Straw Dogs Construction Inc

I have known Mark for the past 20 years and had great pleasure working closely with him on many projects. He has a keen eye for detail and has a great relationship with all of his clients. He is always able to use my Designs and Construction Documents to get the job done right. In this industry, the small details make all the difference, Mark handles all of these. Thank you Mark! Sincerely, Steve Kinnunen AIBD CPBD Prime Home Design, LLC.

Mark Thomas of Straw Dogs and his contractors did an amazing job. Mark came in and rescued us from the work a previous contractor had started (and made a mess of). Mark was professional but friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to take the time to explain each step of the process, and he hired great subcontractors who share those qualities. We were a bit nervous after our experience with the first contractor, who took our money but either did not complete contracted work or provided shoddy work, but Mark worked with us to stick to our (reduced) budget and gave us detailed information during each step of the process so that we understood exactly what we were paying for and why. Work completed included: framing; insulation; drywall; plumbing and adding fixtures and shower tile for a 3/4 bath; installing a water heater; adding an electric panel, lighting, and outlets; adding windows and skylights; hanging doors; and adding a mini-split for AC/heat; daily clean up; and working with city inspectors to make sure that all permitting requirements were followed. The work was done in a reasonable amount of time, and the finished product was excellent. All of the subcontractors were skilled, hard-working, and gracious (Augie on framing, Eric of Schultz Electric, Eddie and the rest of the team at Pioneer Plumbing, Mark at Summit Heating and Cooling, Roberto with trenching, pavers, and other jobs, Preston Insulation, Gallagher Home Renovations, Lee Hoofman Roofers, Ricardo and his team at Detail Flooring, and everyone else who worked on the project). We are so happy with our experience with Straw Dogs and the end result. We now have an additional 400 square feet of usable living space that we all want to be in!

The work was done in a timely manner.

I wanted something really nice that would elevate the looks and the value of the house from the ramshackle HUD home it had originally been. I looked at various contractors and handymen who gave me low prices, but none of them seemed to be concerned with building permits, adhering to codes. When I contacted Mark Thomas of Straw Dogs I was pretty sure he was the guy for the job, because he immediately understood my concerns and started out by referring me to a licensed building designer. I spoke to the designer who came out on the same day Mark Thomas did, and together, we discussed our ideas and I wrote the designer a check for a down payment for drawing up plans I could take to the City and have stamped and approved. I had the plans about 2 weeks later, they were approved easily and when I had the permit, I let Mark know. He said he was so busy he would be at least six weeks or more before he could start. He picked up the plans a few weeks later. He took the plans to his various sub-contractors to get bids on various phases of the job. After another few weeks he telephoned me to say he had a contract drawn up to go over with us. I like the fact that he took about an hour and a half to chat with us about all of his figures and how he arrived at them, and showed me all of the estimates from the concrete guys, the stucco guys, the roofing guys and framing guys. It was all very clear and concise. He takes 60% up front as a down payment and collects the final balance when he gets the final bills from his sub contractors. He hires really skilled craftsmen. They are all very personable and answer questions if you have any. Another positive note I would like to add here: Everyday that Mark has someone at your house working, he stops by and checks on how the job is going, or he calls...or both! Please note that when business hours are done, he shuts off his cell phone because he is on that doggone phone all the time. He usually runs about 3 or 4 jobs at the same time. He's that good! He made sure there was a Porta-Potty at the job site for the workers because they are not allowed to use your facilities. Anytime there is a change that you decide to make he will bring you paperwork to fill out and sign, called a change order. This may affect your final balance. All in all, my screened in front porch was done in about 6 weeks, is gorgeous, sturdy, comfortable and just perfect!

Mark was the general contractor for all work. He did a great job and because of his many years in the business, he has a great "list" of the best local folks for the needed work. He is easy to deal with and VERY attentive to customer issues and the work as its being performed. The subs he used were all very experienced and really knew there trade inside and out. All work was completed on-time and the overall job came in about 10% under budget! I have no doubt the attentiveness to customer issues will continue long after the work is completed which gives you a bit of peace-of-mind knowing Straw Dogs and Mark will be available to work out any future concerns and THAT is worth a lot! We will absolutely have Straw Dogs Construction perform additional work for us on other houses/projects.

We cannot recommend Mark highly enough. We feel very fortunate to have found him on Angie's list. Mark's estimate for the cost of the project was extremely accurate. Much of the project was completed in our absence. Mark went out of his way to be accommodating, keep us continually updated, ask questions and to work with our deadlines. Throughout the project we felt assured the project was in good hands. His subcontractors were all outstanding craftsmen. The painting, tile work and woodworking were all exceptionally well done.

It went very well. All of the work done was top notch, excellent quality. The communication and coordination was excellent. Mark, the owner of the company, used great sub-contractors with whom he had great relationships. The job stayed on budget.

It was great working with this company - kept me updated, informed, very professional. I will be remodeling my bathroom soon and this company will be the only one I will call. I always refer people who are looking for a contrator to Straw Dog - personally I wouldn't use anyone else. I have used a number of contractors in the past and this one is by far the best.

Estimate was timely and competitive. Mark is very cordial, informative and easy to work with. Work commenced as scheduled with demolition of old bathroom. Mark's expertise was readily evident as he handled an unexpected wiring issue creatively and in a very professional manner. Mark closely supervised the plumbing, electrical, tile, and carpeting contractors assuring the best job was obtained from each. Mark personally performed any remaining miscellaneous work himself to assure an excellent finished product. We are extremely happy and would highly recommend Mark in the future. Having a general contractor with his knowledge is invaluable in being sure the entire job is done right and on time.

Was not able to use Mark and StrawDogs

Anticipated start date is end of month. Will update when completed. Straw Dogs will be starting my job this Wednesday. I had not completed the survey because I had no update. Thank you for your patience. My job was completed July 17 and Mark from Straw Dog Construction did exceptional work. The entire experience was positive. All the sub-contractors that Mark used were professional and knowledgeable. Mark is a great team leader with his subs and he was on site to ensure that all went according to plan. Mark himself was very hands on. He is extremely knowledgeable and does everything to ensure that the customer is satisfied with the job being performed. The work performed was demo - plastic and dust protection; disconnecting plumbing, pulling countertop, removing upper cabinets at partition wall; removing drywall and demo soffits, bracing ceiling on either side of partition wall. Installed appropriate beams to support roof, create beam pockets and install appropriate framing. The electrical consisted of retro fit recessed can at dining light location, install new switch for ceiling an and fan box in center of living room, install new fan. The plumbing consisted of installing new faucet, dishwasher and disposal at new kitchen sink, new angle stops and supply lines; installing new waste system at wall. The paint consisted of prime and paint all new and repaired areas at kitchen/living room. This also included debris removal and daily clean up. I highly recommend Straw Dogs Construction to anyone thinking of doing any type of work that would require a contractor. In Mark that person would get someone extremely qualified, a person that takes pride in the work being performed and that informs the customer as the work progresses of how it is going and whether there are unforeseen issues with suggestions on solution. I would definitely hire Mark again (and again). Great job! Great person! And, we came in slightly under estimate!! Thanks Mark!

Mark Thomas of Straw Dogs is terrific. He's thorough and will go over everything with you. When he bids, he doesn't guesstimate, he actually get bids from all the subs, which might take longer, but you will know exactly what you're getting and the cost. My design for the casita was occasionally a 'moving target' and Mark was happy to work with me as the project evolved. I could go on and on, but suffice to say that Mark is great. He's extremely conscientious and honest. And friendly. He bent over backwards to make sure everything was right. No project goes without a hitch, but when things came up, he was right there for us. He works with subs he knows and is completely accountable for every aspect of the work. I have to add that it became a running joke on the job that Mark does not text, and barely emails. He's strictly a phone guy. If you can live with that, hire him for your project! You won't be sorry. We love our casita!

Straw Dogs was one of eight general contractors we interviewed for this complex job, which involved stucco work, framing and sheathing, electrical issues, roofing, and concrete work. We called him because he had been highly recommended by knowledgeable clients. Mark decided not to bid on the job because he was concerned (correctly, as it turns out) about unseen problems behind the original walls, which had to be removed. We were so impressed with his knowledge, forthrightness, and honesty that we asked whether we could hire him as a consultant, so we could call him for an expert second opinion if we had questions about contracting procedures, processes, work quality, best practices, or billing practices. Mark had not acted in such a capacity before, but we explained that we needed his expertise because we were not experts about construction, and would benefit greatly from his years in the business. It turned out that we made a superb decision. Questions arose about everything from the the way to put up sheathing to how electrical problems should be addressed, and we needed help evaluating options, contracting practices, and the work itself. Mark answered our questions and came out to examine work. If there were a technical issue involving a subspecialty, he knew whom to call to do additional research. His excellent communication skills enabled him to explain everything in terms we could understand, so we could make informed decisions. Mark's expertise and experience, which we paid for on an hourly basis, saved us time and money. We avoided mistakes and were able to feel comfortable about the decisions we had to make. Having Mark as a construction consultant gave us confidence in the work being done and the structural integrity of our home. You can't put a price on that kind of peace of mind. For all the reasons explained above, we recommend Mark most highly.

It was very good. The price was reasonable. A friend recommended them.

Mark and the people he brought in to do the demolition and tile (Babich Tile) were professional, timely and great at what they do.I found Mark to be honest, professional and easy to work with all the way around. I would recommend him to anyone looking for quality work. He was very responsive and worked with my schedule and needs. The final cost was less than estimated because of demolition cost ended up be lower than expected. Mark returned my calls in a timely manner and answered all my questions.

Referred to Straw Dogs by local supplier giving Mark their highest recommendation. Though we were unable to match my project with Mark's services he provided multiple referrals and then offered to provide more if needed. The next day Mark called back to see how his referrals worked out and again offered more. If this is the level of service provided to non-paying clients I can only imagine how pampered his paid clients are. If I were involved in a large renovation, Mark's level of customer service would likely be unmatched by any other contractor.

Overall we were extremely pleased with the result. Once the work got underway, things were done well and promptly. The contractor was very responsive when we had concerns, and worked with us to make us pleased with the result (we had issues with paint color). They cleaned up nicely after they finished each day. We would definitely work with Strawdogs again. The only reason it is not A's all around is that we had a significant delay because we got incorrect information about the wiring in the kitchen, which delayed our ability to order applicances, and thus finish the project. They also made a mistake with the paint color in two rooms (not actually getting a match made, just relying on old paint lying around the house). Ultimately we were happy with the final colors and we got a discount on a paint job to correct one of the problems.

We called on Friday late morning but received the answering machine. Mark, the owner, responded on Sunday, apologized for the late response, and made an appointment with us for Monday at noon. He was on time. He looked over the house and gave us some advice on how to easily correct the problem ourselves. Since we are new to town, he also provided us a list of names and numbers of various service providers with whom he works. We felt very comfortable with him and will likely use his services in the future. He did not charge for the call.

He referred me to a draftsman and answered some difficult questions. We are now getting plans made based on his suggestions, and may use him for the work. My reason for downgrading this provider was that he missed an appointment, and was hard to get a hold of.

They were courteous. It is worth getting an estimate from them

Mark provided an estimate on the job described above. He visited the residence where the work was to be performed several times, on occassion with subcontractors to refine his bid. I've never seen a contractor spend so much attention and effort on a bid before. Mark honestly wanted to make sure everything was as accurate as possible. Unfortunately, our budget did not allow us to use Straw Dogs. I have little doubt that Mark and his team would have done an excellent job and I would recommend anyone include them in their bidding process.

Mark was very responsive in his estimate. His prices were competitive and his expertise obvious so we went with his bid. He subcontracted much of the work but did an outstanding job of selecting the subcontractors and overseeing thier work to be sure it was done well. He finished the details himself to our complete satisfaction.

All work done on budget, on schedule and with highest competence.

All projects have gone wonderfully. I just can't say enough good things about him & his business practices. A true pleasure to work with and i've recommended him to several friends.

The interaction with Strawdogs (Mark) was easy and professional; we did not ultimately hire the group due to scheduling needs, but Mark was professional and straightforward and very easy to work with. We will look to Strawdogs for future remodeling when the time comes for us to do more.