The Salamander Company LLC.

Building my house with Patrick O’Brien, the owner and contractor of Salamander Co.LLC, was a totally wonderful experience. From the initial discussion, going over the plans and talking about budget, he was professional and very personable. We worked together to make some changes as the project went along which was thoughtful, creative and fun. His crew were very skilled, efficient and worked hard even through our Northern New Mexico weather events. Patrick managed and worked well with his sub-contractors to get each stage done. Patrick’s advice to me regarding stonework vendors and different materials was excellent with quality outcomes. The COvid situation did cause lumber and sub- contractor prices to increase but overall I know the beautiful home I received is well worth every penny. The finished home is beautiful and highly efficient. I know people say building is very stressful but that was not my experience. The most difficult part was moving and unpacking. I highly recommend Patrick O’Brien of the Salamander Co. for any building project you have in mind.

The Salamander Co built a beautiful deck for us. Although this was not a huge job, it was conducted with the utmost professionalism. I have never had such a positive experience with a contractor/construction job. I will be using the Salamander Co for all future building projects.

We used The Salamander Co for a fairly extensive remodel on our home in Arroyo Seco, involving replacing the floor radiant heat and tiles, completely renovating the kitchen, 3 bathrooms, and converting a sunroom to a new spa bath. The project grew in scope as problems were discovered, but Patrick was always positive and applied his extensive experience in the construction field to provide us with solutions. He listened to us, offered valued opinions, and would do the research for new ideas we brought to him. He is a true craftsman, and it showed in all the fine details of the job, especially the woodwork. We began our remodel in January 2020 ,and when the NM COVID restrictions were imposed in March, the subcontractors inability to keep schedule and cost estimates became a significant challenge. That Patrick was able to complete the project while still under these restrictions showed his dedication to us personally. We are extremely happy with the work he and his crew did!

Our 900 square foot suspended deck project was designed and constructed by Salamander. Both the design and execution of construction were exceptional. Plus Salamander followed up on all ensuing minor issues in a timely manner. I very strongly recommend Salamander for any small to large construction project.

We weren't planning to remodel our house until we became aware of an insidious water leak that had been causing damage for a very long time. The ensuing project came as a shock when we learned half our home, about 1400 sf, had to be gutted and rebuilt. This included excavating our brick floors. Salamander did the rebuild for us. They came recommended by a local architect friend as being highly competent and well suited for a project our size. We reconfigured the interior to enlarge the bedroom into a new master bedroom, bath and walk in closet, by absorbing an underutilized middle bedroom. The project included moving plumbing, rebuilding our whole radiant floor heat system and reconnecting it to our rooftop solar array, pouring a new slab, reframing all the interior walls, upgrading and moving wiring, removing part of the ceiling to install a heat recovery ventilator and also move bathroom vent fans, replastering and repainting. They engaged and coordinated with the best contractors in Taos on our job. Reconstruction started in mid-February, 2020. By mid-March, the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown had taken effect in New Mexico. The community shut down for the first 2 weeks, and Salamander decided to observe the orders. We understood, recognizing we were now dealing with a second calamity on top of the first. Work gradually resumed. Through the spring and summer the crews came and went, some supply chain delays were now stalling material orders for ours and other projects. There were some unexpected hiccups, some caused by us, like our cabinetry choice, that Salamander rolled with and managed to our satisfaction. They were good communicators, and when we were onsite they updated us on the work and made sure all our questions were answered. They were really focused on getting the details right, light fixtures perfectly located, wood trim custom made, masterful plaster repairs when ceiling trusses forced relocating a fixture here or there. The finish work is really beautiful. They run a tight ship, and kept their tools orderly and tucked out of the way each day, and managed trash runs timely to keep the jobsite neat. Although it was sad to see them go, it was nice to have my carport space again when it was all finished. Salamander did a great job for us and we are very happy with our newly rennovated home.

Excellent Taos contractor. Salamander Construction follows architectural plans! And they bring creativity and craft to every project. We appreciate their attention to detail and extensive experience. They worked closely with the owner and architect to meet budget and design intent.

This is the second time The Salamander Co has done construction for me. They built my strawbale house 10 years ago almost exactly, and this year they added on an addition. They do beautiful work, they are quality exacting, responsible, easy going, stick to the budget pretty well (it's construction in a volatile world after all), and they are honest! In Taos, they are simply the best.

We are very pleased and fortunate to have had Salamander remodel a section of our house, gutting and reconfiguring a large space with only partial walls into an eat-in kitchen with fireplace, and a master suite with bath. The project included adding wooden ceilings throughout, an on-demand gas-powered water heater which in turn powers a radiant floor heating system, custom cabinets and tile work in the bath and kitchen, zinc kitchen countertops, custom plaster with French pigments hand applied and burnished on walls , and stained and polished concrete floors. These gentlemen are craftsmen whose detail work is of the highest quality, They are innovative solution seekers who kept us informed almost daily by phone calls, texts, and photos since we were only on site a couple of weekends monthly. They were able to offer alternative ideas when ours were not structurally suitable, and willingly accepted our decisions . They are intelligent, witty, and good company as well!

On retirement and change to full time use of our 23 year old Taos vacation house, we hired the Salamander Group for renovations based on friends' satisfied customer referrals. They added a sunroom and a garden room, updated the original septic system, built a master bedroom walk in closet, and converted an original tub guest bathroom to an elegant tile/stone walk in shower. I also had Patrick install a 1700 gallon roof rainwater storage cistern for our expanding garden. Patrick and Ivey were conscientious, skillful, reliable, excellent problem solvers, and congenial. The overall cost was reasonable . They also had efficient working relationships with the various inspectors involved.

Our Carson Forest Home turned out to be every bit if not more than what we had hoped for. Patrick did a fantastic job of converting my very unprofessional and rough drawings into a beautiful and comfortable home. The materials and craftsmanship were top notch and after 10 years it still looks like new. The house was placed exactly as we had imagined for many years on a rise facing the Taos mountain range and catching the early morning sunrises . His idea of a mini library in a wide hallway for our books and a desk was great and used alot. They included us on every little change that was needed to be made and was a pleasure to work with. We would recommend the Salamander Company anytime. The straw bale construction is great for warm winters and cool summers.

Building sustainably, and with straw bales is not always as straightforward as standard construction and our designs tend to involve a layer of complexity. The Salamander Company can handle it! They are as attentive to detail as they are to their clients and colleagues. We recommend them to our clients because Patrick and Ivy are on site with their crew full-time maintaining quality control. They are accurate with their cost and time estimates. We work together to figure out the construction challenges that bring a design to fruition. Their flexibility and can-do attitude makes them a pleasure to work with.

We have used The Salamander Company off and on over a ten year period. They bring to our projects: * Creative solutions to complex problems * Excellent detail work * Are open minded * Listens to client concerns * Finishes in a timely fashion * Comes in near budget * Does what they says they'll do

Patrick and Ivy transformed our El Prado Home beautifully! We live and work in Albuquerque but kept in close communication through email, telephone, and periodic weekend visits. They are both very easy to work with and we could easily defer to their ascetic and better judgement. I changed my mind twice during the process on structural issues and Patrick happily agreed to make the changes and always with terrific results. They diligently worked on the project completing it well within expected time frame. Their attention to detail was remarkable and their craftsmanship is evident throughout the house. They are truly collaborative. They understood what we were trying to do and made it happen. The end result is better than we had hoped, We highly recommend this talented team! R & R

Patrick and Ivy know only one way to do things—the right way. They are not just great builders, they are also great company. There are a lot of builders who will says they have design capabilities, but Patrick is a truly talented designer as well as builder.

Salamander builders built our "strawbale" house while we were living 2,000 miles away! We communicated by phone and email during the project, and made occasional site visits. Everyone was amazed that we were able to do this long distance, but it was mostly due to the great relationship we had with our builders, Patrick and Ivy. Along with our architects, who Patrick introduced us to, we were able to purchase items, make design decisions, and end up with the house of our dreams! After our home was completed, we continued working with the Salamander Company for additional projects, such as adding a portal and a coyote fence. Patrick and Ivy do excellent work and don't quit until you are completely satisfied!

I have admired Salamander's work for years, so when I purchased a new home I immediately asked them to do my renovations. They did everything, from installing a doggie door to creating a new balcony railing to designing two very large custom cabinet pieces. They were always on time and conscientious, kept the workspace neat and clean, and worked collaboratively with me on decisions. The cabinetry is exquisite, the attention to detail beyond my expectations, literally eliciting gasps from friends when they first see the work. I wholeheartedly recommend Ivy and Patrick for all building needs.

Patrick, Ivy and their crew did a beautiful job updating our kitchen, adding a room on the front of our adobe house to give us a dining area and a sitting room. They also corrected a couple of problems in one of our bathrooms, turning it for a cold and uninviting room into a warm room that is congruent with our house. Our addition was completed in 2008 and included a new gas fireplace, cabinets, tile floors, windows and a new door as well as stone countertops in the kitchen. We are experienced remodelers and really appreciate quality work. We have had ZERO problems and the work done is as beautiful now as the day it was completed. We know that one is always taking a chance when remodeling an old house and we are so grateful to Patrick and Ivy for the high quality work.

The Salamander Co. built the home in Taos where we curreently live. The house is a showcase inside and out. The details, the woodwork, tile,plaster etc. are superb. This is a highly knowlegable, highly professional company. Every time I show off the house I make sure to point out the details such as the wide windowsills or the back screen porch with a brick floor, and red pine half walls and posts coming seamlessly out of the top. For full details and photos of the project check out our blog, buildingwithstrawbales.blogspot.com