THE FINISHING COMPANY

Cross-posted from Google. I feel funny writing this review because all but one of the other reviews on this site are all 5 stars and my experience with this company doesn't rate nearly that well. First off, I picked this company based on all of the glowing reviews I read about it. My expectations were very high considering the words from previous reviews stating that the work was "craftsman quality". I was able to find one review on this site (Angie's List) that supports my experience so this is definitely not a one-time deal. I have worked as an engineer for the last 30 years and have very high standards that I hold myself to and expect the same from folks that I pay for work as well. Brian came to my house and told us what he planned to do for the stair railing and iron baluster project that I wanted completed. This is the first upgrade of a bigger project that will replace all of my floors and stairs with solid wood. We gave him free reign of the house and he took advantage of it. Knowing that, Brian asked my wife about the floors and she told him they were getting replaced so he didn't have to be extra careful. That was probably our first mistake since he proceeded to get stain and other stuff all over the carpet. He apparently thought that allowing him to ruin the carpet also meant that he didn't have to worry about the walls around the area he was working. While stripping the stain and lacquer around the wood anchor points for the railing on the walls he got crap all over them and then when he stained it got stain on the walls as well. He didn't even tape around any of the painted areas that he was working next to. The name of his company is "The Finishing Company" but the finishing part seems to have been left out of my project. My wife complained to him about the walls and he begrudgingly stated that he would touch up the paint as long as she went and bought paint. She bought the paint and he basically just slapped the paint on the walls with no care to it looking good or blending in at all. Remember this is "The Finishing Company" we are talking about! After six work days the time came for him to reveal the "finished" project and my wife and I were disappointed. Brian presented the project as complete but we noticed that the finished/stained oak pieces showed cross-grain, deep sand marks that had been stained over to show the flaw even better. Also, the buttons used to cover the screws holding down the base oak were sanded flat, as he stated he would do from the beginning, but he didn't sand all of them flat. I asked what about these ones and he stated that he couldn't reach them with the sander and that he didn't "have to" sand them flat. This was all after he stated he would sand them flat the very first day! He also glues the iron balusters in the hand rail and the glue looks very sloppy where it is glued in. I can see it very clearly every time I walk up the stairs. Brian said that I needed to stand back at the front door and look at the project, which looks good from a distance until you are the owner and look at it every day close up as you walk up the stairs and see the flaws. I believe that all of the things that we complained about would have taken him very little time to fix but he couldn't be bothered with it. He argued with me about everything I pointed out to him and brushed everything off telling me that people pay extra for the "flaws" to make it look old and worn. I told him I didn't pay for those flaws but it didn't faze him one bit. He didn't clean up well daily when he left for the day and left pieces of sharp screws in the carpet as well as bits of metal, staples, and very sharp wood as well. Since the project spanned the 3 day Memorial Day weekend (which he didn't work), Brian left most of his stuff in the house, barely out of our way. My wife was at home the whole time during the project and said that Brian slammed the door going into and out of my garage every time he went in and out. We certainly didn’t get the same “craftsman” Brian that other reviewers on this and other site's got. He asked me what percentage I gave him and I initially said 90% and he thought that was good. If you ran 90% of a race would that be considered finished? That last 10% was the important part and the part I see daily walking up and down those stairs. Brian wrote me an email asking me to change or delete my review on Google and when I told him I wouldn't he began to write very ugly and unprofessional things about me and my family in emails to me. I have many other pictures, besides the 2 provided, of everything and also all of the emails sent to me if anyone is interested.

Everything looks good.

Brian is an extreme professional. From my first point of contact, he was prompt and very accommodating. I provided him the total length, number of inside and outside corners, and desired style and within a few hours I had back a full estimate including images sample options and costs of each. I explained to Brian that I was still in the bidding phase of my project, and he confirmed understanding and allowed me to contact him after I was ready to go. At the end of the day, Brian had the best price for the work and considering his professionalism so far, it made it any easy decision to go forward with his work.
Brian let me know that he had some time in early April and would be in touch. To my surprise he contacted me early and explained he had some available time to fit me in early, so I accepted and we had a time slot. The morning the work was scheduled to be completed, Brian and his associate Scott showed up exactly on time and did a very thorough walk through of the site. He asked detailed questions so he could understand my idea fully. 
Scott started to carefully move any impeding furniture and put down mats to avoid any damage to my wood floors. Brian set up and was very non intrusive while doing the work. They worked extremely quickly and efficiently cleaning up as they worked. They were able to complete the entire job in about 1.5 days (~10 hours). 
Brian also recommended a very reasonable painter that could take care of the painting the crown moldings and any other paint jobs I might have. Brian went above and beyond and helped show the painter the work to get an estimate as I was unavailable during the time he stopped by.
I would absolutely hire Brian for my future finishing needs as his craftsmanship was great and runs a great business! My wife and I couldn't be happier with the end result.

I am a details person with high standards for myself as well as others. Considering this I met with Brian (The Finishing Company) at me home to discuss the project in detail. I clearly asked him not to take the job if the details were too much, or if this wasn't going to be what I envisioned for my $7,000.00 investment. He stated there would be no problems meeting my expectations and that they were clear up front.
Things progressed well in the beginning and the wainscoting job was remarkable. This is where The Finishing Company excels. Trim, Wainscoting Etc.
Brian took several looks at the job beforehand and suggested that I keep and allow him to refinish the existing risers. I stated in writing "not at the cost of quality" sticking to his plan he chose not to replace the risers.
As the 1 week job was winding to a finish, I became concerned about the risers beat up appearance. The rst was looking fantastic, but this sore subject was back again! I wrote Brian an email that morning from work expressing my concern. At first he reacted as though he could not understand my concern. I was irritated and by the time the conversation ended he admitted that the risers did in fact not turn out as he had hoped. The casing was painted and the visible sign gs of the previous caulking/coats of paint are still there in the light for all to see as well! I said details! 
I spend careful time communicating what I want and he communicated the cash that will cost me.  I did not get what we agreed at all!
Three of the stair toppers are cupped. They do not sit flat and I didn't expect that would be final job material.
Brian explained to me that he does not do Finished carpentry at this point! This shocked me! Especially given his company's name.
I paid him his money as contracted, and have not seen nor heard from him since. Despite emails communicating items needing attention. Clearly this is a done deal in his eyes.
I had my hardwood floor guys look into the stairs and landings. They said they were coated without being prepped, just wham bam. I paid them to sand and smooth the whole staircase and it turned out much better. 400 .00
I only want to give people like me an Honest review before they spend their hard earned money! Feel free to contact me as I am very passionate about this experience for additional details.
The Finishing company does great work where it specializes. Trim, wainscoting Etc. NOT staircases and floors! Beware of this level of a job!

Excellent service and workmanship!

Brian was prompt and professional. He repaired the problem with a door alignment and frame crack quickly and without mess. We had agreed on a higher price, but because it did not take too long, he would not accept that amount and lowered his price accordingly.  I would recommend him highly.

Brian did a great job and did exactly what he said he would do.  The balusters and the crown look great.  I will be using him to do my upstairs crown molding very soon.

Really great work!!

Brian did a great job on our wrought iron baluster installation. He completed the job in one day, by 4 p.m., and left the work area very clean. We had originally planned on having black wrought balusters installed, but Brian recommended the oil rubbed bronze and he was right. Our staircase looks so much better now and we really look forward to decorating our staircase during the 2014 holidays. I have already recommended him to one of neighbors and I hope they contact Brian. If they do, they will not be disappointed.

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When we moved into our new house a few months ago we had the hardwood floors refinished to a darker color.  In order to make  refinishing the stairs easier, we had the existing wooden balusters cut out.  The floors came out great but we were left with railings  without balusters.  We decided to go with wrought iron balusters.
I found The Finishing Company on Angie's List and gave them a call for information.  Brian was very helpful and sent us out a book with all the wrought iron baluster options.  I picked out the styles/finishes and mocked up a design on their website.  All I had to do was email Brian the quantity of each model and the design plans, and he took care of ordering everything.  He showed up the day we discussed on time and was very professional.  We had 75 balusters going in so I assumed it might take a couple of days, but Brian and his helper worked quickly and had everything installed in 1 day.
The end result is awesome and Brian was great to work with.  I found Brian equally accessible and responsive both via email and phone.  I recommend and would use again myself.

Brian responded the same day to my call for an estimate and set up a day the following week to come by. He was straight forward about not being able to install crown moulding on the prow and A-framed loft ceiling of our upstairs master bedroom - something I hadn't thought about - since the angles were just too extreme for the angle of the moulding. He returned a week and a half later and installed the crown moulding in the rest of the home. He also replaced the cap moulding/shelf of a half wall in the loft area and dressed it up with new trim moulding. He and his helper did a great job with the moulding. They caulked and prepared all of it since we were having the entire home painted after they finished. It looks fantastic after the painting and we are very pleased with the result of Brian's work. I hope to have him back at a future date to create a fireplace mantel, once we renovate the fireplace. Very professional, clean, communicative and finished in one day.

Brian and his helper were very detailed .  I did not realize that the wainscoting came primed but not painted so I will need to hire a 
painter to finish the job.

The overall job was superior. It turned out better than I was hoping for. Brian is a talented finish carpenter and has a designer's eye. He was professional, friendly, and very knowledgable. He cleaned up daily after working and left the garage cleaner when he left than before he started the work! I would recommend him to anyone.
He made some suggestions that really made the look of the finished product special! I can't say enough good things about his work! At the initial meeting for the estimate, he gave me a couple of catalogs to peruse for the balusters, and directed me to a website where I could "plug in" the posts and balusters that I picked out to see how it would look.
He was working during the time around Thanksgiving, and was punctual and worked consistently until the job was done. It took a little longer than he projected, but that couldn't be helped--the newel posts that I picked took a little longer to ship than usual. He worked around my schedule and was very accommodating when I made a couple of last minute changes.
I love my new staircase, and it improves the look of my home's interior tremendously!!

In short, we were impressed with im from the beginning. He asked what we wanted to do and then showed us what would be the best to do. We had not even considered a chair rail but after he explained it to use it made all the sense in the world.

On the Saturday he was to go to work he was 2 mins. early..he told us he would be there at 9:30 a.m. He was driving a very nice, clean fairly new truck with a clean trailer. He was dressed neatly and went right back to work. He laid down a tarp in our foyer and worked without stopping until I invited him to have lunch with my wife and I. He at quickly and went right back to work.

When he finished the job he cleaned up all of the sawdust, pieces of unused molding etc. and thanked us for allowing him to do the job for us. At this point my wife and I just could not get over how lucky we were to have found him to do our job.

I am 66 years old and I have a very great deal of experience in dealing with contractors over many projects in our home over the years and I can without reservation recommend this gentleman and his company should you need any type of first class carpentry work done in your home.

We have already asked him to do another project for me in our home and my wife and I are emailing all of our friends and co-workers in our respective offices as a person to call for this type of services. Both of our offices routinely share this type of information with co-workers.

I hope this review will help whomever reads it consider giving Brian a call as I am sure if you have him give you an estimate, and you meet him in person you will very likely hire him.

Brian provided me with an estimate for this work as well as some additional finishing work for my attic.  After agreeing on price Brian scheduled a day about a week out for him to come out and do the crown molding work.  He completed the job in one day and it looks great.  Brian was very professional.  He arrived on time, gets to work immediately, and you would hardly even know he was there.  I was very happy with the work on the Crown Molding and have hired him to complete the additional work in my attic which includes trimming out some windows and building a window seat.  I will comment on that work separately once complete. (Update 10/03) Work was completed this week on the attic, which included building a window seat with storage, trimming out two windows, and creating a table top / shelf on a ledge used to hide the air ducts.  Everything looks fantastic and was completed on time.  I would, and most likely will, hire Brian to complete any of my future carpentry needs.

Work was completed on time and Brian was on time. Was considerate of my furniture and keeping the work space as clean as possible since I have severe allergies. Cutting was performed outside and upon leaving one would never know that a craftsman had been at work outside nor inside. My home was left as clean as it was before the job began. As soon as I can save up, I will have him install chair rails downstairs.

Brian was a delight to hire. His rate was very reasonable and the quality of work was second to none. He showed up 4 days before the job on time for a free estimate. We decided to go with his services and hired him. He showed up on time on a Saturday morning. He set his "workshop" outside the front door to easily transfer the cut lumber into the home and worked very diligently and expeditiously. The final product was amazing. We will be painting it ourselves as he is not a painter. If you're looking for someone specialized in molding for your home, Brian is your guy. My wife and I are very happy with The Finishing Company and would hire again in the future.

Brian is wonderful. From the time he called after reading our email he was a delight. We emailed him the area that needed the stair railing installed, he gave us an estimate and we made an appointment to have the work done. All this was less than a week. The work performed was excellent and perfect/high quality. It was a small job but a job well done. I would definitely recommend him to my friends.

Prompt, efficient, and professional. I'd always wanted crown molding installed but worried that it would be too expensive. Looked into doing it myself but the job requires tools and skills I don't have. Was very pleased with Brian's work. He specializes in crown molding and finished all 3 rooms in one day, plus did all the caulking and primed the molding. He would have done the finish paint coat as well but I was undecided on paint color. Very happy with his price, skills and professionalism. Highly recommend for any finish woodworking job.