DiOrio Builders & Designers Inc

Something has gone terribly wrong for this company. I believe they mean each promise they've made. But most were empty. Today the owner writes that he is "currently in a bad financial position and will not be able to continue your project until December." We paid $8K so far. I feel such doubt. I would love to revise this review after success in December.

My wife and I own a colonial farm house located within the Boston city limits, and we decided this spring to have an upstairs room renovated into a new master bedroom. Using Angie's list, we arranged for several estimates, hoping to find a general contractor that combined high-quality, detail-oriented work with a fair price and excellent customer service. DiOrio Builders and Designers quickly emerged from the group as our first choice for our project! From our first contact, James, one of the partners, made himself available to answer all of our questions and coordinated all aspects of the work. . Jameskept the project moving forward and was accessible by phone or text anytime we had a concern. Both he and his partner, Derek, worked on the room along with their plasterers, electrician, and floor sanders. All of their subs were professional and did great, detailed work. Knowing the age and irregularities of our home, we knew the renovation would be anything but straight forward. James discussed all issues as they came up and presented our options for materials and design to achieve the look we wanted. Both Derek and James worked overtime on the finish carpentry and painting so that the project would be completed on time! Derek even repainted the walls and radiator cabinet when we decided that the color we picked out was too bright. The project also called for some additional carpentry work for which we were not charged. Our experience with DiOrio Builders was A+, and both my partner and I strongly recommend them to anyone desiring beautiful, finished renovation work combined with a great, personal experience.

James from DiOrio was very prompt coming to give an estimate and the price was within my budget. After scheduling they got started and were very good at keeping the disruption to those areas being worked on. All the folks at DiOrio were very professional and are clearly skilled at their craft. Both James and the owner Derek are very nice and worked really hard to get the job done to my satisfaction, including coming on Saturdays and Sundays to ensure things get done on time. They even came back a few times after I already paid them to tackle a few very small issues I found after the job was complete. The quality of their work was great and I would hire them again.

My experience with front man James and owner Derek was so disturbing, that I chose to forfeit my $2,700 down payment and end the relationship before any work began. The first red flag occurred when I told James I would review the contract and send suggested revisions before meeting to sign it. He was very upset and ?Derek was p*****? that I sent these revisions an hour before the meeting instead of the previous day. I anticipated a civil discussion about the work plan, but was instead accused of trying to sneak changes into the contract at the last minute. James then warned me not to ?mess with Derek?s money? which struck me as odd since the contract hadn?t yet been signed. The next red flag happened after I signed the contract. James measured for a replacement window and stated, ?The dimensions for the new window is 30-1/4? x 19-3/4? (actual).? Unfortunately, the window company did not understand what ?actual? meant and responded, ?Please ask your contractor if he wants the window made to this measurement or if he needs a deduction to the measurement.? Simple enough question I thought, so I wasn?t expecting James? answer, ?The window needs to be made to the measurements given.? It took me 5 more days to delicately extract a complete enough answer from James to confidently place the window order. Several weeks later, my wife and I met with James to review the project before starting work. He shared the unsolicited wisdom that we didn?t need to like each other in order to work together, and we ended the meeting by him agreeing to let my wife and me know whether he would begin the job over the coming weekend or the following Monday. Monday came and went, and no word from James. When confronted, he denied having said he would start on the weekend or Monday. At that point I lost all confidence in DiOrio and pictured them jacking up my basement floor, demanding the second installment and never coming back. I was glad to cut my losses.

After explaining the timeframe that we needed the work done in -about a 10 week window-we had a lot of trouble getting anyone to come out.We were required to provide the window and countertop that were being installed.After the walls were opened,the workers left a huge mess.We had to clean up chunks of drywall,plaster dust, and remove the ruined insulation.We would be told that work would continue the next day but no one would show up or call.At one point sheetrock was installed without insulation (that we'd provided) so the wall had to come back down so that the insulation could be put up-I think if I hadn't happened to walk in during the work it would have been left like that.They also tried to reinstall water-damaged wood trim instead of replacing it.After the work was finished and paid off,we noticed that they must have run out of primer as the ceiling had an area of different paint.

Derek and his team did a great job installing the floors in my basement. I am satisfied with the work that was done.

I communicated with James who was very professional and prompt. He showed up when he said he would, or if he was running late from a client site, he communicated his time frame. He advised on options for repair and gave great ideas. He explained the steps every part of the way. While he didn't do the work himself, he managed it completely. The work that was done is impeccable and the job area was very clean. It was completed in a timely manner. I would definitely use them again.

You will not be disappointed in their work or their professionalism and they were just really nice guys and meticulous in their clean up.

This is the third project that DiOrio has done for me, and I keep going back to them because they do a great job with core construction and framing projects, and place a high value on serving their customers well. As part of a larger insulation project through MassSave, I wanted to get our attic fully insulated, but not lose the storage space. I needed a contractor to do the framing work to raise the height of the attic floor, and one who was willing to work around the schedule of the MassSave contractor doing the insulation work. Even though DiOrio was very busy this spring, they made my relatively small project a priority, getting their work done exactly to the schedule of the larger insulation work (i.e. floor removed by 6/22, floor reinstalled on 6/25), and done in time for me to go on vacation knowing it was done. Derek and James are always willing to listen to my questions and suggestions (this time on whether the existing floor could be reused, or salvaged and donated if we couldn't use it), but I also trust that they will do a solid job without my interference.

#1. The deck didn't survive its first winter. #2. They dragged their feet to return for the multiple follow up problems we encountered. #3. James called me and threatened to sue me for writing this review: Went great at first. The problem has been the follow up. Several things came up after the work finished, and getting them to respond has been like pulling teeth. The response is always "we're busy; we'll get to it when we can." And that appears to be never. They left a barrel of trash in our yard for 2 months even after the work was done despite reminders to come pick it up. Then there was a problem with the door they worked on being drafty and they couldn't come to fix it before the winter because they didn't have time, so we fixed it on our own. Then the deck railing didn't hold up through its first (admittedly bad) winter. The weight of the snow was enough to rip the railing down. I notified them of the need for a repair on May 4th, and I still haven't heard whether they're even willing to come fix it or not. Looks like it's time for us to call someone else in to clean up their mess. Be careful. They can get in over the heads fast. Stick with the simple jobs until they get their act together.

The project took longer than expected due to supplier issues, but James called me each time to notify me and every effort was made to minimize the disruption to our lives. The wall and steps are beautiful. After the tough winter, the repair to the concrete in the front walk and back doorway has cracked a bit, which is why I rated a B- but I am sure if I were to call about it, they would come fix it.

They were very professional and informative. I would recommend their services to others.

From beginning to end, our experience with DiOrio Builders and Designers was superb. This is a great company to work with on renovation projects. Here's our story: I wanted a Spa-Bath-on-a-Budget, and called a contractor we'd worked with in the past. To my chagrin, repeated phone calls went unreturned. So, I began asking around, starting with my neighbors. No one had had a truly outstanding experience with a renovation project. The contractor had been affordable, but chronically late. Or had cut corners in sneaky ways. Or didn't show up as scheduled. Or was good at laying tile but lousy at cabinetry. Etc, etc. DiOrio came up on a Google search, and customer reviews were very positive. Still, I was uneasy about hiring someone I didn't know. I would have preferred a word of mouth referral. But then we met James Kim from DiOrio. He arrived for our first appointment exactly on time, took off his shoes upon entering the house, and then took a good deal of time and attention reviewing our bathroom and listening to what we wanted to do. I had a bid within a few days. The price was right, and James had shown such attention to detail that I felt we would be in good hands. The project began exactly when James said it would - and the excellent communication evident from day one continued throughout the project. James or Derek (the other principal who is carrying on the business started by his grandfather,, also very friendly and professional) were on the job supervising their crew and in touch with me to update me on progress made or occasional setbacks on a daily basis. At every step, James or Derek let us know what was coming next and where additional costs might be incurred. For instance, Derek noticed electrical wiring very close to the shower pipes during demolition. He immediately flagged this with me and indicated that the electrician might need to move the wiring because of the proximity to the pipes. It turned out not to be a big deal; the electrician made the necessary moves without any additional charge. But they were very upfront about the possibility of an additional cost, which I appreciated. When the old tile was lifted, a slope in the floor was evident and needed to be dealt with. This too was pointed out to me immediately, and we paid a few hundred extra for this additional work. That was the only overage. Tiling, electrical, plumbing and carpentry were all well done. I should add that this project took place in the middle of the Winter from H*** here in Boston, and that James and his tiler worked several Sundays to make up for lost time. They were also extremely clean, wiping floors and vacuuming at the end of every day to keep dust and dirt from being tracked through the house. In sum - these guys do great work, communicate effectively, and clearly care about their customers. We've got a gleaming, gorgeous new bathroom. I couldn't be happier.

They were very professional and always got back to us. They were easy to work with and did a very nice job. We were very happy with it. They left the area very clean. Compared to other quotes we got, they were reasonable.

These guys did a great job. I hired them to do a total gut and remodel of a bathroom in a rental unit owned by my mother for 50 years. Their estimate was very competitive, they had a good Angies list rating, and came across as very professional, so we hired them. Could not have been happier. They actually finished the job ahead of schedule, and the workmanship was excellent. All through the job, they kept the area clean and neat. James and Derek were a pleasure to work with, and gave us updates on how the job was going almost daily. Do yourself a favor and get an estimate from DiOrio Builders before you go ahead with your project.

The deck looked great at first, but we can't get them back for any of the follow up work needed. They became extremely unresponsive after the work was done.

ellDioro Builders and designers is principally two men, whose work is first rate and whose customer communication is unsurpassed. Theirs was not the cheapest bid I received, nor was it the most expensive, but what stood out from my first exchange with James was the clarity of his explanation. It was up front, detailed, and provided in writing. The same clear communication continued through the period of work. As promised, I received an email most evenings, letting me know what time they would arrive and what they expected to accomplish. Although I didn't need to let them in (the project was entirely outdoors), the updates were helpful. The stair case is beautifully constructed, so much so that a few neighbors have commented on it. For example, Derek took extra care in its placement on the landing where it rests, with a riser crafted to match the slope. He also encountered a few glitches, which necessitated some extra work, but he showed me exactly what was required and followed through each time as promised. He, too, answered my questions thoroughly and explained elements of the craft he was applying to the job. The result is a sturdy set of stairs that are not only up to code but also especially attractive. I would most definitely hire Diorio again.

DiOrio did a fantastic job, transforming my kitchen and downstairs half bathroom in about 6-7 weeks. They were clear about the contract, meticulous on the job, and worked with a great team, whether it had to do with lighting or plumbing or flooring. The end product is amazing. They are very good about keeping you appraised of progress of the job, timetable, and inform you right away when there is a problem,offering options and solutions.they are careful about cleaning the premises during the job and after. James was assigned to the project and was very punctual always courteous and very meticulous about the work. They worked really hard and I am glad we trusted them with our kitchen remodeling.

James at Diorio was my initial point of contact. He scheduled the original consultation and was prompt and clear when discussing the project during the initial visit. He provided a detailed quote which was reasonably priced when compared to others. This project involved replaced a cracked concrete slab under a house addition and replacing old laly columns that supported the addition. They also extended my deck so it was twice the previous size and replaced all railings and old decking, basically only using the supports from the old deck. While doing this project, we also discovered that the gutters on my house led to a pipe that went through masonry, but had degraded over time and was ruining the masonry under the deck, so they rerouted the gutters and corrected the water damage. Derek and James performed the majority of the work themselves and hired help on the specific days it would be needed. They communicated regularly with me about when they would and would not be coming to work on the project and explained all work done very clearly. I enjoyed working with them and have now signed a contract for them to build out the attic of my house, which a considerably larger project than this one was.

We are VERY satisfied with DiOrio's work. Both James and Derek were highly professional throughout the project. Their workmanship was meticulous, including daily clean-up throughout the project. They maintained very good communication during the process, including advising us of some things we hadn't considered, and explaining their work as it progressed. The craftsmanship of the finished product is night and day better than the original master shower (which we thought was pretty cool to begin with). Their bidding/pricing was straightforward, prompt, and based on my other comparison bids, quite reasonable.

We contacted DiOrio Builders and Designers along with several other contractors when we decided that we no longer wanted to continue painting the fascia and soffits on our Roslindale bungalow. We were looking to have the fascia either replaced with Azek or wrapped with aluminum and we wanted all the soffits enclosed. Initially a few of the contractors told us that the job was too small for them. When we spoke with Derek he said basically that DiOrio was?committed to providing expert craftsmanship along with high customer service no matter the size of the job? as their website claims. We walked around our house stating time after time that we wanted all the soffits enclosed and pointed to our neighbor?s house as an example of what we wanted on ours. At a second meeting, this time with both Derek and James we accepted their estimate and signed the contract. This was on April 9th with the work to begin around the end of May. Around mid-May we contacted DiOrio inquiring if there was anything they would need us to do to help prepare the site and we told them where we would leave the garage door key so that they would have access to a power source. It was then that DiOrio said that they were on a big job and would have to put off starting our job until mid to late June. We understood and agreed to the later start time. Around June 16th or so some materials and tools appeared on the site so we thought we were on our way. It was then that James told us that ?DiOrio interprets the contract to mean that only the front and rear roof apexes and soffits? were to be done. This was after they had tacked on unpainted sister boards to our existing eaves to provide support for the gutters on both long sides of the house. When we asked why we would explicitly say we wanted to eliminate having to paint the eaves we would accept raw exposed wood on the eaves James had no answer but insisted that DiOrio?s interpretation was correct. After quite a bit of haggling DiOrio offered to honor our interpretation at an additional cost of 50% of the total cost of materials necessary. We drew up an addendum to the original contract; both Derek and James signed the addendum and they began the job. Unfortunately it deteriorated from that point. Suddenly it became a ?one man job? for DiOrio. To be fair, both James Kim and Derek Dennis were always responsive, respectful and seemed sincere in wanting to do the best job possible. But to suppose that the job could be done professionally and proficiently by one man working alone with no staging and one ladder was certainly a decision based on a fault. The J-channels on the West side of the house were ill fitting and inconsistent; the aluminum wrap varied in size and looked like a patchwork quilt; some corners were mitered others weren?t; yet DiOrio insisted this was a one man job. DiOrio projected a time frame of 2-3 weeks max; it turned out to be an ordeal that went on for 5 weeks. At one point Derek agreed that what had been done on the East side of the house had to be taken down and redone; the patchwork of mismatched sizes on the front apex needed to be redone as well. Finally the job was completed or at least there was no more work to be done. The end result looks like it was done without care; there are gaps between the J-channel and the aluminum wrap and some of the gutters do not have fascia behind them. The job was done on a catch-as-catch can basis with inadequate crew. That is not to say that James didn?t work hard, he did. But the job required more than one man and DiOrio chose not to make that investment. Instead the focus for them was whatever big job was being undertaken so our ?small? job looks as though it was pieced together; which it was. We are certain that DiOrio Construction and Design are capable of excellent craftsmanship?if the job is big enough. We would not hire them again. The best rating we would give is a generous C.

James came and assessed the project. He was prompt, professional, thoughtful about our project. Ultimately we did not go with them because the schedule didn't line up between when we wanted the work done & their availability.

James gave a detailed quote, stayed on schedule and finished the job on time. He was punctual, paid attention detail, worked very hard and explained all the details. He did everything that was promised. It was a pleasure to work with him.

DiOrio Builders did an outstanding job with our bath remodeling. They provided excellent quality of service. They pay attention to detail, they are responsive, punctual, and creative when addressing design/construction issues. They worked with our needs in mind and were extremely responsive to suggestions, questions and requests. In addition, they are organized and impressive when cleaning up after a day's job. Our house was left very clean at the end of each day. They worked really hard and delivered a new bathroom within the timeframe promised.

Originally contracted to have steps re-pointed to replace crumbled masonry. Once the work was underway it was determined that the steps would need to be reset. Given the winter we have had, I've seen no water damage to the masonry and the work is holding up very well.