B & B AFFORDABLE RENOVATIONS INC

Bill was very professional and knowledgable. He was easy to reach and returned calls promptly. I would recommend him highly.

Bill Germaine and his team were incredibly hard working. Even when it was 95 degrees plus, they were up on the roof in full sun doing what they had to to get the job done - and what a wonderful job they did for us! Our new dormer is complete with skylights and lots of closet space. The new bathroom looks like something out of a high-end resort we could never afford to stay at. Shouts out to Vinnie, the foreman, who was always willing to bend over backwards and go the extra mile to make us happy. Also to Francesco, the tile man, who truly created an individualized tile masterpiece for us. I highly recommend these guys!

Bill Germaine at B&B Affordable Renovations has an excellent team of highly skilled workers. They have just finished renovating two of our bathrooms (a guest bath and a powder room) and done an amazing job. This required completely gutting each room. Bill was always easily accessible, giving progress updates during each phase of the project and frequently inquiring about the quality of the workmanship, his staff and if I was fully satisfied. He is open to suggestions and eager to accommodate any last minute modifications. Bill is proud of his work, the reputation of his company and his staff Vinny and Colin, Dave and Leo, Francisco, John, Mike and his crew have done a superb job thus far. They are punctual, professional and considerate, always making sure to clean up after them. I am very pleased with his work and would highly recommend B&B Affordable Renovations for any job big or small. Next, they begin work on renovating our master bathroom.

So happy we found Bill!! I was looking for someone to do snow removal and Bill came out to meet me and check out what I needed done. The next day was a snowstorm - and he showed up as promised and came by 3 times to be sure we were all plowed out! Very courteous and professional and I know he really cares about his work and his clients - he wants his clients to be happy. And we are!!! Thanks so much Bill - you are a find!!!!

B&B did a great job on the addition from start to finish. Bill and I met several times to talk through design and ensure we were on the same page prior before starting the project. Bill started the job when he said he would and finished on time and on budget. Bill and his crew were always very professional and respectful to my family. Bill did a great job managing all the subs and ensured everything ran smoothly. Bill is a true professional. B&B's prices were very fair, but he never sacrificed quality to save a dollar on his end. B&B did excellent work and made sure I was very happy every step of the way. Bill builds relationships with his clients and really cares on how his client views the outcome of the project. I would definitely use B&B again and highly recommend him.

Bill Germaine from B&B Affordable Renovations was fantastic to work with for this project. It wasn't a huge project so I wasn't sure if Bill would have the availability to help me. He organized a crew and did an amazing job within my budget. My house looks updated and beautiful. I would highly recommend B&B Affordable Renovations

Great. B&B did a great job. The workers were friendly and professional. The new steps look geat.

It should also be stated from the beginning: Mr. Germaine's company demonstrated at later times the ability and potential to do good work. This was especially true when his "regular" workers/subcontractors were finally assigned to the job after several months following prior and slow-paced work done with a different set of questionable subcontractors. We officially hired B&B Renovations in early February to complete some remodeling on our newly purchased home in West Roxbury. Concurrently, we were also in the process of selling our house with a closing date of mid-April. Mr. Germaine's company was chosen after interviewing several contractors in January; the decision to hire him was principally made on the basis of this timeline AND with a verbal assurance by Mr. Germaine that the completion of work was very much achievable in this 6-8 week timeframe, barring any unforeseeable delays due to materials. He also assured us that his company was available to commence immediately upon obtaining the necessary building permits. For full disclosure, however, the contract that was signed did stipulate a completion date of May 31. Work was initiated in late February with 66% payment (33% at signing of contract and 33% following initiation of the demolition work). The contract stipulated for the "demolition" of the kitchen IN ADDITION to removal of a wall, removal of existing cabinets, replacement of old floor and installation of hardwood floor, relocation of steam radiator, installation of new cabinets, move existing plumbing, electric, etc. to suit this new kitchen design, and installation of new lights and electrical outlets. One can debate what it means to demo a kitchen. In my opinion, most contractors would generally interpret this term to describe work synonymously with the term “gutting” the kitchen. Our house was built in 1934. The kitchen walls were in generally good shape. The original wiring and plumbing, however, were in need of updating. The decision not to gut the walls and the ceiling only added to the challenges of completing the new electrical and plumbing work on an older home in a timely and effective fashion. This point was made by at least two of his own subcontractors. During this initial phase, we completed the design for the kitchen and ordered all of the necessary appliances. Upon request, a third substantial payment was made on March 7th prior to actual completion of any electrical work or rough inspections. Mr. Germaine again personally assured us upon receipt of check that the work would proceed on schedule. He also then informed me that he was going on vacation and gave me the number of his electrician to work out a schedule to complete the rough electrical work. I made several unsuccessful attempts to contact this electrician. After two weeks, he asked me again to contact a few alternative electrical subcontractors. Electrical work initiated sometime in early April. The electrician attempted to complete rough wiring work in the kitchen but was running into challenges due to the fact that the walls were not gutted. This attempt led to several large holes in the walls exposing the obvious fact that the kitchen walls were not insulated. The rough electrical inspection occurred on April 19th; rough plumbing inspection occurred on March 29th. Cabinet delivery was scheduled by Mr. Germaine for April 6th. In the approximately 7 intervening weeks between initiation of work and our moving in mid-April, Mr. Germaine’s subcontractors did refinish the floors and completed most of the painting. The painting was not 100% completed prior to our moving in our household belongings, however. To our surprise, the stair bannisters and balusters were painted white along with rest of the trim. We discovered this oversight in early March and was told that the paint would be stripped immediately to avoid difficulties in doing so at a later date. This paint stripping did not occur until August. The painters also painted the glass window panes, including the one on the front door. They splashed paint on the brick work in front of the fireplace, on the downstairs bathroom floor and on the sink faucets. They painted over radiators and walls without cleaning them first. They splashed paint on our antique bookcase. Most disturbingly, they also painted shut the windows and the ropes used to open the windows. Finally, they dumped the paint down the bathroom sink. I had to hire a plumber to snake the sink and unclog it. Moreover, none of the cabinet fixtures were put back in place. The painting supplies and other materials are still being stored in our basement. We moved in on April 22. No kitchen, no bathroom. There were cigarette butts and a few soda cans all over our front lawn and near the front steps. Mr. Germaine, upon my request, did send someone to pick up this debris. In the meantime, we resolved to shower at the local YMCA and eat out of a microwave set up in our dining room. This would go on until early September. In early May, I reminded Mr. Germaine of the pending May 31 deadline. At this time, he also asked for additional payment. In further good (if not misguided) faith, we provided him with the next installment (now totaling now 90% of payment!). At this point, the kitchen walls were partially exposed, especially on the lower half, several active electrical/junction boxes were noted, the floor was still incomplete, and no plans for replumbing and relocating the radiator had been made. No insulation in bathroom or kitchen. Mr. Germaine, sent his subcontractor out to resume work on the kitchen and parts of the bathroom. We came home on day to find to our shock the upper cabinets installed over holes in the walls and over pre-existing junction boxes. Moreover, the cabinets were installed with carpenter’s nails and grey drywall screws. No insulation was placed in the walls. In the bathroom, the bathroom tiles quickly went up in less than a day; we were very much worried about their workmanship. The cement board subflooring was laid down without what I believed to be the proper use of adhesive and adequate number of screws as per the manufacturer’s instructions. I brought in two other independent contractors who shared this concern. I had no other choice but to officially enumerate my concerns in writing (as requested in the contract) and request a temporary cessation of all work The chief building inspector for our particular district of the City of Boston was brought in to re-inspect the work. He informed Mr. Germaine of the building code violations and improper practices, including failure to insulate the kitchen walls, obstruction of electrical boxes, improper use of blueboard in the bathroom, and need to install firestop in the floor of the exposed walls. The building inspector insisted that the cabinets come down, walls properly insulated, sealed up correctly. Mr. Germaine’s subcontractor hurriedly stuffed insulation up the walls on the same day prior to the third inspection but did not include all of the upper sections, prompting a return of the building inspector. In an attempt to circumvent the electrical box issue, Mr. Germaine sent his electrical subcontractor out to move the electrical box (rather than simply deactivating it). This attempt only led to a hole being punched in the adjoining dining room wall. I ended up hiring my own electrical contractor to decommission the original electrical boxes (all while still having Mr. Germaine as my principal contractor). It took 4 visits from the building inspector between May and mid-June to finally get compliance. In the process of putting up the cabinets, Mr. Germaine’s subcontractor incorrectly cut an opening in the back for the electrical outlet. The rough inspection finally passed and further work resumed at the end of the June. Mr. Germaine finally brought in his “regular” workers to complete the work. The work in the kitchen was mostly completed in August (nearly 6 months after work was initiated). The tiling of the bathroom tub and floor was installed. Francisco the tiler is a very hard worker and an excellent one. He ended up replacing the floor because he could not accept the shoddy work done by his predecessor. The original electrical work was not straightforward and required some rectification. The electrical outlets in the kitchen were installed too close to the countertops and had to be relocated, necessitating a third round of plastering and painting in the kitchen. The electrical wiring for the bathroom vanity light was too low and likewise needed to be relocated for a third time. The ceiling fan was installed in September after much delay and it turns out to be of inadequate velocity to remove the moisture. This fact has led to streaking of the bathroom walls. In spite of all of this, and after some very persistent demands from Mr. Germaine for additional payments, I did pay him the balance of the original contract in early September in hopes of getting to the final inspection after more than seven months. Unfortunately, the final inspection which finally took place in October (!) did not pass for reasons that Mr. Germaine never installed heat in the kitchen or completed additional work stipulated in contract (e.g., installing attic railing). Following this disappointment, I met with Mr. Germaine and, by mutual agreement, we decided to terminate his work at our home. I have removed Mr. Germaine’s name from the building permit and have hired additional contractors to complete final work. We now have a bathroom door that does not shut and the tiling is separating at the corner of the bathtub. The floor underneath the bathtub creaks and moves. We still do not have many windows that can be opened. No heat in kitchen. Further damage to our stairs in a late attempt to strip off the paint. Several thousand dollars in expenses to rectify these defects.

B&B competitively bid the job with other contractors to win the contract. I, the owner, am an architect. My scrutiny over all aspects of the project, down to the smallest detail, were very extreme. We went slightly over budget, due to structural issues with the roof and some old insect damage to other areas of the framing. B&B worked with us to fairly add cost to cover any extras on the job. Overall, the final product, our home, is absolutely wonderful. Walking through each room, the details I designed are quite clearly visible and beautifully executed. My job as an architect is to see any problems in the construction. I am happy to say, that when I walk through my home, there is almost no issue to point out. That is an extremely difficult outcome to get. B&B’s stated goal was to make sure all work was well done and exactly what we wanted. The owner’s exact words were that he wanted us to be happy in our home. During construction the skill of the site foreman was quite evident. He built the majority of our home and we quickly became confident in the quality of his work. His demeanor throughout the project was professional and accommodating of our involvement on site. B&B’s owner said he always makes sure the home owners are involved throughout the process to ensure their needs are met. As the homeowner you should be involved. We worked directly with each of the trades as well to make sure everything was done per our drawings and direction. Locating each light fixture and switch were done together. If a switch was installed out of place they made sure to correct it. Sometimes a switch needed to be located differently because of stud placement. This was not always communicated well to us, but when discussed, if we desired an alternate location from their suggestion, we were always accommodated. Anything out of place to the design was always adjusted to our direction. The tile work is very well done. The installer was very particular and has great skill. He worked very hard to make the floors flat and level in all areas. We have ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tile done for floors and walls. They all came out beautiful. The amount of tile work was initially not fully understood, so it did take more time than anticipated. However the quality of the work is top notch, and worth the minor delay. The finishing of the walls (plaster and paint) and woodwork came out excellent. After each inspection of the work, if we found anything we were not completely satisfied with; the crew would come back and correct it to our satisfaction. We have several custom designed and built pieces of casework. This includes living room built-ins on both sides of the fireplace with lighting, mudroom bench, and bedroom window seat-bench. Again, the end result is our beautiful home.

They kept coming back. Very courteous and always ontime. Worked within my budget. Delightful to work with. They also repaired a chimney flashing for me at no addtional cost. They were wonderful to work with

We are very happy with the final product. It was a large project, with a unique design and not the usual cookie cutter house. Everything is custom and the contractor has done a fantastic job. The overall character of the design was understood by the contractor and the 'contemporary' theme was carried out as per our wishes. The finishes are neat, clean, and top class- showroom quality! Moreover, the contractor, Bill, provided extremely valuable input and recommendations which improved the existing plans, resulting in an astounding state of the art dwelling. The entire project consisted of a large two story addition with full foundation, a large picture window with a window seat, roof, skylights, grand open foyer, cathedral ceilings in living room, dining room, gym, master bedroom suite with custom bathroom and dual walk-in closets, kitchenette with laundry, and custom office. The open plan kitchen has custom cabinets and quartz countertops. In fact, the custom office area was originally wasted space and thanks to Bill’s foresight and recommendations, the wasted space was transformed into a unique office area, overlooking the first floor living room. Bill is a very nice guy and easy to work with. He was always asking to make sure that we are happy with the work done. He ensured that the final product was to our liking and satisfaction. Bill was also considerate when we wanted some changes in the design and we worked it out with relevant and appropriate 'change orders'. Bill is extremely knowledgeable and professional and he is also flexible to accommodate your perspective. Bill and his company is the best choice for any construction project. In fact, we are hiring Bill for our next project, the basement.

We had a chat through the message board on the sight, gave my contact info and we talked on the phone to arrange a consultation! He was very polite and professional over the phone!

B&B did a great job on the addition from start to finish. Bill and I met several times to talk through design and ensure we were on the same page prior before starting the project. Bill started the job when he said he would and finished on time and on budget. Bill and his crew were always very professional and respectful to my family. Bill did a great job managing all the subs and ensured everything ran smoothly. Bill is a true professional. B&B's prices were very fair, but he never sacrificed quality to save a dollar on his end. B&B did excellent work and made sure I was very happy every step of the way. Bill builds relationships with his clients and really cares on how his client views the outcome of the project. I would definitely use B&B again and highly recommend him.

I contacted Bill several times via email to obtain an estimate for a bathroom remodeling project. Eventually he replied and we arranged a time to meet. However, he did not show up at the agreed upon time and didn't call to let me know that he could not make the appointment.

I hhired Bill for a full kitchen and bath remodel. Throughout the lengthy renovation process, Bill and his crew were very pleasant, and the end result of the renovation was wonderful; A stark contrast to the dated kitchen that we began with. Both the new kitchen and bath look fantastic, particularly the tile. Bill’s tile guys are second to none with their focus and attention to detail. Additionally, Bill makes the extra effort to ensure that all work done is up to code and has the appropriate inspections. Overall, we were very happy with the end result, especially when considering the reasonable price we paid to accomplish it.

Couldn't be happier with the professionals from B&B Affordable Renovations. Bill and his team were fantastic. We were under tight time constraints because we were trying to renovate a home and sell it in time for the spring selling season. There was a lot of work that needed to be done in a short period of time and Bill's group preformed admirably. I thoroughly recommend this group to anyone who needs a home improvement project done right and for a good price. Nice people.

Some issues with communication that hopefully have been resolved. Will update review pending complete resolution.

We have used B&B for multiple projects and they continue to do a great job. We had significant water damage to our home after last winter's storms and B&B helped us repair the damage. The damage was in 5 room and we needed drywall, painting, insulation and finishing work completed. We had to work with the insurance company and were able to complete the work within the constraints placed by the insurance company. B&B did a great job and whenever I had an issue with how something was completed they were quick to address my concerns. I would recommend them for all sorts of jobs and will continue to use them in the future

We contacted Bill again after we had hired to do a bathroom, laundry room and playroom renovation last summer-fall. We had ice damage on both the interior and exterior. It took a little while to get ahold of Bill and get the projects going, but it was crazy this past spring and summer with so many people needing work, so we understood as we trusted Bill's word. Bill followed through with the work late this summer into the fall. The demo guys he uses are great. They managed to completely contain the mess (which was important to me with a 4 year old and 10 month old baby). Vinny, did a great job as usual. He doesn't seem to rush through the project, but the quality of the work was great. His thought and effort really shows in the finished product. There is just one small piece of the project left, but we had both been busy (and we were traveling). Bill has his painters coming later this week to finish up. The painters did a great job as well-the exterior looks like a brand new house.

We were looking for a general contractor to handle water damage repair. B&B was quick to respond to our inquiries. Unfortunately they were booked up beyond our target date so we needed to go with another provider. We'd contact them again in the future if we needed work done.

I scheduled a Saturday meeting with Bill to discuss a list of five short-term projects and five long-term projects including deck work, fireplace, and retaining wall. Bill was very nice, met with me for over an hour to discuss my various projects, and said he would follow-up with an estimate shortly. I typed up a list of projects with many details including all of my contact info. Unfortunately I never heard back. I sent him emails and left him voice messages. I even told him in one of my messages that if he wasn't interested in doing my projects, it was fine but to just let me know so I could find someone else. After a month of trying to get in touch with Bill, I gave up and found someone else to do the work. That is my biggest complaint about working with contractors - lack of communication! Call, email, text, or even write me a letter - just follow-up!

I wrote the review, below, because I had not heard back from Bill in over a week. Since then, Bill has returned my calls, as per his comments, and we have been in communication to schedule a visit for a quote. I'm glad he got a hold of me and I look forward to meeting with him. I contacted B&B Affordable on June 9th asking if they did free estimates for vinyl siding. I received an answer on June 13: Thanks for contacting my company. What days and times work for you. I am kind of busy this week but I might have some time later in the week or on Saturday or the following week looks good as well. Please let me know. Thanks I responded on June 15: I'm available every morning, until 11, during the week of June 22 - 27. Do any of those days work for you? It is now June 29 and I have yet to receive any type of response.

My name is Debi Lucek, and I am writing this review as a counter review to one that I made at an earlier date. Bill returned my call from his vacation location and let me know that we would arrange an appointment. I am very glad that we connected and I look forward to having him come and do my estimate and hopefully do the work that I need done

No details yet. We will meet next week.

Bill and his Team were fantastic! We found Bill on Angie's list and gathered several other estimates (from Angie's list as well). Bill was by far the most responsive-got back to us right away and followed through. He was also one of the most reasonably priced. If we had questions or just wanted Bill to come out and look at thing or run with an idea we had, he was there. We had some time constraints-I was 8 months pregnant and wanted the work done ASAP since we were down a playroom, bathroom and limited area to do laundry. Bill and his guys managed to get the work done in a timely fashion. His colleague Vinny was great- he did a lot of the general labor and day to day stuff. He did the framing, built the shelf and helped manage several of the other labor guys. Vinny even offered to help me carry stuff from my car when I was trying to get out with my newborn and 3 year old. Carl, Bill's plumber was also fabulous! He spent a lot of time at our house working with crazy angles and old pipes. All of the guys were great with my questions-Bill, Vinny, Carl, John and Chris. They really know their stuff and were able to explain it very well. John the electrician was great-reminded me when to pick out light fixtures, made (very helpful) suggestions. Chris, the tile guy, was so hardworking and detail oriented. He came the Friday morning after Thanksgiving to work on our project! And his perfectionism and professionalism really show in the tile in our new bathroom and playroom floor. Everyone did a good job cleaning up and trying to leave me a clear and clean path to do laundry (which is a daily occurrence with a newborn).Even the apprentice guys were great. We are very happy with the end result and have more projects for Bill and his team this spring and summer.