We would like to start assembling a more comprehensive library of service provider references than the ad hoc feedback that happens in the Forum. To that end, over the next several weeks, we will solicit your feedback on a variety of services that go into building, restoring and maintaining brownstones (and apartments for that matter). We want to hear the names of the companies/individuals you have used (you can stay anonymous), any contact info you have, how they performed, how were they priced, were they on time, pleasant to deal with? Finally, if you can rate them on a scale of 1 to 5 (with 5 being the best), that would be great too. Hopefully all of this can ultimately result in a comprehensive resource that we can all benefit from.

So we’ll kick it off with General Contractors today. Who wants to go first?


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

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  1. 100% satisfied with Ambiance Improvement’s complete renovation of my Park Slope brownstone. The owner is Greg Kruszewski/tel. 917-907-1100. To begin with, the bid was thorough and they did not try to underbid to get the job and then hit us with upcharges (beware the low bidder!) Greg was very helpful in making design suggestions, including where we could cut back to save money and where we shouldn’t. The quality of the work was excellent as was the level of professionalism. Great to work with.

  2. Avoid Angelo Kalafatis for anything more then painting. We refer to his crew as Mo, Larry, and Curley. They bid less, it cost us more. The work done had the contractor who followed hysterical.

  3. Brownstoner,

    In addition to a directory of contractors, perhaps you can also include llinks to the NY BBB http://www.bbbnewyork.org/ as well as to the licensing agency?
    I’ve read the Vollmer complaint on several listservs including Fort Greene Kids, but realize most consumers don;t know where to get some of the info.
    Thanks.

  4. First of all let me warn you all from ever dealing with a con-artist named Van Vollmer. His company name is sometimes called NY Wood. He does custom wood windows, cornices and doors. He robbed us blind and he robbed other people we recommended him to. Which leads me to my next thought….do not just go with somebody’s on line recommendation before you hire a contractor. This sounds obvious, but it’s not. Make sure the person you got the reference from (on line or in person or whatever) is willing to back it up with personal contact info so you can find out what they mean by their recommendation, how recent they used that person, what type of job, etc. And then call the contractor and get names and numbers of recent references. Also check that they are not in trouble with the BBB. And if they claim to be licenced, go on line and check that they are really licensed. And lastly, this sounds really ridiculous, but get credit references from contractors. They all buy or pay subcontractors right? Well if they are not paying those parties on time guess who suffers? You the customer. It’s the first sign that they are not going to complete a job on time because they have no credit to do so. And also before you pay a contractor a dime, get a copy of their driver’s license. Okay, so maybe this all sounds nuts to you. Won’t sound too crazy when you are broke and the job you wanted to get done isn’t even 1/2 way finished.

  5. Fred Taverna
    New York Interior Construction
    66 Reade St
    New York, NY 10007

    Avoid this contractor. We ended up doing his job for him and telling the subcontractors what to do when they were sitting their on their butts all day long in our yet to be built space with nothing to do because “Fred hasn’t called so we don’t know what to do”. Horrible feedback, and completely unreachable. Didn’t even have voice mail on his cell phone. He’s actually a nice guy personality wise, but extremely disappointed with the work he did.

  6. I have never used T&A Carpentry, but if you have an old wood frame house that has been covered in aluminum siding, these guys are the ones to call. Been watching their work for years. Some great work in Windsor terrace and south slope. They remove the entire front facade and restore it to its original charm.

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