My name is Patsy Cicala Jr., I am the recipient of the Super Service Award for 2016 -2022 from Angie's List. BEST WAY TO GET IN TOUCH IS [email protected], or call 302-245-5606. I retired here 11 years ago in Sussex County after a rewarding career in the field of Environmental Science and General Contracting in upstate New York. When you retire, you should have an exit plan.... I, however, am finding sitting down to read a book or taking a long stroll on the beach will result in either me being placed in a mental institution, or being shot by my wife (she says I am driving her crazy). Therefore, after renovating three homes in the area, I have decided to offer my services as a handyman. My wife says that I can do small repairs including bathrooms, kitchens, and small additions, porches and decks, Check out my Photo Gallery to see if I can fulfill your needs
Business highlights
53 years of trusted experience
Emergency Services Offered
Services we offer
Since I owned and operated a large Construction outfit, I have done every aspect of general contracting. But as a retire person, I have chosen to just do Handy-man work, renovations, small additions,and porches. (I can still run a dozer, backhoe and excavator, but my wife says no.)
contractors, drywall, electrician, handyman service, home remodeling, doors
 + 4 more
Patsy coordinated the finishing of a large portion of our basement including a full bath. He worked with us on the design, obtained materials, performed some of the work himself (with assistants) and retained subcontractors as necessary to get the job done. The quality of the work is great and we are extremely happy with the finished product. Working with Patsy is a pleasure - he pays attention to every detail and assured the quality is up to his, and our, high standards.
Description of Work: Finish basement, including bath - approximately 1,300 square feet
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$27,000
Susan L.
08/2018
5.0
handyman service
 + -1 more
I had a very small task - installing a new microwave over the stove. Many people would not call me back - sone stood me up. Rich was super responsive, scheduled an appointment, arrived on time and completed the task quickly. I am very appreciative. I plan to use Something Constructive on my next big projects redoing the bathrooms!
Description of Work: Install over range microwave
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$75
Robert Y.
07/2018
5.0
decks
 + -1 more
First off refreshing to find contractor who was highly responsive ... promptly received and returned calls, always on time with work and estimates, ongoing 2-way discussion of work details and progress. Excellect attention to detail, craftsmanship, design, and quality of materials. Kept area clean and provided advanced adhered to work schedules and payment process. Very professional in every way and extremely satisfied with end result. Very competitive pricing. Would definitely hire again for additional projects.
Description of Work: New construction of deck on rear of house to include wraparound walkway to sliding doors.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
V J.
06/2018
5.0
contractors, handyman service
 + 0 more
As usual, it went very well. Patsy is our first call when we need help.
Description of Work: Replacement of a small section of shed that was rotting.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$170
Barbara L.
06/2018
5.0
decks, handyman service
 + 0 more
Phenomenally! Efficient, Timely, Thorough...what more could you ask for!!!
Description of Work: Replaced wood boards on deck and steps
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Robert P.
06/2018
5.0
decks, handyman service
 + 0 more
Patsy did a good job, on time and on budget.
Description of Work: Replace decking.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$3,200
Rick T.
06/2018
5.0
drywall
 + -1 more
Patsy came and made emergency repairs to our garage ceiling. He was quick, professional and very courteous. We highly recommend him for any jobs around your home.
Description of Work: We needed emergency drywall repair.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$200
Michael S.
05/2018
3.0
decks, handyman service, roofing
 + 1 more
Good start, so-so finish. Plans completed by contractor and permit secured. Workers and owner were on time daily and completed the demo, poured foundations, erected supports, placed decking, and installed new roof and shingles. Finish crew came in and workmanship was shoddy. Aluminum trim was not cut correctly, one screen had a tear, gutter and downspout placed incorrectly, and vinyl siding was replaced with odd looking boards. Owner did note that finish work was not up to his usual standards and gave a small rebate. Property owner requested that no work be done on ceiling, that he would complete that work at a later date.
Description of Work: Porch extension from 5' to 12'
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
3.0
value
3.0
professionalism
3.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0
Response from Something Constructive
Owner was correct, the finish crew was not up to my standards. Unfortunately because of personal problems I was not on the job for the final, and to compensate, I did not hesitate to give the owner a rebate (without them even asking )
Michael Z.
04/2018
5.0
decks, roofing
 + 0 more
Mr. Patsy Cicala was a pleasure to work with. The job was done in a timely manner. The guys cleaned up every day, left the site very neat. The job was not easy and had some tricky details, to line it up with the existing house features and to install a pair of precast columns. Hew got in a sub contractor to do the roof and this contractor did a good job inexpensively and fast. The price was lower than another quote I had gotten and was satisfactory for us. I would recommend him to friends and ask his help with future projects. Thanks, Patsy!
Description of Work: Build roof over entry stoop
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
John C.
04/2018
5.0
contractors, drywall, electrician, roofing, siding, replacement windows, home remodeling, doors
 + 6 more
The project went exceedingly well. Something Constructive used excellent subcontractors, and was able to do a great job bringing the project to completion. You can feel free to have Something Constructive give you my phone # for a personal recommendation and discussion.
Description of Work: Added a bedroom to my house, and converted a bedroom to an office.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Gary R.
02/2018
5.0
furniture repair, handyman service, home remodeling, doors
 + 2 more
Patsy has always responded quickly to our requests and come to our house very soon to discuss the projects. He is very knowledgable, explains everything carefully, and really listens to what we want. His estimates are extremely fair and the final price never varied from his estimates. He is a pleasure to work with, and we are relieved to know that we will always have him to turn to!
Description of Work: First Patsy changed out all the sink faucets and shower heads in our beach cottage. Over the next year he made many improvements at our house, including installing a handrail on our front steps that looked perfect with the style of our house; installed a screened door at the front door; replaced hollow bedroom doors with solid core doors; fixed an old screened door so it no longer bangs shut; and best of all, installed a powder room in a very small space that had been a closet. When we had great difficulty finishing the assembly of a kitchen island, he finished off the job for us. And when we called him, worried about pipes freezing, he gave advice by email which saved the day.
Patsy (and his helper Gary) were professional, thorough, knowledgeable and informative, cordial, cooperative, and thoughtful. They instilled a sense of confidence in me that my job was important to them and would be done with care and craftsmanship. It was. Patsy worked with my schedule and kept in close contact with me. He showed up when he said he would, and he and Gary worked diligently with no unnecessary breaks. I have looked for years for a craftsman upon whom I could depend for a variety of small jobs. I have found him in Patsy. I will definitely be calling him in the future!
Description of Work: A section of my living room ceiling had fallen in because of water damage. I needed the plaster ceiling repaired.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Monica C.
11/2017
5.0
handyman service
 + -1 more
EXCELLENT!!!!! Just registered on Angie's list last night. Although I had heard of it, I had never checked it out. So happy that I did! Something Constructive (Patsy Cicala) was the first listing to catch my eye and the reason I contacted him is because of his award and ratings. It was around 8am today and I asked if he could do the job same day, before 3pm (without charging me extra). He just happened to be available and was there around 11am. The job went smooth, quick and I learned a bit about door knob/lock replacement. :) Afterward, I showed him several things that I want to do over the next year, of which, he can do all. He's very knowledgeable, personable and demonstrated rapid response/dependability/expertise. I look forward to working with Patsy in the future. Very happy that we connected through this service. He also recommended a Partner to do landscaping work, come Spring. Yay! Side note: When I picked up the hardware from Lowes this morning, they recommended that I contact [*** Link removed ***] which I did. I've rec'd several texts/emails saying that "due to high demand" it's taking longer than usual to find a contractor". I have yet to receive a lead (12 hours later). My recommendation: Call Something Constructive!!!!
Description of Work: Doorknobs and deadbolts replaced on both front and back doors.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Michael S.
09/2017
5.0
decks, handyman service, roofing, screen repair
 + 2 more
Contractor moved supplies and equipment and began the day after the building permit was approved. While the original estimate to complete the work was approximately 3 weeks, the porch was completed in less than 10 days.
Description of Work: Extending a porch from 5'x12' to 12'x12'(+). Included foundations, composite decking, railing, steps w/landing, screening all around, and a new roof. Contractor also installed a new ceiling fan and re-installed motion light.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$11,000
V J.
08/2017
5.0
handyman service
 + -1 more
Once again Patsy was extremely responsive and terrific to communicate with. He found another vent that needed caulking that we didn't even know existed. He's a joy to work with!
We found Patsy here on Angie's List and called him because of his A rating and because of all the complimentary reviews he received. He came over to meet us and look at the work we wanted done and we were impressed when we learned about his lengthy background in the construction business and the many different types of projects he had completed. We wanted him to construct, install and stain a wood bead board ceiling in a portico in front of our house that another contractor had left unfinished. He did a fantastic job at a reasonable price and we were extremely impressed with his perfectionist attention to detail and his expertise. Unlike other contractors we have worked with, he came when he said he would and finished on time, and checked in with us on specific details of the work and billed us as agreed upon. He is also a delightful and kind person as well! it has been a pleasure to work with him, and we highly recommend his work! We will definitely have him do more work for us in the future.
Description of Work: We needed the construction, installation and staining of a wood bead board ceiling and surrounding trim in a portico out in front of our house.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$1,400
V J.
06/2017
5.0
handyman service, roofing
 + 0 more
Communications with Patsy were incredibly smooth, and he was very responsive. He met us on time and gave us options. The work was performed on schedule and quickly. We were out of town at the time, but Patsy and the carpenter, Karen Patton, were very easy to communicate with while we were away. We can't say enough good things about Something Constructive!
Description of Work: Shed roof shingles removed and replaced. Added ridgeline vent.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$489
Sarah A.
06/2017
5.0
handyman service
 + -1 more
Very, very well. Patsy spent at least a day and a half in the TINY crawl space under our house, working with outdated plumbing and wiring which in our view, would make anyone cantankerous, but not him. He was always easy to work with. His work itself is excellent and his communication and response rate the same. We were away while work was done so almost every day we received pictures, texts or vms of the progress he'd made. He knows a lot of contractors in the area and gave us a good referral for our roof leak. All in all, you can't do better than Patsy Cicala, Jr.
Description of Work: Redo the bathroom in our old beach house. Remove tub, add new shower, reconfigure and add new vanity and toilet, paint. Reconfigure laundry room, put in new w/d.
Patsy and his team, particularly the awesome Karen, are always good and the work is excellent. If you need a very accomplished handyman in Sussex County DE, contract these guys. I wouldn't call anyone else.
Description of Work: I've hired Patsy and his team to do a number of jobs around the house. We started with a storm door install. They fixed a number of doors around our home and most recently closed in an old leaky French door with windows and a knee wall. Their work is always very good.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$500
JIM S.
05/2017
5.0
electrician, handyman service
 + 0 more
He is great! He did great work, even figuring out how to transport over the remote capability for the outdoor ceiling fan from the old fan, and was very efficient and cordial. He was very careful also about being neat. In setting up the appointment, he was extremely responsive, punctual and prepared. He charged a reasonable amount. I would definitely retain the company again.
Description of Work: Installing new outdoor ceiling fan, outdoor light and upgrading electrical outlets.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Kevin M.
03/2017
5.0
decks, handyman service
 + 0 more
Love the new railing, we decided to use pressure treated and paint the railing in a few months.
Description of Work: Patsy put a new railing on my porch and build in a seating area on one side. Excellent job, will use him again. Very professional
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
William D.
02/2017
5.0
handyman service
 + -1 more
Patsy knew exactly what to do, including, without my asking, placing extra supports to keep the ornament from rattling against the house or coming loose in the wind. He did a beautiful job and is a joy to work with.
Description of Work: We needed two ornamental hangings mounted on the outside of our house.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Timothy R.
10/2016
5.0
custom cabinets, doors
 + 0 more
Patsy and Gary are great to work with- though very busy, they were extremely communicative making arrangements to get me scheduled and fit into their work load....very happy.
Description of Work: I had an exterior door installed, and my porch painted.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Timothy R.
09/2016
5.0
handyman service, doors
 + 0 more
Patsy was great- came by to take a look at the job, said he had the time to do it right then and there, and got it done for me- got lucky, since I had all the materials needed already, so it was a quick and well-done job. Didn't expect that, but got it crossed off the list and found a new go-to guy! Very happy.
Description of Work: Install new exterior door
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
gail F.
09/2016
5.0
handyman service
 + -1 more
Excellent workmanship, prompt and reasonably priced.
Description of Work: Installed a handrail on our front porch steps.
All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.
*Contact business to see additional licenses.
Service Categories
Handyman Services,
Decks and Porches,
Doors,
Unfinished Carpentry,
Electrical,
Finished Carpentry and Woodworking,
Roofing,
Drywall,
Kitchen and Bath Remodeling,
Windows,
Cabinet Making,
Siding
FAQ
Something Constructive is currently rated 5 overall out of 5.
Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Something Constructive accepts the following forms of payment: Check
No, Something Constructive does not offer warranties.
Something Constructive offers the following services: Since I owned and operated a large Construction outfit, I have done every aspect of general contracting. But as a retire person, I have chosen to just do Handy-man work, renovations, small additions,and porches. (I can still run a dozer, backhoe and excavator, but my wife says no.)