
DAL Builders
DAL Builders
DAL Builders has been handling various construction jobs from simple re-modeling to full-scale new construction since 1994. Our team of licensed experts ensures 100% satisfaction every time. Our mission at DAL Builders Inc. is to provide service that exceeds our clients expectations. We strive to provide a safe and enjoyable workplace. We treat every job as if we were working in our own home, Providing quality work at a fair price. Always being conscientious of our surroundings using environmentally friendly products and practices at no additional cost to our clients.
"This was the second time we hired DAL Builders. They rebuilt our porch previously and we were very pleased with the quality of work and final product. We took our time hiring DAL for this job because we wanted to find out if we could do better on price. Their initial estimate was a good bit higher than we expected. We decided that for the quality of work DAL does, their reliability, and the fact that we could trust them with our old 1908 house, they were right for the job. The lower bids we got had big gaps when we itemized them in Excel. DAL's estimate was the most complete and specific, and we were able to bring it down a bit too. We didn't bother to seek higher/comparable bids because DAL had the other things we cared about – quality, responsible contractor, etc. Tim Larkin is great to work with. Communication is important in a project like this, and Tim keeps on top of it. But communication also had to come from us. The project went smoothly for the most part. When there were problems, we found we were able to work through them. It was also important to communicate directly with Ron and Wes, who are excellent carpenters, and were open to our questions and ideas. Tim alerted us to problems found in the house (plumbing, office wall/ceiling) once the work began and proposed solutions that made sense. We were glad to get those problems addressed and to have Tim manage it. I found myself thoroughly appreciating having someone manage the project from beginning to end. We were inclined to select finishes (cabinets, counters, backsplash) through vendors we found on our own. Tim was open to working with them, but in the case of the cabinets & counters, the vendor was not friendly to general contractors (sells wholesale to the public), which was an additional stress on us, though Tim handled it just fine. Everything turned out okay in the end, partly because Tim's contacts with vendors enabled us to quickly find a countertop alternative when the vendor I selected couldn't deliver on schedule after promising otherwise. The kitchen (160 square feet) took about 2 months to complete, but would have gone faster without the countertop glitch. The cabinets were also more complicated to install than expected (vendor I selected was not helpful with this). Tim kept the work moving, bringing in/coordinating the plumbers, dry wallers, electrician, and HVAC outfit. The work on the kitchen involved demoing plaster walls/ceiling and framing, tearing out the floor, insulating walls/ceiling, moving gas line, removing and replacing a heating radiator (water), all new electrical, lighting, and plumbing in the kitchen, installing outside vent for range, new frames for 4 doorways and one large windows, framing a window that had been behind panel walls, installing new floor and cabinets, new appliances except refrigerator, backsplash. We did the painting. Of the $75,000, about $22,000 was for finishes (cabinets, countertops, floor, backsplash, radiator, gas range, dishwasher, microwave), including costs for DAL to manage all orders and installation; $9,500 was for the small office (80 square feet) next to the kitchen where, in addition to new walls, ceiling, insulation, and trim work, additional framing needed to be done to shore up the wall/ceiling; and $2000 was additional plumbing work in the basement to replace old galvanized steel pipes with copper. The kitchen finishes were about $7,500 higher than estimated for various reasons. The kitchen construction costs were about $41,500. Tim was attentive to budget issues and gave us some slack on pricing for additional work where he could, which we appreciated. We also had our own out-of-pocket costs for items we purchased directly, which I didn't track. Having now been through a gut kitchen rehab, which is disruptive and nerve wracking, I also appreciate that Tim was supportive and positive throughout the experience. We needed the moral support. We are happy with our new kitchen and office and we know we made the right decision when we hired DAL Builders."
Lisa W on May 2019
DAL Builders has been handling various construction jobs from simple re-modeling to full-scale new construction since 1994. Our team of licensed experts ensures 100% satisfaction every time. Our mission at DAL Builders Inc. is to provide service that exceeds our clients expectations. We strive to provide a safe and enjoyable workplace. We treat every job as if we were working in our own home, Providing quality work at a fair price. Always being conscientious of our surroundings using environmentally friendly products and practices at no additional cost to our clients.
"This was the second time we hired DAL Builders. They rebuilt our porch previously and we were very pleased with the quality of work and final product. We took our time hiring DAL for this job because we wanted to find out if we could do better on price. Their initial estimate was a good bit higher than we expected. We decided that for the quality of work DAL does, their reliability, and the fact that we could trust them with our old 1908 house, they were right for the job. The lower bids we got had big gaps when we itemized them in Excel. DAL's estimate was the most complete and specific, and we were able to bring it down a bit too. We didn't bother to seek higher/comparable bids because DAL had the other things we cared about – quality, responsible contractor, etc. Tim Larkin is great to work with. Communication is important in a project like this, and Tim keeps on top of it. But communication also had to come from us. The project went smoothly for the most part. When there were problems, we found we were able to work through them. It was also important to communicate directly with Ron and Wes, who are excellent carpenters, and were open to our questions and ideas. Tim alerted us to problems found in the house (plumbing, office wall/ceiling) once the work began and proposed solutions that made sense. We were glad to get those problems addressed and to have Tim manage it. I found myself thoroughly appreciating having someone manage the project from beginning to end. We were inclined to select finishes (cabinets, counters, backsplash) through vendors we found on our own. Tim was open to working with them, but in the case of the cabinets & counters, the vendor was not friendly to general contractors (sells wholesale to the public), which was an additional stress on us, though Tim handled it just fine. Everything turned out okay in the end, partly because Tim's contacts with vendors enabled us to quickly find a countertop alternative when the vendor I selected couldn't deliver on schedule after promising otherwise. The kitchen (160 square feet) took about 2 months to complete, but would have gone faster without the countertop glitch. The cabinets were also more complicated to install than expected (vendor I selected was not helpful with this). Tim kept the work moving, bringing in/coordinating the plumbers, dry wallers, electrician, and HVAC outfit. The work on the kitchen involved demoing plaster walls/ceiling and framing, tearing out the floor, insulating walls/ceiling, moving gas line, removing and replacing a heating radiator (water), all new electrical, lighting, and plumbing in the kitchen, installing outside vent for range, new frames for 4 doorways and one large windows, framing a window that had been behind panel walls, installing new floor and cabinets, new appliances except refrigerator, backsplash. We did the painting. Of the $75,000, about $22,000 was for finishes (cabinets, countertops, floor, backsplash, radiator, gas range, dishwasher, microwave), including costs for DAL to manage all orders and installation; $9,500 was for the small office (80 square feet) next to the kitchen where, in addition to new walls, ceiling, insulation, and trim work, additional framing needed to be done to shore up the wall/ceiling; and $2000 was additional plumbing work in the basement to replace old galvanized steel pipes with copper. The kitchen finishes were about $7,500 higher than estimated for various reasons. The kitchen construction costs were about $41,500. Tim was attentive to budget issues and gave us some slack on pricing for additional work where he could, which we appreciated. We also had our own out-of-pocket costs for items we purchased directly, which I didn't track. Having now been through a gut kitchen rehab, which is disruptive and nerve wracking, I also appreciate that Tim was supportive and positive throughout the experience. We needed the moral support. We are happy with our new kitchen and office and we know we made the right decision when we hired DAL Builders."
Lisa W on May 2019