Frank Leone

It was one of the most miserable experiences of our life. Mr. Leone provides no estimates, but charges by the hour. So, the estimate of our relatively small project was tripled when it was completed. The timeframe required also was beyond reasonable. A project estimated to be completed within two months took nearly six months. Again, this was a very very small project. Even for Vineyard 'standards' he was way out of line on many levels. Very difficult to work with.

There was evidence of excessive moisture in the crawlspace under the house; the foundation and floor joists were constantly wet and the odor of mildew prevailed inside the house. The fiberglass insulation between the floor joists was saturated. Since the house is unused during the winter months, we decided the best way to proceed would be to remove the insulation and install a moisture barrier on top of the dirt floor. Frank removed the under-floor insulation (and what was left of the rusted staples used to hold it in place!) and laid thick poly plastic on top of the dirt floor. The seams were between rows of plastic were nicely sealed, as were areas around support columns. The edges where the plastic met the foundation walls were sealed by nailing the plastic between the foundation and 2x4s. Once the floor was sealed, the access to the crawlspace from outside was also sealed to prevent moisture from entering from outside as well. A dehumidifier with a small water pump was installed with a hose to the outside is used to keep the moisture level under control. The difference was dramatic. The house smells better, there are fewer insects (they like moisture!) and we no longer worry about the damage being caused by excessive moisture. Frank did an excellent job and was very considerate and conscientious. His work is first-rate.

There was quite a bit of rot around the house's windows and doors, and also the soffit in the rear. We originally approached the project as if the windows could be repaired rather than replaced. Frank is very knowledgeable with regards to older houses, and he was more than willing to explain the reasons why it would cost much more to try and repair the windows as opposed to completely replacing them. He did extensive research to find the right windows for the project. We asked for those that would require the least amount of maintenance, and he found windows with no wooden components on their exterior surfaces. The windows also offered synthetic trim kits for the outside that are weather-proof and will never require painting. Frank started with the front of the house. The shingles were curling and needed to be replaced. Not only was the trim around the windows rotten, but the frames were, too. The front steps leading into the house had rotten boards. He arranged for a local landscaper to remove the shrubs from the front of the house that were overgrown and rubbing against the shingles. He installed aluminum flashing where pieces had been lost to wind, and installed new aluminum gutters and downspouts. Frank replaced the corner boards around the house with boards made of PVC (for weather resistance.) Frank moved the front steps away from the house, then stripped the shingles. There was substantial water damage to exterior plywood as well as the studs behind the plywood under some windows that Frank was able to repair without damaging the interior sheetrock. He removed the old windows, made the proper adjustments to the framing so the new windows would fit properly, installed the proper flashing around the window openings, and installed the new windows. Frank replaced the front door and storm door, then installed the new cedar shingles. He repaired the front steps and moved them back into place. Once the front of the house was completed, he began removing and replacing the rest of the windows with minimal impact on the cedar shingles. Frank installed new interior trim around the new windows and front door as well as replaced rotten trim around the sliding door in the rear. His is a very skilled carpenter. Frank is very conscientious and pays attention to every detail. Throughout the project he communicated his progress by telephone, and by mailing photos of what he thought were important talking points. He itemized his invoices and clearly described all charges. I will definitely continue to use Frank in the future and highly recommend him.

My cottage had been rented by my father to the same couple for 15 years. Nothing much had been done except basic upkeep on the place - it needed a real overhaul after they moved out. At the same time, my husband, who was planning to do most of the work himself, became ill. Frank came to us as a recommendation from our landscaper. He not only made honest suggestions about the work that the house needed on its foundation and elsewhere, but he served as our general contractor and kept the plumber, electrician and tile installer on track. We couldn't have done it without him. One of his long time clients, by the way, is the Martha's Vineyard Gazette.

Frank Leone made the cottage overhaul as pleasant as possible, responding every time I called, being available whenever I needed him, doing the work of a master carpenter (which he is) and leaving every job tidy. My renovation was stalled when my husband got ill in 2010, and Frank stepped in to do the jobs he would have otherwise done. He was there when I needed him. I plan to have it ready to rent in 2011.