ABACUS BUILDERS

We hired Abacus to replace our back deck and install new crown molding in 4 rooms, and we couldn’t be happier with the finished product! The whole process was effortless from start to finish. We sent Mark a few photos of our deck and the rooms where we wanted to install crown molding. Within a couple of days we received a competitive quote that clearly outlined the details and costs, so we decided to hire them for the project. Before they started, Mark came out to discuss specific options about the deck and crown molding and helped us make sure we were happy with all of the plans before beginning the work. We scheduled a date and they started exactly when they said they would. Throughout the project the crew was very professional and friendly, and happy to answer our questions. They kept us up to date on project status and when we could expect the next steps to be completed. They had originally estimated the project would take 2 weeks and they did everything in only 6 days! They stuck to their original quote, and in fact, even came in under budget by a few hundred dollars. Every day we came home our house and the building common hallway were clean. The crew did a fantastic job about abiding by our building specific rules about work times etc, they are very professional and respectful. Overall this was the smoothest experience we’ve had with any contractor and wish we had found them sooner!

Our experience with Abacus was overwhelmingly positive. We engaged them to replace the rotting trim on our house with plastic composite. Their price was competitive. They began work on time and finished well within our window. The workers were very considerate of our household. The quality of their workmanship was very good. Toward the end of the project there were small problems that needed to be remedied. All of the problems were quickly addressed and we are very pleased with the results.

Overall we couldn’t have been happier with our decision to go with Abacus. From beginning to end, the folks at Abacus made this a positive and memorable experience. Starting on day one they arrived on time and moved fast. We were shocked at how quickly they completed the demo and also how they would try and clean up at the end of each day – this was a common theme throughout the project. It’s a little thing, but really appreciated as we would stop in from time to time to check on progress. We liked that they were taking as much care with our home as we would if we were doing the work ourselves. Throughout the process we had clear lines of communication with Mark Little and other key folks on-site (Gerald was a godsend!) which really helped as we had questions or they needed to prod us to get them answers. It was an open dialogue the whole time. And even more helpful is that they couldn’t have been more responsive when we would reach out via text, phone or email. That’s not to say there weren’t occasional hiccups from time to time (this is going to happen on any large scale project like this), but we always talked them through and figured out ways to correct them. The fact that we could promptly talk them through over the phone or in person was really important to us and Mark, as well. Abacus also helped us stay on track by providing us a list of to-do’s with key dates when they needed answers or actual hardware/appliances in order for us to stay on track. We always tried to do our best to meet their deadlines, but even when we couldn’t they were understanding and kept other project aspects moving so as to stay on schedule. The work itself was incredibly top notch and can be seen in the attention to the details (both big and small). The tile work, the floors, the custom fireplace, the trim, the decks and roofdeck, even our basement storage area. You name it, they clearly took the greatest care when working on our house. The carpenter on the project built a custom desktop made from pieces of leftover mahogany and it’s better than anything we could have purchased directly from a retailer or vendor. It’s honestly one of my favorite things about the house. That and the main staircase. As mentioned earlier, it was so important that we keep the character of the house intact and this started with heart of the house, the original staircase, including the handrail and large first floor banister. This was no easy task when you consider how old the house was (1890s) and that the staircase extended up three flights to the top floor and also needed to match a new handrail going down to a newly created living space in the basement. Abacus was not only up to the task, but they absolutely exceeded our expectations. It’s the first thing people see when they walk in the house and always comment on how gorgeous it is. It truly is hard to put into words how thankful we are for the beautiful end product. Just the other day we had someone come in to put up wallpaper in one of the bedrooms and the person said they work on houses all over New England, including a lot of home renovations in South Boston, and she said that you could really tell that whoever worked on the house knew what they were doing and really cared about the project – “The people who worked on this house are true professionals” was her exact quote. And she couldn’t have been more spot on. Thank you Mark and the team at Abacus for giving us the house of our dreams! P.S. Photos of our renovation are available on Abacus's website.

I inquired to see if they could swing by and give me a quote for a very large scoped project. He indicated that they were already booked up solid, but did recommend me to call a colleague. I'm happy to see professionals recommend other professionals - I've yet to meet his colleague (that's tomorrow), but I will say that this is a class act - plus he was fast to respond! Perhaps next time!

called in the midst of the many feet of snow and they came and cleared the roof and then rebuilt stairs that had been storm damaged

They wouldn't visit our property until they received a copy of the appraisal from our insurance company and when we gave it to them - they ignored all our phone calls and we never heard from them again.

excellant

unknown

Contractor was called without prior experience with this company and addressed my concerns of the snow on my roof immediately sending out his workmen within days to clear it. The gutter and stairs were damaged due to the ice/snow and they fixed both issues, the stairs were rebuilt within days and the gutter reinstalled as soon as the weather permitted. I would call mark without hesitation int he future

The company was very easy to work with. I was able to speak with the owner regularly. Everyone was helpful and supportive and they were very professional. It was an overall positive experience.

Going great!

I've had very limited interaction with contractors so I didn't know what to expect, but Abacus was very professional, prompt, courteous, and swift in their work. Arranging a date/time for the work to begin took several back-and-forth conversations over days on account of our busy schedules, but once the time frames lined up the work went quite quickly and smoothly. It was clear their experience showed they knew exactly what to do and how to get it done efficiently. They were very good at making sure I understood what needed to be done, what was going to happen, and confirmed their choices in how to resolve the repairs matched with my expectations. As a homeowner, I'm very relieved to have built a relationship with a firm I now trust and respect. I'll definitely call Abacus for my future house maintenance and improvement needs.

Mark's crew fixed a roof gutter which had been leaking for quite some time. They were able to assess the problem and fix the leak where others had failed. Not a big job but one that could have led to bigger problems.

Kitchen looks gorgeous overall but several issues. Had to beg them to get permits. Lost a lot of sleep worrying about the legal ramifications. Wouldn't get them until I told them I'd started speaking to the inspector myself. They had no trouble lying to my face. Terrible job on my floors. Went right over my 120 yr old ratty subfloor. My brand new wood floors squeak and you can push the ends down with your toe. No heat for months. Had to hire a plumber myself to reconnect. Cost me $400. Electrician cut the power to my living room light and wouldn't fix it. $250 out of my pocket. Tile guy did an atrocious job. Contractor assured me they'd fix it. Guy came back and said he wouldn't fix it. Now I have to hire a tile guy myself and a floor guy to see if he can fix the loose boards. They can make a big project work on a small budget, but if you are looking for top quality you might be disappointed. I would have paid the extra cost for a subfloor, better tile work, or permits if I knew

Mark and the team at Abacus are fantastic. I had multiple bids to renovate a 3 story single family home in South Boston and the Abacus team showed up on sight, walked through my plans and had a quote ready with 24 hours. Mark handled all permits, spoke with the neighbors about the work his team was doing and stayed on time (and most importantly on budget). We had multiple things change throughout the process due to the age and layout of the home and each time Mark was upfront offering a solution to every problem. His entire team was courteous and I had no problems interacting with anyone throughout the entire remodel. We had purchased a faulty tankless hot water heater and the Abacus team took care of the entire process of getting a new one directly from the manufacture and having the plumber come back and reinstall it at no extra cost. During this time when we did not have heat, they purchased a space heater for us. These are the little things that the Abacus team does that do not go unnoticed! I would highly recommend Mark and the Abacus team!

In both cases, Mark's team got all of the work done on time and on budget. He never raised his price and took great pride in the quality of the work. They left the site clean and tidy. They suggested improvements that would be good for us and gladly did it quickly. We had to move in and had only three weeks to get the interior work done and he made the deadline with no problems. We moved into a fully renovated house in less than a month. In the yard, we need to get the fence and gate up before the ground froze and to protect our house. They finished a day early and everything was perfect. Mark is a truly honest and professional contractor who takes pride in doing a good job and meeting a client's expectations. We would not only hire him again. We would not hire anyone else.

Mark was great from beginning to end. Very professional, right on budget and didn't even take payment until after the project was done

Recently purchased the top floor unit on a condoized 3 family in Southie. The builder wanted to build a roof deck but did not get permits in time for sale. Originally wanted simple spiral staircase on back deck going up to roof, but was denied at ISD. Resubmitted with stairs going up back staircase to roof with a roof hatch, was approved. Had about 10 contractors come out, most not interested in the job. Ended up with 3 usable bids and chose Abacus. Mark Little is very friendly and will explain everything in detail, if you ask. Built the roof-deck such that its not sitting on the roof, but floating off the roof and resting on metal railings that attach at 4 distinct points. Pointed out roof work that needed to be done due to sloppy installation of siding on house. Negotiated a price directly with his roofer and paid him separately. Now that deck is done, inspected and Mark's been paid, he is continuing to help me with minor items relating to the deck.

unknown

Mark was excellent. Worked well with electrical and plumber contracts. Very responsive and always return my calls. Stayed within budget and one time.

Mark gave me a written estimate, followed up with written contract with completion dates and costs also included his liability insurance.