Sustainable Design Companies

“Doing a first time home remodel is scary wondering if you've got the right company for the job. Res Com was recommended to me and I was not disappointed. In some areas, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted and George gave me wonderful ideas, which I used many of them (thanks George). Project manager, Mike, was always available and made special trips just to check out some questions I had the same day. The subcontractors were professional and courteous. The job was completed by the completion date quoted in the bid and there were no surprises money wise at the completion of the job. Everything stayed within the quoted budget unless I made changes myself. When things popped up and they usually do with remodels, the Res Com team handled everything promptly and professionally. Overall the experience was very good and I will definitely use them again for my master bath remodel. Thanks again George, Mike and the rest of the Res Com team. Job very well done.”

“During the 13 month construction our neighbors would comment, "Your contractors are doing a good job on your house and we're impressed that they are respectful of the neighbors. I like it that they don't play loud music and clean up every day." We were happy to hear that. We are even happier with the results. As the first house in Santa Cruz County to be built (technically remodeled) to the Passive House standards, we enjoy a very comfortable temperature throughout the house AND use much less energy than similar houses in the neighborhood. The biggest challenge was the air tightness requirement for Passive House certification. This was tested with a blower door to verify that the house achieve 0.6ACH50 (131 CFM in our case) which is VERY tight. Achieving this level of airtightness in the house that was originally built in 1922, where we kept the original foundation and framing, has not been done before. Santa Cruz Green Builders also installed the first Heat Recovery Ventilator in this area. The professional who came to commission the HRV commented that our installation was one of the better ones he's observed. So, the point of this paragraph is Santa Cruz Green Builders is not afraid to take on new challenges and achieve amazing results. When you hear the words "green building" it may bring the image of a certain contemporary aesthetic to mind. But our house has the curve appeal of a nice old house -- a 1922 bungalow that has the arts and crafts styling with details in the window trims and flared skirt look on the siding. On the interior we are very happy that Santa Cruz Green Builders talked us into keeping the original floors and refinishing them. The tight grains of old fir is appealing and the polished distressed wood brings out the period style. They carefully deconstructed the house so that original base boards, doors, etc. were re-used. We also selected finishes that reflects the old arts and crafts style. When people come to our house they can't tell what's original and what's new. We like that. True to their name, Santa Cruz Green Builders walk their talk. I can continue with other elements like structured plumbing, gray water, insulation, recycling, etc. If you're curious about that please visit my blog http://http://midorihaus.blogspot.com/”

“I have referred Carlisle Classic Homes to many of my clients and will continue to do so, as they are a great company to work with. As an architect with H2D Architecture + Design, I enjoy working in a team format with my clients and the builder. I have worked with Alex, at Carlisle Classic Homes, on several remodel projects and he is excellent to work with. He is very detailed oriented, budget conscious, looks ahead in the project to foresee potential problems or complications, and has good communication skills. My clients have also been pleased with Carlisle Classic Homes' craftsmanship and responsiveness to their requests during construction.”

“Marcus has a great attention to detail, he follows his projects with precision and ensures complete satisfaction. I highly recommend him.”

“Blum Custom Builders is the perfect partner for building a new home. The attention to detail is amazing and the quality materials used is second to none. They are extremely easy to work with and very involved in the process all along the way. They are there to help before you're a customer, when you're a customer, or even if you're not a customer and just want to ask advice. This is a top notch shop and should be strongly considered before building your next home.”

“The best company ever! Everyone, from the owner Jon Roberts, to our project manager and the subcontractors are anxious to help you realize your dreams. Communication skills are excellent and since this is the fourth house we've either built or remodeled, we should know. The goal of the company is to help you visualize what the house will look like, your options, how it will set on the lot, and what finishes would look best for the type of house you are building and your budget. Everyone connected to the project have been respectful and idea-filled.”

“AWESOME!! GREAT EXPERIENCE!! Got exactly what we pictured and hoped for! Crew was clean, very polite, helpful, and genuinely cared! Very hard working and completed job slightly before schedule. Communicated well and always called us back. Would completely recommend.”

“We love our new home that was built and recently completed by Sparks Construction. It turned out exactly as we had envisioned. We found Josh Sparks to be honest, responsive, and very pleasant to work with. We were on the site constantly and know that we have a high quality home that will stand the test of time. George and Jackie Keselowsky”

“Genesis Homes NW is fantastic! They did a guest house addition to my home. Lilli was wonderful with design selection support & account management, & Jason was always friendly, flexible & proactive in all aspects of management & supervision of the project. I would definitely use Genesis again & highly-recommend them to anyone who’s looking for an A+ custom builder!”

“Exceptional builder! Has an eye for the details. Kind, courteous, thorough in all aspects of the build job. Their company takes the client through the process from beginning to end, including the final walk through and the one year builder warranty. His final product speaks to the quality and detail homeowners expect in their new home. I would highly recommend.”