G. Christianson Construction

unknown

Excellent work

My experience with them was top notch. They're conscientious. Christianson himself, who runs the show, doesn't just turn his workers loose and then pick the check up at the end of the month. He is involved in the process. He's also very personable.

The project went even better than we expected.
We had some simple plans (basically an architect's sketch), a rough budget, and a bunch of ideas. Christianson worked patiently with us to put some facts and precision into the project.
For example, at the beginning of the project, our original plan had been to keep the existing shell, then re-arrange the interior to implement the architect's plan. Christianson took almost a week to look carefully at our plans and the existing shell. Then he politely informed us that the best, most economical way to do the job was to demolish the section before rebuilding it from the foundation up. At first, I was surprised and resistant, but they made a logical case. I had to agree. In the end, I was delighted. The end product was superb, and the price was reasonable.
Christianson hired a construction designer who proved very competent, and the detailed plans came together well. We made an explicit agreement with Christianson that speed was NOT an important part of our requirements, so Christianson had plenty of time to schedule work at the most economical time. Christianson took full advantage of this situation and was often able to obtain very good prices from their subcontractors.
Considering the scope of work and the quality of the end result, we felt we got a very economical job. For example, the project included new windows and exterior doors for the whole house. Because we wanted a quality job, we had planned on high-end window manufacturing companies. Christianson got prices for windows by those companies, but they proved very expensive. He showed us a line of high quality windows from another company (one that advertised less) and suggested we use them. We did. It's been more than three years, and the windows are still functioning perfectly and are quite attractive.
During the work, I visited the site almost daily (we moved out for more than 5 months). I have some construction experience, dating from my youth. I know good work when I see it. I did not see a single example of shoddy worksmanship or corner=cutting by Christianson or any of his subcontractors. In fact, they were often working to a higher level of craft than I had ever seen. For example, where I had seen 2x4's doubled in framing for large windows, these subs often tripled or quadrupled them.
Working with Christianson on this project was so enjoyable that I almost wish I could do it again.
(Except for the part about moving out. But that was our choice.)

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It was a good experience. We have used them a couple of times. They did very high quality work and I would not change any detail. They were very responsive. We did not really have any problems with them. They were right on schedule towards completing the project but their price was a little bit high.

Carl came up with a few different designs to shade the front windows from sun during the summer. The designs were done with software that could show the amount of shading and view from different angles, including from inside the house, at different times of the year. This was very helpful in visualizing the designs and making decisions. We did not find a design that was effective, did not significantly block the view of the night sky, had a decent appearance, and was sufficiently durable for several years.
Carl came out to evaluate the house, including examining the attic and roof, and taking measurements. With the data, he used another program to determine the number of additional vents (eave and ridge) needed to bring the attic ventilation up to code. He found skylights that opened, had blinds, and qualified for a solar power rebate. Originally, I was hoping to put on a metal roof due to longevity, low maintenance, and recyclability. I had him bid for a metal roof and 2 levels of composition fiberglass/asphalt roofing. He had Orezona Building Co. bid on the roofing and also checked prices with another roofer. (Orezona evaluation appears separately.)
A clearly written and understandable bid was submitted to me, with roofing options. Estimates for a metal roof turned out to be quite expensive due to the labor involved with all the angles and penetrations on my roof. We agreed that it would be better to get a good quality shingle and use the $ saved for other improvements. I selected a light colored, upper mid-grade shingle (IKO Cambridge, 15 yr unlimited + 25 yr prorated) and opted for a heavier tarpaper. There are various opinions among roofers about tar paper. Some indicate it has no bearing on roof leaks while others say that it is a 2nd line of defense against a leak. Most agree that a thicker tarpaper is not so susceptible to damage during installation and is less slick to walk on. Since the additional cost for a heavier tarpaper is small, get the heavier stuff. In some areas and roof pitches prone to ice dams, you might consider a different material, which Carl can also advise on.
Carl came by to check after the initial roofing tearoff and tarpapering, to check that the roofing and attic ventilation work had been done properly, to adjust the skylight blinds, and adjust the fan thermostat. He replaced at his expense, a small solar light that had disappeared during one of the roofer's daily cleanups. Good followthrough to completion.
The roofing has gone through 1 winter with no problems. Some adjustments to the attic roof fan thermostat may still be needed. I really appreciate being able to open the skylights for ventilation and having skylight blinds to control the sunlight. I found the blinds also reduced the heat loss during the winter even further than the argon gas-filled double-paned skylights.
The final cost was as contracted. Carl was easy to work with and accessible by phone and email. 2 thumbs up!

They cost was reasonable. I would recommend his services to anyone.

They did a very good job!

The work turned out fine.

We are really happy with their work. When we ordered cabinets from a different company, they couldn't get them installed correctly. G. Christianson Construction was able step in and install the cabinets correctly for us. They are very good.