I found Barry/Concord Construction through Houzz and I am so happy I took the chance on calling him up and then using him for my home remodel. The remodel was very extensive on my 107 year old home, so I have waited a few months before reviewing to make sure everything stayed fantastic and there weren't any issues after he was completed. I am so happy, relieved, ecstatic, that we love our home more now than when we had our big reveal! Here are some more details:
- When first meeting Barry he was booked for the timeline I had in my head, but I felt immediately so comfortable with him, I changed my own timeline. After meeting with other groups and lots of estimates, I knew he was he right man for the job so I waited for him to have a free spot. So happy with this decision!
- We left for three weeks on vacation and trusted Barry and his team to be in our home and make radical changes like taking down three walls, closing a fireplace, adding a door and windows, and many more major updates. The entire time we were gone he would message us and send pics so we wouldn't worry. The communication between us was great, we were constantly brainstorming fun ideas, solutions to problems and ways to make our project amazing.
- Our home had some major surprises with uneven floors when a major wall was removed. Floors so bad you could roll a ball across and it would pick up speed. Barry called in friends and colleagues and spent hours and hours figuring out the best way to solve this problem and make this the best for us.
- When a new HVAC unit was needed, it was a conversation of how best to handle this increased cost and accomplish what we wanted. He always took the time to meet with me and explain what was happening, what he thought we should do, and then we could work through the pros and cons. Although there were some overwhelming problems, bound to happen in a remodel like mine, he made them easier by calmly explaining and detailing what was happening. I felt I could trust what we was saying and that he was on my side no matter what we decided.
- One of the coolest features of our home is our new fireplace with 100+ barn wood that was on our property. Barry and I worked together to figure out a custom design and he then spent hours building this out, making a million custom cuts and brainstorming how to get cables hidden and our 70+ in fireplace installed. It is truly one of a kind!
- One of my favorite stories of our renovation, I am sure not his :), was when I approved our new HVAC unit to be in one spot. When I came home I was so bummed because it blocked some of my view out my kitchen window. Not a huge amount, but enough to bum me out. I mentioned this to Barry and he ended up digging out some of the mulch and moving the unit over as far as he could so that this wouldn't be a problem anymore. This is the above and beyond work that I started to get way to accustomed to! I couldn't have been more relieved and appreciative of this change.
- There was also a lot of custom work Barry did that made our old home feel updated but more homey. He made our custom pantry, added some shelves to the side of kitchen cabinet, removed the frame around a window so that we could have more back splash, and wrapping our new beams in our old barn wood.
- I also very much appreciated the cleanliness and friendliness of any crew member in my home. Every team member cleaned up after themselves, there were runners down to protect my wood floors and sweeping done every night. Often I was home alone with whoever was coming in that day, and I always felt safe and comfortable. They were also super sweet about my boxer that sometimes got too excited with everyone around and barked and wanted to play.
This home improvement was a BIG DEAL to my husband and I, not only because this was our first one, but also because of the immense project. Barry made this process as good as he could and as fast, while providing the BEST results. Friends and Family are shocked at our before and afters but most of all, we are. We are shocked at what people can do and so proud to have completed this project and with Barry.
What we did:
Took down three walls, added a door to the deck, closed fireplace and built a new fireplace, new window, moved fridge and built a custom pantry, new counter tops and back splash, new hardwood in one room while sanding and staining the rest to match, new beam wrapped in barnwood, painted the whole first floor and steps and ceilings, recessed lighting on dimmers throughout and new HVAC unit.