TABOR DESIGN BUILD INC

they did an exceptional work - from the proposal documents to the final clean-up at the end.

The team was very experienced and professional. I would definitely hire again.

It was great. All the work was completed on time and budget. The quality was excellent and I was very pleased with the design and finished look. They also helped with some items in Kitchen, foyer and outside lighting. Would definitely use them again and refer to family/friends.

They were great -- we had an original, nearly 100 year old bathroom torn out and replaced. The job involved moving walls, relocating vent stacks, drain lines, etc. and the Tabor guys did a fantastic job. Modern systems (new electrical, fans, heated floors, tile) were added and what was most impressive was how they took care of every little detail, including the little unexpected things, and just got things done right.

Amazing! I don't know what is wrong with other people on this website. It looks like they must have been referring to the wrong contractor when performing their reviews. John Tabor of Tabor Design Build is AMAZING. He and his team are the absolute best in the industry. I had the pleasure of working with John and his team. He is so considerate, professional, up front ON EVERYTHING, and is SO PUNCTUAL it was refreshing. He commits to doing something up front in the agreement and HE DOES IT. It's a fact, John can't control the weather. But what he can control, he does. And, he follows through with every effort, making it a great, satisfying experience for ME, the customer. Bottom line, trust John from Tabor Design Build to meet and EXCEED all of your expectations.

     The work quality and customer service was a perfect example of World Class Excellence. The owner himself was present while work was performed and he insured/provided outstanding quality control. 

My sisters and I had inherited our family’s summer beach house on the Potomac River in Southern Maryland. We each have our own families now, but still use it often. We love to gather round the huge picnic table on the big screened porch –picking crabs, watching the osprey, and laughing over stories about growing up. But sometimes with a couple families in the house –it felt way too cramped, with everyone colliding into each other. What used to be plenty of space suddenly seemed like a sardine can. None of us were in the financial position to pay for an addition –but with each of us paying a portion, it seemed just doable. I had used Tabor Design Build, Inc. about a year ago, when I had my bathroom redone –so I suggested them. My sisters threw a couple other names into the hat and we researched companies and met with a few contractors. We all agreed to go with Tabor because he hires all the contractors from start to finish –from the initial designer right down to the finishing landscaper, and takes responsibility for everyone else’s work. Since none of us would be there to oversee the work during the week, we needed a one-stop-shop –one person to communicate with and report to. We all met at his office in Rockville and planned our addition on a large tv screen –where we could see exactly what different configurations would look like and what kind of costs would be associated with each new layout. We all finally agreed on an addition that would add a great room with a fireplace and two bedrooms with a jack-and-jill bathroom between them above it. Since the kitchen dated back to when we were kids –circa 1960’s, we also opted for a basic kitchen remodel –updating old laminate counter-tops, antique appliances, and yellowed flooring –while keeping and restoring the beautiful solid wood cabinetry. Tabor gave us each a day-to-day calendar to let us know exactly what work would be completed on which days. Since it had been somewhat complicated to figure out how much each family would spend on the project –we desperately needed a builder who would stick to the agreed upon budget. It could have been disastrous for family relationships if we had been faced with haggling over who would pay for unanticipated costs and budget overruns. Fortunately, as promised, Tabor kept costs contained and stayed within our budget –not a penny over what he had projected! The addition is beyond beautiful!! My sisters and I have spent an absolutely wonderful summer scouring the Southern Maryland antique shops and flea markets for furnishings and knick-knacks to decorate our new family retreat. We are no longer tripping over each other when more than one family comes down for a long weekend during the summer. And because of the gorgeous oversized stone fireplace, we are all looking forward to coming down to our refuge on the Potomac even in the winter (which we never used to do). Best of all, the new addition totally matches the rustic charm and beach-house character of the existing structure. If you didn’t know it had been renovated, you would definitely not be able to tell where the old house left off –and the new house began! Thanks to Tabor, we look forward to adding to our family beach-house scrap book, creating many more fond memories, and laughing at stories that our own kids will tell when they come down with families of their own in years to come.

The project went extremely well and we are completely satisfied. If you want to work with someone to realize your vision but at the same time not have to manage the day to day effort, then Tabor's team is the right choice for you. And everyone on the TDB team is straightforward. We lived in the house during the project, and I expected it to be a complete nightmare. I wouldn't call it pleasant, but it went surprisingly fine. I imagine it was just as stressful for the team to constantly have us underfoot as it was for us to live in a half finished house. The TDB team took steps to make sure that the daily construction work (and disruptions, like construction noise, dust, water turned off, etc.) were clearly communicated to us ahead of time so there were no surprises. Depending on your project TDB will certainly work with you to enable you to stay in the house, but you also need to accept the reality that you are living in a construction zone. The design process was very enjoyable and surprisingly smooth. John and his team excel at listening, helping you articulate your desires while showing you possibilities in real time. We did not feel guided much less pressured in any particular direction, John and his team simply helped us along and then drew up the plans. They were happy to make modifications as we came to a better understanding of what we wanted. A lot of the work was done by the TDB carpentry team, led by Don. Incredibly capable and skilled, and he did a great job keeping us informed as to what would be happening each day and the next. Don was also incredibly helpful and willing to answer questions, and many of them were simply asked out of curiosity. I will never forget the huge wind storm that hit at the worst possible time. They had just peeled the existing roof off and framed the new level above it, so the house was at its most vulnerable. And suddenly the weather forecast called for a brief but intense windstorm. The TDB team called in extra help to get the house into a safe state on Friday and Saturday and tarp'ed everything down extremely tightly. When I texted Don at 11:30 pm Saturday night to tell him the tarp had ripped loose (winds peaked at 60 MPH, and no tarp can withstand that!) his immediate response was "I'll be there in an hour." I had to persuade him to wait till the morning when it would be safer. He was there at 7 am Sunday morning looking over the site and making repairs. Roddy served as the Project Manager. The weekly tagups with him at the house were a huge help in keeping us informed about the longer range schedule beyond what we learned from Don. When materials would be arriving, when major portions of construction would be starting, permitting and inspection, etc. Roddy also coordinated the subcontractors. TDB does use a lot of subcontractors, and John was upfront about that at the beginning. But they have a lot of experience with those subcontractors and were able to pick reliable ones that they successfully worked with in the past. Multiple times TDB used its ongoing relationship with those subcontractors to eliminate potential problems before they began. And it was clear that TDB was taking careful note of the subcontractors' performance on this job to determine if they would be used in the future. TDB was also very careful about the quality of the work done by the subs - they treated the entire project as their work, and took responsibility and pride in it. The trade day was an invaluable learning experience. It is a great idea, and it is absolutely essential that you participate in it. It is an opportunity for you to interact with every single person who will be working on your project and make sure you are all on the same page. We were extremely nervous when it came to decisions about interior decor, but Jane (TDB's interior designer) was terrific. We spent many unrushed hours talking with her about our preferences, and she would have been happy to spend even more. The technique of finding examples on Houzz is very effective. Jane was able to look at things we flagged and then find 3-5 reasonably priced options that matched our preferred style. We very much appreciated the leg work she did to narrow the options down from hundreds to a manageable 3-5. John gave us a ballpark price right at the first meeting, but we all discussed it was a only a rough estimate of what projects in this range often cost. He made it clear that after the trade day he would be able to produce a precise cost, which he did. Unsurprisingly, that final cost did grow from the initial ballpark. Much of that growth was because of decisions we made, and John provided us with warnings at each of those decisions that they would cause cost growth. And once the final cost was done, and we inevitably had to cut back the scope and cost, John was able to help identify areas where we could save money and give us options (with associated savings). I will say this: TDB stuck to that final cost, and they made it clear that while we were welcome to make changes during construction, those changes would also change the cost. In some cases changes we made actually LOWERED the cost. And TDB was very good about documenting all of them in Change Orders, which were provided to us to review and sign before the work was done. We highly recommend TDB for your whatever project you have in mind.

Design and Selection

TDB's portfolio is varied and I believe that's because they start with their clients' vision--not their own preference for particular design elements or materials. Other contractors we interviewed seemed to dismiss our preferences in favor of putting forward their own solutions or the options they thought we should select. John didn't do that. Instead, he and his team members listened to everything we said, and only offered alternatives or new ideas when we asked for them. As a result, the design process was organic, with us explaining what we wanted as their designers made it materialize on the spot, via 3D design software. Seeing our home's new configuration in 3D as it took shape was thrilling, and we definitely felt that we were leading the process, even though our prior home renovation experience was basically nil.

Tabor is proud of his design team, with good reason. One of his strengths is that he hires good people, gives them the tools they need to do their job well, and then sits back and lets them do it. Although John was present at every stage of the design, members of his team took the reins at different times. Some might fear that having the boss in the room would result in his being controlling or overbearing. Instead of hogging the spotlight, John let his team members shine, and was there mainly to support and help them by fetching samples, looking things up for the selection coordinator, and answering questions that arose. The mutual esteem he shares with his employees is evident, and makes them truly function as a team, playing off each others' strengths. It was a pleasure to observe them working so well and efficiently together.

We were also the recipients of TDB's respect and courtesy. During meetings we had their full attention. No interruptions, phone calls/texts, or web surfing (unless it was to look something up for the design). At no time did we feel that TDB treated us any differently than their high-end reno clients. Our modest house was just as important to them as the most elaborate million-plus-dollar residence. After being rejected for an interview by another builder who claimed our project was "too small" for them to take, TDB's treatment of us was refreshing.

As the project moved from design to planning, John and his employees smoothed the way for us. His selections coordinator, Heather (she has since left the firm for employment closer to her home), was invaluable in helping us to navigate the myriad finishes, floor coverings, bathroom fixtures, appliances, lighting, trims, molding?you name it. By looking at our tagged ideas on Houzz, Heather zeroed in on the most pertinent options for each selection, then sat with us for (literally) hours on end while we hashed through them (on one occasion during a major snowstorm!). She communicated with us often and was always available to answer questions or address our concerns. She also worked hard at finding ways to save us money.

We don't know if other design/build firms do "trade day" at the residence, but for us it was informative to have TDB's various subcontractors visit our home to scope out the work. It was also an opportunity for us to meet and talk with the people who would be working on our house. Each of these professionals brought a particular expertise to the project and was able to illuminate issues of which we, the homeowners, were ignorant. All of them enjoy a close working relationship with TDB, something that make our renovation project run like clockwork. Having worked together on many other projects, TDB and the contractors all knew what to expect from each other.

Construction Agreement

One of the few criticisms we have of Tabor is in relation to a large difference between our preliminary budget and the final estimate on our construction agreement. Our project began with a preliminary budget of $200k; by the time we signed the construction agreement it had risen to $300k, even after eliminating many of the options we thought would be within our reach. The ultimate cost of our project had less to do with the fixtures and finishes we'd selected than the amount of labor needed to transform our existing home. On the day John met with us to go over the agreement, we felt a bit blindsided by the large difference between initial budget and proposal, and we wish he'd given us an earlier heads-up that the cost of our project was likely to be well over the starting estimate. While detailed information may not have been available to him, John is experienced enough to recognize when costs are mounting. For someone who prides himself on his firm's transparency, a few words of warning between "trade day" and construction agreement would have lessened the intensity of our "sticker shock" when presented with the final proposal.

That said, the price presented in the Construction Agreement was dead on. Because all the tradespeople had visited the property on Trade Day to take measurements and fully examine existing conditions, their estimates were accurate. Many of them questioned us thoroughly before presenting bids, to minimize costly change orders at a later date.

Demo/Construction

When we discussed our renovation plans with friends, everyone told us the process would take weeks or months longer than originally planned. So when John told us our project would be completed in a little more than three months, we were skeptical. Early on we hit a snag when getting our building permits approved took weeks longer than predicted. This wasn't something TDB had control over, though their previous experience with our city permit office was to have permits issued only days after application. Because of our experience, John says the firm will be more cautious about timetables in the future, now that they know quick permit turnaround may not happen every time.

Once permits were in hand, however, the project raced ahead full speed! Weeks of delay meant that all materials had been ordered and delivered, so the various tradespeople were able to hit the ground running. In one dramatic 72-hour period the second floor of our house was completely demolished and carted off, the new second story was framed, the new roof was installed, and all second floor windows were in place! Subsequent tasks were completed without further delays.

During construction a snag arose when we asked Washington Gas to move our gas meter, something design-build firms are not legally permitted to do. Instead of completing our request, the technician WG sent removed the meter, shut down our service, and cancelled our account! This botched service cascaded into WG insisting that our line needed to be upgraded?all the way to the main line at the center of our street?before a new meter could be installed. WG?s poor customer service, misinformation, and lack of accountability made getting our new gas meter a huge headache. TDB helped us meet these challenges by quickly engaging a plumber to do the interior part of the upgrade, a costly but necessary job that probably would not have been so expensive had we known at the outset that WG was going to kidnap our account and hold it hostage until after the upgrade.

Through it all, our lead carpenter, Don, and project manager, Rick, kept us informed of what was happening. They reported issues that arose and were always available to explain things and get our feedback. Don was on site for virtually the entire project, so electricians, plumbers, painters and other tradesmen had direct communication with TDB at all times. When issues with the gas company arose, Don was particularly diligent in reporting what was happening; he basically functioned as our eyes and ears at the house when we couldn?t be there.

That kind of oversight is an aspect of design-build that we felt benefited us a great deal. As newbies to hom

We had an excellent experience with Tabor Design Build. John Tabor was a pleasure to work and helped us turn our vision into a reality. Jason who did the installation was also a pleasure to work with, as were Rick and the rest of the team. They were extremely professional and responsive and we are very pleased with the end product. I would highly recommend them!

The performance and execution of Tabor Design Build INC was immaculate. I don't know if I can write a glowing enough review! Our master bedroom is exactly how we imagined, and the sub-contractors respectfully took care of and cleaned the work area. Every single one of our requests were met, and any questions were warmly welcome. I highly recommend using Tabor Design Build INC. The family room now includes ample space for additional furniture and was crafted to suit a wonderfully open atmosphere. As for the kitchen, after the work was complete, I had some concerns with the cabinets (the way they look). Tabor Design Build INC promptly responded to and aided in answering any questions or concerns (including the cabinets) I had to make sure the customer was satisfied. I highly recommend using this company for your next project!

This project was many years in the making. I talked with several contractors over a few months? time, finally settling with
Tabor Design Build. The design team was able to create exactly what I had envisioned while staying very close to my budget. [We did go over a bit] We are very satisfied and happy with the final results. The master bedroom is now a real version of what I had drawn on legal pads for years. My wife has her extra -large walk in closet and our charging station is the best! The new master bath is just awesome. A nice big Jacuzzi tub and an extra-large shower with a bench and two niches. Two separate sinks make the mornings much easier when both of you are trying  to get out the door.I was happy that the crew at Tabor seemed able
to anticipate our needs and communicated with us almost constantly about the state of progress and what to expect next. The selection process was divided up to make it manageable and the proposed selections were right in the ball park price wise. We did change a few things as we went along, and that was not a problem. Some cost us more, others created a refund. The subs on site were clean and courteous; the site was kept clean most of the time. The guys showed up each day at 7am and left around 3 or 4 depending on the need of the day. They stayed late a few times only after asking permission to do so.All in all I am very pleased  to recommend Tabor Design Build  to anyone with a project in mind!

It went well. Good design ideas. I was ready to build and didn?t realize how much up front work there is to this. John Tabor was recommended by a friend who had had work done also.

Our kitchen is now almost twice as large as it was, with an island. I am happy with the work and the results. It is very nice to have so much space for storage. We went all out for the granite counter tops and love them. We spend a lot of time in the kitchen so the added space and the bar stools at the island have already made for some great times. We also added a two story addition on the rear of the house. A family room below a master bedroom suite. It has worked out well. I very much enjoy the larger shower. The family room adjoins the kitchen creating a large open gathering area. We love it.

 The crew was mature and hard working. Sub contractors were used for several things, like the electric and plumbing, roofing, floors. They seemed to be managed well. The work  was well done. There are a lot of inspections by the county. The work area was well cleaned at night and for the weekends. I felt the price was fair for what we got, and the effort to make it happen. The few changes we made went smoothly.

I would recommend Tabor Design Build to a friend

We had Tabor Design Build install a wonderful new screen porch and patio with a fire pit and stone benches. The project was difficult because of the limited space we had to build in. The Tabor team was so helpful in presenting multiple options and product types for our addition and yard. The project started on time and was completed within a week of the projected finish date?that was very important to us as we had plans to use this during the current summer. The lead carpenter was very helpful and kept  the site clean and safe for our kids and the dog. Each week we met with the  production manager and the lead carpenter  to review what was completed and what was to happen the following week. These meetings went a long way toward keeping the stress of remodeling low. During the finish phase there was no let up?.before we knew it, the job was done, we were walking the punch list with the lead carpenter and feeling quite satisfied with what we had done.A few minor issues have come up since completion of the project. In each case Tabor responded quickly and addressed and resolved the issues! I am highly recommending tabor to anyone who reads this. We will use them again.

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Recently I was scheduled for hospitalization and I realized when I got home I would need a high-intensity light in order for me to do my needlepoint. I had checked into several types of lighting and became confused as to what would be best. As usual I contacted Tabor Design Build to see if they could help me with my dilemma. I have been dealing with Tabor Design Build and John Tabor for over 15 years now. They have done both major and minor renovations to my house and I have come to trust John's opinion greatly.

John stop by the house, we discussed my need and where I would need the light and within a couple of days he had his workmen out here to install a high intense light in the ceiling of my bedroom. As always Tabor's laborers were professional, polite, thorough and cleaned after themselves when the project was completed.

I highly recommend Tabor Design Build for both large and small renovations to your home. They will take special care of your home just as you would and do an excellent job.

The renovation went extremely well. We had multiple meetings with John (owner) and the Tabor team upfront to discuss and design exactly what we wanted for our finished basement. Their interior design specialist, Heather, was great at helping us choose nice materials that would fit in our price range. We didn't have to go to multiple store locations to look at materials - they had samples and books in-house for us to look at. Tabor also organized a "trade day" where local contractors came to the house to view the space and price out how much it would cost to do the work. We really liked this because it meant they were looking to get the best possible price. Tabor has done business with many of their contractors for years and trust them, which also made us feel good about having these people in and out of our house. 
In terms of the work, we had a GREAT experience with the lead carpenter, Frank. He kept us in the loop on what stage of the renovation process they were in, when materials were being delivered, etc. Frank was also a pleasure to work in general, and because he helped us to think through various changes/tweeks along the way. The quality of the carpentry is amazing, and all the contractors (plumbers, electricians, drywall, painters, etc) did excellent work. Overall, we are extremely happy with the end result, and would work with the Tabor team again in a heart beat!

It went great! Starting with  the design phase, John and his team spent hours going over  the possibilities with us. He was open to our ideas and thoughts and we carefully choose a final plan that has worked out perfectly. I am a very detail oriented person so i was pleased that time could be spent making sure the project  got off in the right direction, with the right ideas in mind.

The work phase was  a wonder. Starting with the excavator who dug our basement, to the roofer banging away it was  a real joy to stop by each day and see what was done. The men were always friendly and helpful. I did not have a problem with trash or even mud on the street! [ i was worried about that] Weekly meetings with the lead carpenter and production manager helped to  keep me aware of what  had happened and what was about  to happen. I found the team  to be easy  to reach by phone and e mail.

The job took about  a week longer than we planned, but with the changes made, by us, on the fly it did not concern me.

We have been in the new addition about a month now. Everything works, the few problems we have had  have been addressed straight away. The space is all we wanted it to be, we definitely want to recommend Tabor Design Build

We recently hired Tabor Design Build to remodel our master bathroom.  I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis and was told I was a candidate for hip replacement.  I was struggling to stand up in the shower long enough to get fully washed and simply could not get in and out of the bathtub without serious pain.  I sorely missed my relaxing bubble baths that so totally de-stressed me.  I called Tabor and was able to speak with a designer right away.  Within days, Heather & Jeremy came to talk with us about our needs and take a look at our existing space.  Heather was extremely informed about various fixtures and amenities that are specifically designed for people with physical challenges.  She suggested replacing our old tub with a ?walk-in? tub with therapeutic water jets and a built-in water heater.  She also had other suggestions like building an enlarged shower separate from the tub and adding a seating bench, installing a hand-held shower and slider bar for adjusting the height of the shower spray, and replacing the old toilet with a combination toilet/bidet.  Once she and Jeremy designed the bathroom with everything we wanted, we visited the Tabor office in Rockville and they showed us our virtual bathroom on a large computer screen.  We were able to choose from various options and were able to actually see what various versions of our bathroom would look like
before we eventually decided on a look and style that we loved.  Before the work began, John asked all of the contractors to come to our house on the same day, so he could get exact prices for the work we planned to have done.  We were also able to meet all of the contractors who would be working in our bedroom before any work was performed.  If we had a reservation about anyone on the construction team, we could have alerted John before the project began ?saving us both the stress and
complications that go along with discovering you don?t trust the electrician or the plumber when you?re in the middle of a project and the bathroom?s torn apart.  Because of John?s pre-planning, he was able to give us an exact budget ?that came in to the penny without any dickering over the cost once the work was already underway.  He also provided us with a project calendar, which identified exactly what part of the project was being completed and which contractors we could expect in our house on which day.  This projection also turned out to be on the mark ?with work completed exactly on the day he said it would be.  Don, our project manager did a great job keeping me informed of what was going on and checking in with me on a daily basis to make sure everything was okay.  I had initially called Tabor to find solutions to my physical challenges ?but I got so much more that I had not anticipated.  Our new bathroom is beyond beautiful.  Not only are the new replacements very functional for someone with limited movement, the room is like walking into a piece of art.  The flooring in particular is simply exquisite ?with a spirally design of small polished stones flowing through the most beautifully patterned marble.  It is nearly seven months later and I cannot stop walking into my new bathroom, just to admire it.  It has become my sanctuary!

We are very impressed with work that Tabor Design Build did on our bathroom.  They were able to bring to reality what we had visualized. Tabor actually brought our bathroom into 2015 from the original design of 1974. 

The tile work was done beautifully and looks like something you would see in a magazine.  We are so very pleased.

The workers were courteous and respected our  home, which we continued to live in while the project was being completed.

I am especially impressed with the lead worker Jason who went out of his way to make sure that everything was done to our satisfaction.

We will definitely call Tabor Design Build again for our next project.

I was very satisfied with the work done. The lead carpenter, Jason, was very punctual and precise. It took some time, given it was around the holidays, but I am extremely pleased with the results. I had an estimate done before I hired tabor designs, and was told my requests were near impossible to accomplish... Sure enough, Tabor had no hesitation during the estimate and executed the task flawlessly.