MCCORMACK BUILDERS

Overall project went very well - the bathrooms are beautiful and functional. We did not have an architect, just worked with Mike and our own design preferences. Mike was great at working through design issues that came up, and also at guiding selections. Very personable and fun guy to work with. Somethings outstanding, some very very good, and just a few areas could be better The outstanding - initial pricing of the job - very clear, and he held price except for major changes; his direct crew (did demo, protection, carpentry) also excellent; electrical & tile awesome. Mike was also great at working through issues around our historic district and building inspection (and Brookline can be a pain). Very impressive. The very very good - Mike worked us into his schedule very quickly - these days that’s pretty great. He communicated very well on start up and schedule of early work. He was also great at helping us address a major issue that came up - replacing knob and tube wiring throughout house. Mike also has a good strategy for managing the selection of tile and plumbing fixtures, b/c pricing is so variable for these - you go direct to supplier and get contractor prices. The one issue with this is that the sub isn’t fully coordinated with the selections - wasn’t an issue for tile, but for plumbing the fittings & connections weren’t fully coordinated - but that was addressed by the plumber and Mike. The areas that weren’t perfect - guys did not provide ventilation during demo, as a result we had concrete and plaster dust everywhere from the old thick set bathroom. As job progressed, and we had added complexity of the knob & tube, we had some communication drops. Finally, biggest area: the plumber was the weakest link in his subs (but there may have been extenuating circumstances.) We had some issues there - Mike addressed, but that was one area where we had less than smooth sailing. We would use Mike again without hesitation.

We could not be happier with both the end product and the whole process of working with Mike and his subs. We own an 1894 house and decided to do a design/build with him...meaning, we demoed the space and then designed on site since we weren't sure what the building would allow us to do. Doing it that way slowed things down a bit but Mike did everything he could to keep the process moving and help us make decisions in a timely fashion. He was incredibly efficient, friendly, organized and meticulous about details. He has a very good design sense too. He is one of the kindest and hardest working contractors we've ever worked with and we'd love to work with him again! Also, his subs were all fantastic - especially his electricians.

Mike and his crew did an excellent job. Addition included a large 2 car garage, amazing mudroom with 5 built-in cubbies and bench seating, Master suit above garage, with stunning bathroom, walk-in closet and balcony. Additional work included renovated office, laundry room, dormers on the 3rd floor, all new windows, new roof, all new exterior cedar siding, insulation, front and rear porches and sunroom and interior and exterior painting. Attention to detail and workmanship exceeded my expectations. The crew showed up to work by 7 am every weekday morning and they always put in a full days work. They were very polite, friendly and cleaned up the site at the end of each day. This was very important as my family lived in the house during the 10 month construction. Mike had great suggestions and design ideas throughout our project. We had some hiccups along the way, which should be anticipated with a 100+ year old home. However, in the end, our house looks amazing! Thank you Mike.

The job went extremely smoothly. My husband and I both work in the construction field and understand the challenges of a mid-sized project in a tight urban area like ours. Mike was great from day one in terms of responsiveness, straightforward pricing and keeping the job moving. We weren't expecting to do the kitchen upgrade; however, after a few weeks it was clear we liked Mike's attention to detail so much we wanted to go ahead with that project while he was already at work. I would give Mike an A++ in terms about caring about quality of work which is something easy to neglect in the rush of getting a job done. We are so thrilled with the results and honestly we are tough critics! Finally, Mike was great in dealing with parking, noise, and neighbors. We plan to be here a long time, and it was important to us that our contractor left the site always clean, took care with neighbors' cars, etc. Quite a challenge on our super narrow tree-lined street. Again, Mike went the extra mile in many, many ways. We don't have too much left to do on our house...but we will try to think of something and if we do would certainly hire this contractor again.

the project was completed to plan and budget. Mike McCormack was an outstanding builder, businessman and gentleman. I would recommend him to anyone for his professionalism, work ethic, and attention to detail. His crew and his subcontractors were outstanding as well. We could not be happier.

This project awarded to Mc Cormack Builders took 30+ weeks to complete, as planned by Mike. Living 3000 miles away from the project posed a challenge in terms of selections, coordination, communication and trust. Mike's professionalism and responsiveness contributed to overcome the difficulties due to distance and time difference. Furthermore, Mike had to make decisions on the spot that, overall were ours as well. The subcontractors were generally up to the expected standard and the overall result is satisfactory. Planning and budget have been respected. All the change orders were fair and Mike's personal commitment to satisfies us was awesome. Overall , we are happy with our builder's choice and the end result of a beautiful house.

Mike did a renovation for us 4 years ago - rebuilding bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and two rooms downstairs. It was an easy decision to work with Mike again.
Mike is as professional as it gets. He will take care of 'everything' and will let you know if anything cannot be done (very rare - since he's done it all). The quality of Mike's work is second to none. He is extremely detailed and you will get the highest quality.
Mike took care of the permits, and everything soup to nuts. His crew and any additional people Mike brings in are professional and true to their word as well.
I will recommend Mike to any project you may want to have done in your house. From renovation to completely new construction.

Mike McCormack and his team are true professionals and top-notch builders.  I would highly recommend them without any reservation for your project.

From the start, Mike was responsive to discussing the project and providing quotes in detail.  He worked very well throughout the project with my architect and subcontractors, and brought his experience and advice to improve the project.  His many years of building experience are evident in his approach to managing and performing the work and he is extremely easy to deal with.  He shows up when he says he will and does what he commits to with a high level of ownership and attention to detail. He takes tremendous pride in his work and it shows.

He and his team were on-site virtual every day of the 8 month-long project from 7am to 5pm.  They kept the project flowing despite the occasional hiccups that are the very nature of any complex project.  I had several of my contractors comment about how hard the McCormack team worked.  The job site was always orderly and safe and was cleaned up at the end of the day.  Despite the house being in a small, congested neighborhood, I had many neighbors comment about how quiet, polite, and accommodating the team was with moving their vehicles as needed and keeping them appraised of any issues that might impact them.  Mike kept me up-to-date on the project as necessary, and I always felt that I knew where things stood.

The workmanship was excellent.  Mike's attention to detail and his management of both his own team of carpenters and subcontractors shows in the quality of the work.  Walls are straight; trim, paint, and tile are done right; and the mechanicals work properly.  These might seem like easy things, but many builders cannot do them well or do them right the first time.  Mike voluntarily added nice carpentry features that enhanced the project.  I could find almost nothing wrong when we went to go through the finished units.

I cannot think of any real negatives.  My advice is to be clear about the project about the budget and timeframe with Mike, and he will work with you.

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Mike and his team were awesome. Hard working, courteous, professional, very clean, you name it! We lived at home throughout the entire project with our one year old boy and infant daughter and Mike and his crew went out of their way to ensure we were comfortable throughout it all - no small task under the circumstances!  Mike was super responsive to calls and concerns, and his crew was courteous, quiet, and consistent.
We couldn't be happier with the end result. The quality level is top notch.  I mostly liked their attention to detail, which shows throughout. Mike met with us weekly and as needed to discuss options as the project moved on. Having not gone through such an extensive renovation before, Mike was invaluable from a guidance and recommendation perspective.
I would recommend Mike and his team to anyone looking to do a quality project - large or small.

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Mike McCormack and his team built our new home in 2013 (with follow up check-ins in 2014 and 2015, though not needed as our house has no noteworthy issues to date).
It's now two years after building our new house, and my wife and I continue to be thankful that we selected McCormack Builders. We worked with the owner, Mike, and found him to be honest, extremely skilled  and true to his word on every occasion. He worked very well with our architect, Mark (of Newton), which made things even better. For my wife and I, we worried about so many details of a new home, but Mike was very helpful in answering any question we had ? and we had a lot! Here are a few pros and cons of his work (though really no cons below) in a few categories:
Pros:
Carpentry: Incredibly skilled. Corners straight, solid, no cracks or movement.
Construction: it?s two years later and no issues. Mike gave us a three year warranty on the house. In two years, the only things that I can call out are: 1) one door didn't close smoothly because of the door lock (he fixed), 2) the bottom of another rubbed against the carpet in the basement (he fixed).
Foundation.  Perfect?not a crack.
Wall skimming and painting. Incredibly smooth and near perfect lines on the trim
Tiling.  Perfect (the worker took a bit longer than expected, but. Well worth the wait as the tiler was truly an artist.
Plumbing.  Far above average and no issues to date.
HVAC.  Far above average and no issues to date (worth noting? we opted for foam insulation on Mike?s advice. Today we experience VERY low energy costs, even in the most heated months. One of the best decisions we made.
Electrical.  Above average. Clean, tight work in running wires and no issues to date.
Communication. Can?t say enough here. Mike was always available and always on time; he was a consultant as much as he was a builder. He made the changes we asked for (after consultation), but also directed us when we were making errors (and we would have made a LOT of errors). Most important, our architect loved Mike and they worked well from start to finish (they didn?t know each other when the process started).
Price.  Incredible value for what he charged to build our house. McCormack Builders was not the lowest nor the highest in price, but the cost was more than fair. We feel we got exactly what we paid for: a beautiful house with no issues to date.
Cons:
Really there were no cons. If I had to find one... Mike laid out the entire schedule of building our house in November, 2012. He noted that we would move in the end of June, 2013. We actually moved in the first week in July, so he was off by one week.
I would add that hiring Mike McCormack was one of the best decisions in my life. We love our home!
 
 

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Mike and his team were fantastic throughout the entire process.  Although it was an extremely stressful, to go from a planned renovation to building a full house, Mike was easy to work with and helpful through the entire process.  
We hired Mike to add a second floor master suite, install a new kitchen and open up the first floor.  During the demolition, we found the foundation was substantially substandard and would not support the proposed new structure.  After reviewing our options, we had Mike put together a price and timeline for a full new house.
We started construction in November, and Mike and his team worked through the cold and snow of the winter to keep the project moving forward.  He was able to demolish the remaining structure, and put in the new foundation with two weeks of our go-ahead decision.  He worked directly with the architect to get the beam and joist sizes, and the post locations, which needed to be added, to meet the code requirements.  He also worked with the building inspector to explain the change in scope and the reason for the changes.
Mike was easy to work with and very professional.  We met once a week to review progress and what was upcoming over the -next few weeks.  He also gave us plenty of notice - to make decisions, and the due dates for materials delivered to the site.  He also has a weekly payment plan, which allows you to minimize large payments, and keep better track of the progress of the project and how that relates to the money you have put into the project.
Mike uses very high quality subcontractors, who all do a great job and have a strong working relationship with Mike.  This means that they are able to make adjustments to other projects when Mike needs to get something done quickly.  All of them do a great job and I would recommend them all.
After all of the time and work invested in working with Mike and his team, we are very happy with our new house.  From the custom shelves using the leftover hardwood flooring to the china cabinet and bookcases to the extra closets that we were able to add, all of which came out beyond our expectations.

The project went very well from beginning to end and the results exceeded our expectations.  From the outset Mike took full control of the project from permitting, to scheduling necessary inspections,, to dealing with our condo neighbors about their questions and concerns.  In a word he took care of everything.  He was a consummate professional and we quickly developed full confidence in his judgment and opinion in dealing with the inevitable surprises.  The project came in within our budget save for the several change orders which Mike accounted for accurately.  After the completion of the project and our final payment, we had occasion to call Mike on several follow-up items and he responded in a timely and professional manner without fuss or comment.

Michael and his team of finish carpenters are very professional, prompt, polite, and talented and very clean and meticulous. 
We would highly recommend them for any project.

Andy and Niall managed to install the moulding  - with all the challenges of an older home, - flawlessly.  The seams, nail holes and caulking are UNDETECTABLE.   They were cheery and professional though it all.  They crafted a soffit box to conceal a couple of pipes and the end result is perfection.  Also, you'd never be able to see where our dog gnawed sections from the woodwork.  The guys cut out the chewed sections in the doorways and inserted perfectly fitting poplar  wood.  The dog damage has been erased,



I'll definitely be contacting Mike for future projects. 

If, like most homeowners, you have heard contractor horror stories, forget about them and hire Mike McCormack and his crew. MMC Carpentry not only has the skills to tackle any project. Mike and the guys are old school: they consider their work a craft and take great pride in getting every detail right. The bigger the challenge, the more they relish the task. None of the guys is satisfied with good enough, even if it means working longer days. On day one of the project, Mike and the crew showed up at 7 am and worked a full day. They continued to do this six days a week until the project was done. At no time during the project did they disappear. One of my neighbors, who works at home, commented that he never looked out just saw the MMC Carpentry standing around. Mike showed up at the worksite every morning with a plan for that day, and the crew worked well together implementing the plan. Mike also was on the phone with the architect, Henry Bobek, whenever he was at all uncertain about a detail called for in the construction drawings. The two men developed a good rapport that really helped the project stay on track and led to some tweaks that made the house even better in the end.
As an amateur student of building science and DYIer myself, I had many long discussions with Mike both before I hired him and during  construction about the best way to achieve our goals. I couldn't stump him. He always seemed up on the latest energy-efficiency science as well as the latest materials. In any renovation of this scale, surprises are always waiting, from rotten rim joists to a sagging ridgeline to walls out of plumb and square, and Mike and I communicated fully and well about each problem as it came up so we could devise the most cost-efficient solution.
In addition, Mike's chief carpenter, Andy McRedmond, is a hard-working, highly skilled craftsman who takes equal pride in his work. These are men who love what they do, and it shows.
In fact, MMC Carpentry became part of our family. The impetus for this renovation was to create living space for my mother-in-law, who could no longer live on her own, and the crew, while working, also happened to be great company for her. (We lived in the house during much of the work. Unfortunately, my mother-in-law passed away before we could complete the project, but it is a testament to the character of Mike and his crew that they all attended the memorial service for her.) The crew treated our home with the respect and care of their own. The worksite was meticulously cleaned up at the end of every day, there were no blasting radios, and the atmosphere was focused and cheerful. Most importantly, I love the way the project turned out.
We did got through several change orders during the course of the project as unanticipated problems arose, but we discussed them thoroughly and worked the numbers carefully to keep the cost down as low as possible. Communication is a strength for Mike, and we checked in every morning when the crew showed up to go over the plan for the day. If any question arose during the day, Mike phoned and presented me with the options so we could review them and decide together. Although Mike is obviously far more knowledgeable and experienced than I am, he never made me feel like he was humoring my many questions or requests. Nor did ever make me feel that he is the expert who should never be questioned.
I no doubt could have gotten another contractor to do this job for a little less money. But I wanted someone open to innovation, someone with a passion for quality, and someone who is a communicator willing to answer all my questions and be patient with my curiosity. With Mike I felt like I was dealing with a partner, and equal who tried hard to understand exactly what my goals were and who was able to think on his feet about the best way to achieve these goals.
No doubt about it: I could not have done better than MMC Carpentry Hire them. You won't regret it.

Words cannot describe the astonishing outcome of this project.  To sum it up – my house is gorgeous!  I never thought it could look as magnificent as it does today.  And, everyone who worked on the project was fantastic.  The workers arrived early in the morning and stayed until late afternoon/early evening.  They were professional, polite, respectful, and trustworthy.   The yard was picked up and the driveway swept daily.  Mike handled this large project seamlessly, from the expected to the unexpected and with a project this size on a poorly maintained house built in the 1880’s there is always the unexpected.   As the project started I thought I would have a million things to worry about, but that was not the case.  Mike was either on site daily actually working on the job or checking on the work that had been done.  He explained what was going on and patiently answered my many questions. When it was discovered the gas line needed to be moved to accommodate new front steps (one of the unexpected) Mike handled all of the arrangements and communications with the gas company and dealt with the related glitches.  First, work began on the repointing the foundation.  This involved chipping out all outside mortar joints and repointing with iron clad mortar.   I could not believe how quick the mason worked chipping out the old mortar and pulling the many weeds growing near the foundation.  Once the repointing began I immediately started to receive comments on how terrific the foundation looked.  A cinder block section of the foundation which did not match the rest of the foundation was replaced with a couple of pieces of the old granite from the front steps.  The foundation is now matched around the entire perimeter of the house.  Next the house was stripped to the sheathing in sections and that section repaired and wrapped in Tyvek vapor barrier before moving on to the next section.  If a section could not be completed by day’s end that section was covered tightly with a tarp.  I never had to worry about a section of the house being open for any period of time.  After the house was stripped and wrapped, the renewal really began.  The house was sided with red pre-primed cedar shingles and they are beautiful.  The rows are perfectly straight on a house I am sure is not level.  The shingles were weaved and flare out at the bottom.  The fascia and soffit boards were replaced with Azek and look fantastic.  The fascia and soffit boards have become a feature of the house.   New gutters were installed. Simultaneously, twenty two new energy efficient windows were installed some requiring new frames. Window sills were patched or replaced on other existing windows and all the window cavities were insulated.  PVC trim, band molding and drip edges were installed on all windows.  The front porch and steps were completely removed and rebuilt.  The front porch and steps are exquisite.  A new concrete foundation was poured for the new blue stone threads which were laid using a picture frame pattern.   Cultured stones were used on the risers and were placed in a random pattern that looks fantastic.  New colonial posts, pine board ceiling and crown molding, were installed.   Decorative corbels which were saved from the original porch were reinstalled after they had been stripped to bare wood and repaired.   Two exterior doors were reframed and new exterior doors installed.   The new pre-primed red cedar shingles were painted one color with 1 coat of oil based primer and 2 coats of latex paint.  The trim was painted a second color and the doors a third color.  The downspouts were painted 2 colors to match the trim and house colors – a great idea as the downspouts blend beautifully with the house.  A new deck and staircase was added at the rear of the house.  The deck was framed with 2x10 pressure treated timbers and Azek was used on the decking and for the rails.  Cedar lattice was installed to the underside of the deck.  New electrical circuits and wiring for new exterior lighting and outlets were installed.  Four exterior lights at doorways, 3 motion sensor lights for driveway, and 2 exterior outlets were installed. And the house was insulated blow-in insulation.  Unrelated to the project, but adding to the drama, two separate plumbing problems occurred during the project - an old bathroom sink pipe sprung a leak and a section of the main outgoing sewer pipe also spring a leak.  Both needed to be replaced and Mike contacted his plumber and took care of everything - a couple of incidents that could have been very stressful but were not. I cannot believe the wonderful comments I received from neighbors and strangers who had been watching the progression of the remodel.   Mike’s commitment and dedication to the project as well as his attention to detail is the reason this project ended with my house looking gorgeous.   From choosing material for the new front steps to choosing paint colors I was never alone.  He made a house that is over 100 years old look brand new with 1880’s charm.  After having been through this project and one other project with Mike recently, I do not think I would consider hiring anyone else to do work on my house.

From start to finish, Mike was fantastic. His immediate team of carpenters were superb and I would strongly recommend Mike, Andy, and their apprentice Pat for any project large or small. We found Mike on Angie's List and were impressed by his reviews. We had worked with another contractor on a previous remodel but were looking for a much higher quality job - particularly as it relates to the carpentry. I'm very particular when it comes to finish work. First and perhaps most important, Mike was incredibly responsive throughout the project. He was easy to reach via email, text, or cell phone and would typically respond within a couple of hours. Mike also prides himself in punctuality and in cleanliness. For a family living through a renovation this was absolutely critical. He worked incredibly hard with us to establish a realistic budget for the extensive job we were planning. I was also personally impressed with how Mike orchestrated the entire project from start to finish. The only reasons the project didn't start and finish as planned were two-fold: Our town's initial permitting took 7 weeks instead of the 4 weeks promised, and we added several features including upgraded trim - which reflected our confidence in the ultimately beautiful trim work and custom cabinets and closets that were completed throughout the house. My decision to add this with Mike's guidance and expertise truly finished the home and made is now a showpiece of the project. Mike's right hand man Andy deserves much of the credit for superb execution of the concepts that Mike and our architect helped us to develop. Their apprentice Pat is also incredibly hard working. For a family living in the midst of its second major renovation, we were thrilled with how polite and responsive the immediate team was - our 6 and 4 year olds still talk about Pat and Andy on a daily basis, waiting for the next project for them to complete. We developed a fast friendship with Mike's team and they have my and my family's complete trust. Mike's subcontractor's did great work, which we strongly believe is a reflection of Mike's meticulous nature. Mike was always checking in with us throughout the project at least once or twice a week to see if we wanted to change or correct anything. He was completely flexible, very creative (Mike and Andy designed our new fireplace mantle, the trim work, as well as a complex and elegant entry to our new custom master closet), and a superb listener. There isn't a detail too small for Mike's attention. Simply put, MMC Carpentry brings craftsmanship, quality, and excellence in the form of a true partnership. We very much look forward to our next project with MMC Carpentry.

My bathroom was transformed from a drab and dysfunctional room into a room that is not only functional but also bright and beautiful. 
Mike and the entire crew were fantastic throughout the entire project.    The carpenters, plumbers, electricians, tiler, plasterers, and painters were skilled professional in their respective fields.    They always arrived on time and worked throughout the day, were polite, respectful, trustworthy, and friendly.  The bathroom work area was kept clean and the kitchen floor was mopped at the end of the work day if necessary.   Mike was available throughout the entire project and always answered questions promptly.  He is knowledgeable, reliable, pays attention to details, and takes pride in the finished product.   When I was struggling with choosing tile for the bathroom floor Mike assisted and I have to say pointed me in a color and style direction that I never would have gone on my own.  The tile is perfect and I love it.  It complements the subway tile, the fixtures, as well as the era of the house.    I cannot imagine the floor with any other tile on it.  The quality of his work is excellent.   In my opinion Mike runs a first class operation.  I highly recommend MMC Carpentry to anyone considering a remodeling project.

He had great customer service.  I would like to use him in the future.

A phenomenal job!  it is very rare that you come across such a group of professionals, as Mike and his team. 
From beginning to end, and under a strict timeline to get the house to market, Mike was was continually on top of each step of the project.  He not only maintains the business aspect of the project from detailed quotations to scheduling and installation...but he is also there doing the physical labor as well! He is both creative and cost-effective, extremely knowledgeable, with an exceptionally calm demeanor that has obviously earned the utmost respect from his subs.
Each sub-contractor seemed to be the best of their trade, with delightful personalities and maintaining the same attention to detail that Mike adheres to.
The work area was small, and required them to travel through the main foyer of the house and the upstairs bedrooms. With three small children, it was imperative that we could still continue life "as usual". We were continually astounded by how clean and organized the house and work area were, considering the depth of the project.
The final product was absolutely beautiful!..with not a detail unattended to. Literally, not a speck of paint awry or an edge imperfect.
The budget was exactly as quoted. A few changes were made to the original plan, but were discussed and agreed to prior to any work or purchase.
We really hope we get the opportunity to work with Mike again.

A lot of structural work was necessary because of the age of the home. Mike then completely renovated our entryway and patio which included new windows, new bead board ceilings, new walls and flooring. In 2008 Mike and his crew put a new shingle roof on our home. This spring, Mike re-shingled the entire house. The existing siding, fascia and soffit were in bad repair. Inadequate wall structure was found after stripping the house which was completely rebuilt before shingling. All the fascia and soffit had to be completely reframed before any new boards could be installed. He had the stone foundation re pointed to ensure a waterproof basement, and took extra measures to prevent water seepage in joint areas (around the chimney, etc.) Mike used pre-primed red cedar shingles throughout the house along with all new Azek trim. All new trim work was installed on the exterior to the doors, windows, fascia, soffits and corner boards. After all the carpentry work was done the whole house was painted with 1 coat of oil based primer and 2 latex top coats for maximum protection against the weather. Finally Mike and his crew installed all new gutters and downpipes. In addition to Mike's practice of being readily available and talking through the details, including costs, of any given project, we have valued and relied on his thorough knowledge of all aspects of the work. We have appreciated Mike's creative and aesthetic sense and have used his suggestions regarding design, materials and color. Finally, Mike's work ethic and honesty are "unimpeachable."