GC for Brownstone Renovation
Hi, Am looking for budget oriented GC recommendations for a gut reno of a 4 storey townhouse starting April 1. Was told there was a chinese construction company that was 30% cheaper than competition with good work, anyone know who it refers to?
Hi,
Am looking for budget oriented GC recommendations for a gut reno of a 4 storey townhouse starting April 1. Was told there was a chinese construction company that was 30% cheaper than competition with good work, anyone know who it refers to?
I did the mistake of going with someone who was cheaper and paid the price. The renovation ended up costing about 100,000 more then he said and that’s because I had to fire him and bring someone else instead. I am still dealing with the aftermath: the plumber he used was useless and I had 6 different leaks around the house, I had to reopen all the finished and painted walls numerous times and this is just one problem that I’m dealing with, there are plenty more. DO NOT DO IT! I am lucky that I didn’t lose the house entirely and have managed to survive and hold on to my beautiful house but I am still dealing with the fallout and will be for the foreseeable future.
I work with Fukinese crews all of the time. This thread is needlessly prejudiced.
Please review my portfolio (see the high end Manhattan work toward the end) to see the work we have achieved together. Did my clients get what they paid for? You bet! Our work is beautiful, and it is to code.
The upshot is I speak construction, so no matter how heavy some one’s accent is or what country they are from, I can achieve the results I want.
My Fukinese crews are fast, reliable and licensed.
http://web.mac.com/salemfilm/iWeb/Site%2011/portfolio.html
Hi there,
My husband would be happy to help you, if you’d like to arrange an appointment he can give you an estimate. He’s not a GC but he does most of the interior work and knows a lot of people.
He also has recommendations here on the site if you search for junior prates you will see it.
You can contact us at 914-562-2706 or willianprates68@hotmail.com
http://www.pratesplastering.web.officelive.com
Hope to hear from you!!
Amen to that ‘you-get-what-you-pay-for’theme that recurs above. All credit to the good people of China for a stellar cuisine and an impressively lengthy wall that can be seen from the moon, but when we had some work done at our brownstone with a low-bid Fukinese crew, there were serious communication difficulties that lost a lot of time for us, and a lot of details turned out just plain wrong. A more ambitious renovation later on with an all-Irish crew yielded much happier results, quickly and affordably as well, thanks to contractor Martin O’Reilly and his subs. Give him a call at 347-400-4365 and he’ll put in some time on estimates for you.
CB
I also say you get what you pay for. Don’t do crappy work in your house. You’ll just have to do it again in five years. It’s not that the workers are Chinese that bothers me – it’s the 30% less.
I’ve used J Thomas and found them to be great. 917-699-3810.
I have recommended Heights Construction here, and know that they have been hired by “Brownstoner” readers.If you are on a tight budget, be honest w/ the contractor and see if you get a good contractor to agree to your $$.If you do you are in great shape.
I agree w/ the above comments,”You get what you pay for.”
Use a licensed contractor for your own protection.
Heights Construction Abdul Feda 646 235-2767
My neighbor was very happy w/
Gary Muratore
718-759-9558
I’d get several estimates & be realistic about price ranges. As others have said, cutting corners could be a real disaster.
You get what you pay for, otherwise, if you want someone who is good and takes care of his customers call Osh Elbaz, 917-468-9350
Jock deBoer, AIA
deBoer Architects
Keep in mind that the current mess on MacDonough Street seems to have been caused by an incompetent contractor doing a gut rehab. BE CAREFUL, you potentially have a LOT to loose!