I hear people tell horror stories about their remodeling projects, but all of mine have been very pleasant, and the results are better than I imagined. Tom knows how to plan a complex project so that it progresses smoothly from start to finish. He uses a plumber, electrician, and occasionally other specialized sub-contractors whom he knows well and whose quality and integrity he can vouch for. Even so, he is always on the job site, making sure that everyone is on the same page and that everything is going as expected. He puts in a full day's work and keeps the homeowner apprised of how things are going. When something unexpected comes up--an inevitability when remodeling an older house that has been remodeled previously--he explains exactly what the situation is and what the options for handling it are. I especially appreciate the fact that he has a calm, pleasant, cheerful personality--no temper, no drama. I have found him to be completely trustworthy; he stands behind his work and takes the time to get things right. For example, while he was working on my living room expansion, he had to blend a new section of wall into an existing wall. He felt that his initial finish wasn't up to his standard, so he redid the texturing--without being asked--just to make sure that it met his personal standard of quality. In the seven years that Tom has been doing remodeling projects for me, I have recommended him to a number of friends and co-workers--and a few total strangers--and they have all been very happy with the work he has done for them.
Description of Work: Tom Boyd was the general contractor who, along with Seattle Design Cabinetry, created the most beautiful and convenient kitchen I've ever seen for me in 2004; it cost about $32,000 not counting the appliances. It involved gutting the old kitchen to the studs and starting over with everything--sheetrock, windows, flooring, plumbing, wiring, counters, cabinets, appliances, etc. In 2005, he did a living room expansion and full remodel, including creating a high ceiling, adding skylights, new wiring, new windows, etc. Since then he has done numerous smaller remodeling projects, adding up to at least another $20,000-25,000. I found Tom through a colleague at work whose kitchen he had just finished; she was thrilled with her beautiful new kitchen and how much high quality workmanship she got for a truly reasonable price. I had gotten estimates from several kitchen remodeling firms and was very discouraged--almost ready to give up since it didn't seem like I could get anything I really wanted for the budget I had to work with. Thanks to Tom, and to Steve Fant of Seattle Design Cabinets, I got everything I wanted--natural maple cabinets, oak floors, and a perfectly designed work space. Now, when I need remodeling/repair work done on my house, I don't bother getting estimates from any other companies. I just email Tom, tell him what I need, and ask him to add me to his schedule. I always get a prompt response and excellent workmanship at a fair price. Most recently, he fixed a problem that resulted from the fact that my second-story deck, which was installed years ago, was attached to the siding in such a way that a leak developed behind the lower level siding. He did an inexpensive stop-gap repair for now, and I plan to have him replace the deck, complete with proper flashing, etc., when the weather dries out.