sub contractors - from the demo guys to the finish carpenter - were top notch; respectful, clean, and high quality tradesmen. Did not have a problem with one of them. Eric himself is easy to work with, super knowledgeable, and exceptionaly responsive. He even finished on schedule! By far best contractor I've used.

We felt that ECS was very professional and competent. The project went on a little longer than scheduled, but that is because the workers had to replace some major plumbing that had become clogged which was not anticipated. ECS workers were very open to our suggestions. The contractor, Eric, worked with a wonderful cabinet maker who was able to duplicate cabinets that we had in another bathroom in order to maintain the modernist style of the home.

unknown

We got estimates from two other companies and ECS was lowest. As well as being lower in cost, Eric had other ideas and suggestions that helped us make decisions. We found that Eric was very flexible in listening to our ideas and then using them or explaining how it might not be the best direction to go. He never talked down to us as if we were the dumb, unknowing consumer. Everything was done to Code and with future use and wear in mind. I saw that in areas where it could have been easily passed over, the team reinforced supports and posts, which I was happy to see. We were impressed that with as many employees as we had at our home at various times, each of them was courteous and professional. The workers also cleaned up at the end of each day. ECS removed our old wooden upstairs deck that had become unsafe due to time and water damage. They removed the sliding glass door that led out to the deck and replaced it with a sliding window and wall. Downstairs they took our two old sliding glass doors that led out to the back yard and installed two new sliders that we purchased at Home Depot. They also installed a wooden header along the back of our house in anticipation of having a patio cover installed later on. All this work required new stucco across the back of the house. All this work was done nicely and looks great. We had purchased a new kitchen interior (cabinets, sink, refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, etc.) from Sears and Home Depot. We needed ECS to install that for us after I removed the old kitchen and had the City haul it away. ECS had to do some plumbing and electrical work which also included removing drywall and the old drop ceiling with fluorescent lights. They installed the cabinets, appliances, etc as well as new LED can lights. Everything looks great. We found that our roof being 28 years old needed to be replaced and ECS took care of that, too. They removed the tiles and old felt, as well as a couple of plywood sheets that had rotted. The fascia boards facing the daylong sun also needed to be replaced. They then covered the roof with new felt and put the tiles back, replacing any broken or cracked tiles with new ones. Finally, we had our downstairs floor done with ceramic tiles. I removed the old oak plank flooring on my own and Eric's team did the ceramic tile installation. We are pleased with the care they took to place the ceramic tiles on the level and in such straight lines. Great job. Incidentally, Eric loaned me his electric jack hammer to help with the floor demo I did to save a few dollars. We still have some work to be done in the yard, both front and back, and we expect to work with ECS on those projects.

Eric Stephens is the main guy at ECS Construction and he has a stable of experienced subs that he uses seamlessly as if they were part of his own company. We received bids from 5 contractors. Most of the contractors had a similar price to ECS (but one was way higher). One of the key reasons we chose Eric is his communication. This proved to be a wise choice. Always checked in with us every day. Eric gave great ideas, both in the bid phase and as the project progressed. He gave us suggestions but always allowed us to make the final decision, making sure we knew the tradeoffs. Eric worked with us on areas we wanted to do some of the work ourselves to save on cost (for example, some of the demo work and some of the painting). Worked around our schedule (e.g., did not take both of our baths out of commission at the same time). Minor issues were resolved quickly and efficiently. He took responsibility as needed through the project. Subs were very efficient. They will work the weekend if needed. The tile and cabinet subs especially took a lot of pride in their work and it shows in their excellent detailed work. All subs (except electrician) were very good at cleaning up after themselves. Excellent at keeping his promises. Ideally everything would be in writing, but with Eric we knew he would stand by what he promised us if there was any confusion in the original contract. Did not try to say small changes were ?extras? (did not try to nickel and dime us with small changes). Notified us in advance if he saw any potential hiccups or issues that came up during construction. Gave us options and if we were uncertain told us what his recommendation would be. In areas where we were very particular about what we wanted, he made sure to meet our requests. During the bid process, other contractors tried to persuade us away from some of our trickier design requirements (e.g., installing pocket doors, rerouting the dryer vent, installing a whole house fan in the garage, installing greywater piping) but Eric instead had dealt with most of these issues in the past and had superior solutions in every case. Most of the other quotes were very close to ECS (though one was much higher) so it came down to communication and ability to meet our demanding requirements. We are glad we picked ECC, because ECS exceed in both of these areas. His planning and attention to detail were essential for the project staying on schedule and also meeting or exceeding our high expectations. The only negative comment is that the electrical sub did not do a good job of cleaning up after himself. Considering the scope of this project, that is incredible that is the only negative aspect.

ECS Construction was awesome from my first contact with them through the job?s completion (October/November 2014). Initially, I selected 3 contractors, all with excellent reviews on Angie?s List. I checked each with the BBB and contractor?s license boards; I also did basic Google searches. My husband and I then met with each to get estimates and a feel for the people involved. We chose ECS Construction from among the three, and we are so happy that we did. From Day 1, we liked Eric. He was very professional?on time, efficient, listened carefully to what we had to say about we liked/didn?t like about the house, understood our budget and timeframe, etc. After the initial meeting, he provided us with a detailed estimate that was accurate and offered creative solutions to some of the ?problem areas? in the house (where we didn?t know what to do and asked for help). Once we reviewed the estimate, he was willing to make adjustments to accommodate our ideas and budget constraints. He then provided us with a detailed, professional contract that remained accurate throughout the renovation. Any additions from us (Can we add quartzite boarders and drainage to the patio? Can you paint the gates too?) or due to unanticipated problems (Eric?s crew discovered some structural issues with the house that could not have been seen or anticipated by anyone before removing windows.) were addressed both verbally and in writing. Throughout the process Eric checked in with me on budget, and we never once disagreed on the numbers. In regard to subcontractors, everyone Eric used or referred us to was awesome. For example, the tile work (floors, showers) was completed by Anthony Navarrow. Anthony was a true craftsman. Not only was he professional (on-time, efficient, careful), he was creative and solved problems while keeping the overall beauty and quality of the finished product in mind. At times, this meant more work from him. The same is true of every subcontractor Eric used. I?d have to write a book to thank them all, but here are a few: Fermin and his guys from AML Leon Construction did a ton of work on the project. They replaced all of the windows (new construction, not retrofit), they framed closets, and they repaired many, many problem areas. They also did tons of work on demolition and general reconstruction. Importantly, they uncovered some unanticipated structural issues with the house (for example, previous owners had hap-hazard popped windows into walls without headers). Not only did they bring the problems to our and Eric?s attention; they offered good solutions and fixed the issues. Fermin was simply awesome to work with throughout the remodel, and he had to deal with the ?thousand? little issues/questions/problems/additions that always come up in these projects. I don?t want to make this too long, but again, the sub-contractors were all great?plumbing, electrical, wood flooring, shower glass and mirrors, electrician, painters, etc. The subcontractors always chose to ?do the right thing? and obviously took pride in their work and wanted us to be happy with the results. In terms of professionalism, timeframe, and budget, I have to commend Eric and ECS Construction. Communication was accurate and easy throughout the entire project. Changes were discussed thoroughly and in writing. My requests for unconditional lien releases from subcontractors (before final payment) were met with zero hassle or concern. Payments were always within (or below) legal limits and handled in a very professional manner. Of course, any major renovation on a budget with a tight timeline has an element of stress, uncertainty, and surprises; but start to finish, ECR Construction was awesome. We are extremely happy with the results. We highly recommend them, and we would use them again.

We had the pleasure of using ECS Construction on our home renovation in Encinitas. Project went very well ? would recommend them to others. Timing was important to us as we had to find temporary accommodations during the project. Were told upfront to expect an 8-week project; sometime during the second week (as we discovered unforeseen conditions) was told that a 10-week schedule was more realistic. Were no other delays/adjustments after that; finished right on target. The extended timeline was not due to poor scheduling but solely because there was more work to get done than first anticipated. For example, we visited the house on 5 different Saturdays during the course of the project (all unannounced) and on 4 of those days ran into subs doing work. As someone paying both a mortgage and rent, very much appreciated seeing that type of diligence. There are a lot of details associated with a project like this; ECS was able to strike the right balance of asking direction for key details without requiring us to specify every nail hole. And that really comes down to good communication. We always knew what was happening and what was about to happen next. Very available for meetings/calls with both us and our designer. Always felt engaged with the project. We spoke with five contractors (two from Angie?s List) before deciding on ECS. Were pleased with our decision; would use them again and would recommend to others doing similar projects.

unknown

We can't say enough about Eric Stephens and his crew from ECS Construction. Over the course of several weeks, Eric created our dream home. He was friendly, professional, and punctual. He responded promptly to all communication and was incredibly responsive to our questions and concerns. He offered helpful suggestions and solved every issue that arose in a calm, competent manner. In our kitchen, he saved us some $$$ by keeping our cabinets, and sent them out for a beautiful paint job. He altered an awkward hood/vent arrangement to create a custom look, removing an unattractive fluorescent light soffit in the process. He fabricated gorgeous white quartz countertops, fitted in a huge farmhouse sink, set up our appliances, and made our new faucets, garbage disposal, and ice-maker work like magic. He re-faced our dual-sided fireplace with beautiful bricks and created custom-made wood mantels. He made the flue and damper safer, so now we're ready for cozy fires on chilly evenings. He covered our entire floor with a rich, dark-chocolate-colored, engineered hardwood floor and installed 4" high baseboards, some of which had to twist around tricky curved surfaces. Eric installed our new hardware, lock-sets, and drawer pulls, giving our doors and drawers a gleaming, finished look. He updated the hinges so that now our cabinets are the soft-closing type with the hardware hidden from view. The transformation in the bathrooms really showcases Eric's skills. He demolished a bathroom that was covered in beige tile and created a spa-like, fresh, white retreat. We now have a huge shower with a "vintage" exposed fixture, a glass-tiled niche, a corner seat, and a frameless glass door. He adapted the plumbing to make the dual vanity that we found online work in the space, and hung up our new medicine cabinets and towel bars. He replaced the toilet, covered the floor with shiny hex tiles, put up my bling-y new sconces, and wrapped the lower half of the room with charming bead board. The showstopper, though, is the claw-foot tub. Somehow, Eric made it work in that space and it couldn't be more beautiful. I can't stop looking at it! In the guest bath, Eric re-tiled the floor, vanity top, and tub/shower walls with white subway and hex tiles, instantly brightening the space. He cut away a "banjo" part of the vanity, installed a new medicine cabinet, changed the faucets and towel bar, and painted the vanity cabinet. He managed to create a much-need exhaust fan where there was previously only a light. It's now a fresh, airy space. Thanks to Eric, the house gleams and functions and looks updated. The dining room is particularly lovely since Eric affixed bead board around the lower half of the room and hung up a chandelier, to which he added extra chain and a ceiling medallion. His crew kept things clean, quickly hauling away any debris. They were considerate of our neighbors, keeping the inevitable noise and mess to a minimum. We highly recommend Eric for all of your remodeling needs. He does it all, and does it well. I'm already looking around the outside of our home for some ways in which it can be improved, and I plan on calling on Eric first!

08/13/2013: Demolition of old patio cover begins: All debris removed from site by end of workday and loaded on company truck. 08/14/2013: Demolition of old concrete pad begins. old concrete placed in an orderly stack for later removal from site. 08/15/2013: Demolition of old concrete pad continues. 08/16/2013: Truck hauled away old patio cover and concrete. 08/19/2013: Frame for new concrete pad was built and rebar laid in frame. City code inspector inspected placement of footings. 08/21/2013: Cement truck and workers arrived and poured cement for the concrete pad and walkway. 08/23/2013: Start of construction of new patio cover begins. 08/27/2013: City code inspector on site. Inspected frame. recommendations made and to precede with construction. 08/29/2013: Torch down roof installed. 09/02/2013: Patio cover painted. 09/04/2013: Contractor measured windows for screen inserts. 09/05/2013: Roofer returned to complete roof installation. 09/14/2013: Screen inserts installed. 09/17/2013: City code inspector onsite: Construction passed his inspection. 09/18/2013: Eric arrived for final critique and payment.

This was far from a simple remodel. Aside from knocking down walls and creating a functional and appealing open floor plan, ECS also practically had to rebuild everything from the ground up due to extensive termite and water damage that had occurred over the past 30-plus years. I've worked with other contractors in the past, but Eric and his dedicated crew far surpassed any of them. Every detail from the largest to the smallest has been perfectly executed. I could not be any happier!

Eric is an expert craftsman and has been able to address our needs and concerns extremely well

Overall, our experience with ECS was very solid and we are really appreciative that they helped us rebuild our home after the entire house was covered in four inches of hot water!

Eric did not have any other jobs going at the time, so he was present more than would normally be expected. He is proud to do quality work. There were a few times that he advised me of potential problems or concerns, for example: The ceiling was bowed and sagging in the living room (nobody had noticed it - even home inspection!) Eric brought my attention, gave me the option to fix (with additional charge of course). When the house was built, ceiling beams (joists?) were not placed in a section of the house. Eric extended the beams. Probably different building codes back then? The house is on a slab, and Eric suggested moving the plumbing 'up and over' instead of leaving it in the slab. He cautioned me about possible leak - to avoid future problems. I took his advice, and the plumbing now goes into the wall and up / over - no longer in the slab. After renovating, I moved in - and have since learned that a few of the houses in this development have had slab leaks in the plumbing! Over-all a great job. I was on a time squeeze - and the work was done very efficiently. Sometimes, when I visited (during this work) Eric had 5, 6, even 8 different tradesmen working at the same time!

After submitting some rough drawings to Eric Stephens of ECS Construction, we worked to develop a very practical and convenient storage shed and animal enclosure area. Since the area is on a hillside, Eric designed the area with a retaining wall and drainage to ensure that the pens would remain dry during the rainy season. Eric and his crew listened to my suggestions and needs, and included some very helpful input and suggestions of their own. They even matched the roof line, color, and roofing material to my home! The project went very well, and I now have a shed for all my animal feed and gardening tools, as well as perfect pens for my animals! They are happy, and so am I !

The project went very well, and the result is a home that I really love ! Eric pays close attention to detail and takes pride in his work. He communicates well and promptly returns phone calls and emails. He is willing to work with you to find the best solutions to your construction needs and your budgetary constraints. He did such an awesome job, I recently hired him again for a second project.