Get matched with top custom cabinets builders in Willow, AK

"Hello, My name is Phil Carr-Jones, I am reviewing my experience of working with and building my own kitchen, using cabinets and doors from Arkansas Wood Door. While I am an Episcopal Priest, it turns out I get to do a lot of things they don't teach you in seminary. Over the years, I have had to get fairly skilled in all the trades, including, no surprise, carpentry. But I am by no means an expert. For instance, I employed a retired carpenter to help out with the crown molding and other trim. Apart from that though, this is all my and my wife's work. So let me state up front, Arkansas Wood Doors is the go to place for the DIY’er who is thinking of remodeling their own kitchen. Here's why: I searched the web for months, literally doing comparisons and research on flat pack rta cabinets. I went to the big box store for a design and pricing in their three lines of cabinets, and I went in for a consult with a small custom shop in my area. Here's what I found. 99 outof 100 rta cabinet companies have their product made in china which means the standards for formaldehyde are going to be as fishy as they smell, plus you can only get cabinets in fixed sizes so if you looking to eeck out every last inch of space you're going to lose a lot and you'll be using a lot of filler strips wasting what could have been useful storage. If you want to go custom, then you only have less than a handful of online options, companies that will make to order in any dimension. For instance, I only wanted an 8 inches deep spice cabinet to allow for greater working room over the counter. My wife and I are pretty serious about cooking from pastries to mains and sides. We want a very serious kitchen. Plus, I'll tall so I needed the room. In any case, if you want something custom your choices online are limited. The big box stores don't really do custom and are just as limited in their options as are the online rta places. Most online rtas offer far cheaply made boxes with construction methods less sturdy. I have found that if I buy cheap, I shouldnt expect my kitchen to hold up past a few years. The finish will fade. The drawers will warp. The joints will open up. The big box stores basically offer the same thing, too. When I go to a big box store to buy something, I do it knowing I probably willl get a year out of it, whether that’s a lawn chair of a power tool. I mean when was the last time you regretting spending too much money on a better grade of power tool? So if you want quality, a better and safer grade building material and much wider choices in sizing then your basically down to three or four options. I went with Arkansas Wood Door and am completely pleased and impressed by the experience. Now I could have spent twice what I did and gone to a small custom shop and gotten the same thing, but I am in to saving money and frankly I enjoy the challenge. AWD worked with me directly. Working up the order and getting the plan for each box just right. If you have never designed and built a kitchen before, there are plenty of tips and guidance on the web and I recommend you heartily research all of the aspects and complications involved. I hit a couple of unexpected bumps. But more about that below. So do your research. For instance you can save a lot of money by building the plinths yourself and only order squared off boxes without the toe kick. By making the platform on which you place the lower cabinets first, you can get that plumb and level, so throwing up the boxes is a breeze. And again, the cabinets are also less expense, a complete all around win. AWD uses an easy system for matching up box parts so assembly was easy. No special tools required. Given the many parts and I used a mix of frameless and face framed cabinets, there was a moment or two when in amongst all the materials I got nervous about having everything I needed, but low and behold, all was right there in the end. I also recommend the concept from French cooking "mis en place" that is have all your ingredients in place and all your tools where you need them before starting out. Also, it was a lot easier to work with my wife than doing it alone, but I did a few by myself and so if that is your only option than you should have no problem. I've assembled a lot of cheaper Swedish flat packed furniture in my day, and the quality and sturdiness of AWD leaves no doubt about how long these will last. Just rock solid. Great thing about AWD is the cost to quality ratio. Cant beat it. Which also means if you make a mistake the replacement is so reasonable it becomes not big deal. I mis-measured one box and so I needed to order the right size. Worked out fine, but that was because AWD had an incredibly fast turn around. The other few reliable companies are several weeks to months. And these other places are crazy expensive. And in truth, the other companies are a complete rip off on trim and accessories. AWD pricing was so amenable that my mistakes cost me so little in comparison with what I was saving. So there's a built in confidence for the first timer. Also AWD made one mistake on the placement of a hinge in two doors. They immediately and without question remade them and sent them out in under ten days. You just can't get that service anywhere in the custom cabinet world. It was so affordable I upgraded on one side to black walnut. Trying doing that at the other quality shops. The quality of the roll out drawers and top drawer boxes is superb and the hinges and under-mount sliders are top grade excellent. The hardware was the easiest part frankly. Their system, for lining up the hardware is just so easy. Drill driver is all you need as the placement is already leveled for you. SO: high end quality custom built cabinets, superior custom support, fastest turnaround in the marketplace, most affordable pricing out there, excellent hardware, and oh yeah, I almost forget, color choices. They offer complete line of lacquer - just pick a SW color and they'll match it. SO completely and truly custom for a fraction of cost without sacrificing any quality. The Rev. Philip Carr-Jones"

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My initial contact with Jim Burke, of Crestone General was pleasant, informational, and uplifting.  Mr. Burke informed me that his company usually does commercial projects; however, because I was in need of a good contractor to remodel two bathrooms into a handicapped accessible bathroom, he made the decision to bid on and do the project.  He took into account the situation in which I'd found myself following my father's severe stroke, and the fact I wished to get my father discharged from the transitional rehabilitation center and home as soon as possible.

Mr. Burke, his employees, and the subcontractors were very professional, punctual, and polite.  They arrived on time each morning and worked hard throughout the day, stopping only for a lunch break.  Prior to beginning the demolition portion of the job, they laid down heavy plastic in the hallways, on the stairs, in the bedroom adjacent to the bathroom, and on the bathroom floor downstairs as well, to insure the cream-colored carpeting did not get stained or dirty  I was quite surprised and pleased that they took the time to clean up after themselves, including daily cleaning of the large rug in the entry of our home, sweeping of the floor in the new bathroom, sweeping out the garage, and disposing of any trash on a daily basis.  Additionally, upon completion of the project, they even cleaned the new bathroom from top to bottom for me.

The plan for the bathroom was a work in progress and although an initial design was provided, Mr. Burke and his subcontractors worked with me, respected my wishes, and several redesigns were done during the project.  Ideas were passed back and forth, suggestions made, and at all times I was treated with the utmost respect and consideration. 

The finished bathroom is one which anyone would be extremely proud and pleased to have in their home.  It adheres to ADA specifications, and is lovely in appearance. The shower stall is large and roomy and the floor is sloped so well that the water drains perfectly, not even getting the floor outside of the stall damp. In fact, when the nursing supervisor for Providence Home Health came by to check on my father, she stated:  "This is my dream bathroom!". 

I highly recommend Crestone General and will continue to call upon this company to do additional projects for me in the future.

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"It was worth every penny. No more worries about a house fire cuz of having a dryer vent full of lint"

"Punctual and professional. Great quality, thinking about them doing our kitchen."

"JK Construction is awesome. They responded quickly, came out the next day. Their work is awesome and I will definitely use them regularly."

"I decided not to use him although he looked excellent.  He quoted me about $15,000 for the job, which just included the labor and not the materials.  He seemed knowledgeable and pretty easy going.  He was willing to be flexible in his work schedule and accommodated whatever I needed to have done.  He just seemed professional and bright.  He’s been very responsive and he returned all my phone calls.  I guess I chose not to hire him because the time line when I needed the work done was difficult for him.  His punctuality and professionalism were excellent.  He showed up on time.  I will absolutely use him again in the future."

"They have contacted me for a quote but I have not yet heard back from them. I am leaning toward contacting a friend to assist me in building it myself as I am concerned that I will not be getting the custom project that I need. If they surprize me and are able to come back with a quote for the project we need, I will most likely hire them for the job."