KC Star

1. Did not bring anything to cover shozes or old/wet water heater. Requested the customer to provide towels or something to cover the bottom of old water heater, mentioning the carpet will be dirty without it. 2. Had difficuties to ignite the starter/new water heater. Broke a gas nozzle part of the ignite by drilling. Even broken, put the part into the water heater. Somehow, the starter worked. 3. Paid $1,000 for installation of water heater. Requested the receipt but they said it will be avaiable after 3 weeks (will be updated). 4. Broken part will be replaced by other service provider,

He was very friendly and knowledgeable. We even went to Lowes to discuss further bathroom options for the remodel for my client. We were supposed to receive an email after Thanksgiving with an estimate for the remodel. I didn't get an estimate so I texted and asked when we should expect it. No response. I texted again a few days later saying we needed the estimate by Monday as we were going to gather other estimates as well. Again, no response. Not even a text saying he was too busy to take on the job or anything. I really liked Ken but the lack of response was really troubling to my client and myself as well. I'm sure he does great work if you can get a hold of him.

Ken did an overall great job of replacing an interior door; picked it up from the company from which I had ordered it, delivered it and within a week, installed it. The door looks amazing. He also noticed that a handle I had installed on my screen door could use a little work. He took it off, refitted it and didn't charge me a thing. I was totally impressed with his professionalism and his personality won me over. I plan to remodel a bathroom and will use his services.

Last May I called him to come and give an estimate for bathroom tile-He did not get back to me right away and said it had something to do with his grandmother. Was also late with a second phone exchange; although he finally did come and look at the bathroom. We did not do the work last year as we found out our daughter was getting married, so we postponed the job until this year. I called him again, he said that he would be in the neighborhood and would be at my house shortly after lunch. He did not show and did not call. How unprofessional!

We had removed a large picture window in our sunroom that was leaking on the inside and decided to fill in the hole with a wall. Our "amateur" drywall didn't look too good, so I looked up companies on Angie's List to redo the drywall, tape and mud the wall. When we called Ken Carmen, he was able to come in to give us an estimate within a day or two. He was very professional and obviously knew what he was talking about. It took us a few weeks to decide to start the project and he was able to start soon after we told him we were ready. It took several visits since several layers of tape and mud needs to be used and needs to dry well in between the layers. The only complaint that I would have would be on some visits I wasn't sure what time he was coming and I wanted to make sure I was home to let him in. But to be fair he was communicating with my husband who would tell me, so it is hard to know where the communication was lacking :) When the job was completed, the wall was flawless. I cannot see any evidence that drywall was inserted in the middle of our wall, it is completely smooth. I was very impressed and very happy that we didn't do it ourselves. The bill ended up being less than his estimate, which is always a pleasant surprise. I will definately call him when it's time for our next project!

It was a great experience working with Ken....what you would hope to find in a contractor. He did what he said he would do when he said he would for the price quoted. He and his crew are very conscientious; they were careful not to damage finished portions of the home during the project and cleaned up daily. Ken is very creative and is willing to collaboratively discuss ideas. Ken offers good "best practices" tips as well. Ken is flexible with respect to job scope....meaning if you as the homeowner want to do some of the work yourself. I had originally planned on laying the tile myself as a "weekend warrior", but ran out of time at the end of summer. The living room and one of the bathrooms were torn apart, We wanted to have the house put back together before school started back up for everyone. KC Star competed the job in 3 days. It was a good balance Ken & crew got the floor down, we are tackling some of the lesser finish oriented projects such as painting and trimming, The quality is outstanding; Ken pays close attention to detail. We would definitely recommend and use KC Star again!

Very professional

Ken did some of the work, replaced one door. I waited for him to have the other one painted and replace it. He didn't return my call for about two months. I gave him money to paint and install a third door, and have never heard from him again. He does not return calls, answer calls from my phone numbers. I am out about $600.

One thing I liked about working with him was he was really creative and was willing to implement my ideas. He also gave me some suggestions on things that I would've never thought of myself.

They are good overall and did the quality work that was promised.

Then I couldn't get in touch with him for two months. It was the holidays but he could have returned one call or email. When I told him I was going to give a bad review on Angie's, he immediately called, gave excuses and talked me into letting him give me an estimate on a bathroom remodel. This time I got a printed estimate, no date. I got some other estimates, and decided to go with a company that had a license and warranty. I told Ken this but said I still had that other work for him to do in Spring. Also lots of misc minor home projects for now. We were going to meet the following Monday to discuss, but he never showed up. Tuesday he called but when I complained about not being there, we got into it and somehow he suggested that he didn't think I had the money to do the work since I didn't have a job. I hung up. This guy is a charmer alright. He says he can do everything, and I'm sure he's very talented, but I really don't know where he is coming from. I had read reviews on Angie's about him not being reliable, so add my name to the list. I don't know if he's mad at me for not giving him the bathroom project, or if he's just this unprofessional. I really wanted to work with him, but he obviously didn't want to work with me. I think I just saved myself alot of aggravation.

I contacted Ken Carmen from KC Star to put in a new tile floor, countertop and backsplash in my Kitchen. Ken contacted me right away; we spoke about what I wanted and he brought me samples. Once I saw the samples it was easy to make a decision; Ken seemed to know exactly what I wanted. I told Ken I wanted the work to be completed by April 12, 2012. Ken brought in his colleague, Nick Greenwood to do the work - Nick completed all the work I requested on time. The craftsmanship was excellent, Nick did a really fantastic job and the kitchen is perfect.

Ken was great to work with, he was prompt in responding for our request for a bid and then again very accomodating with his schedule when the work was completed. He was very professional, did an exceptional job and left my home clean and tidy with a beautiful new kitchen countertop. He explained his work along the way and there was no suprises or delays when it came to the work he did nor the price. I would definitely recommend him to anyone needed work done around their home.

Wonderful! I tried to do the painting on my own which turned out to be a mess! I called for help and they came the next day! They helped pick out a better paint color for the bathroom than what I had used! The rest I asked questions on to see if they new what was wrong! My softener seemed to eat salt! Ken said he could put a new one in that used way less salt! I also inquired about the light switches not working together. The next day I had the info and estimate on the water softener and switches. Then I asked about the storm door. Ken could do that to! I gave him the specific info of what type of door I could have. I had it installed a week later! I felt like I had a handyman for the day to just ask all kinds of questions on things i thought were a problem!! I will contact him again to do more painting and flooring. Excellent work and very nice!

In general the work went well even though it may seem upon examination to have dragged. But this is because Ken typically made many trips in order to finish the work properly. In the very beginning I became a bit put out because when Ken first came to assess the work he said he would email his estimate that very evening. After some days went by and no phone response (I didn't yet have his email address), when I finally reached him he said that he had sent it but that he must have had my email address wrong. But after that hiccup things went along pretty well. The small patch job was finished promptly when we needed it done as we were entertaining soon after. The rest of the work was done off and over a period of several months and completed in late April. I guess the price was fair although I had nothing to compare with. I certainly wouldn't call it a low price. One of the most trying things about this experience was his apparent lack of concern for schedules and keeping us informed as to just when he would be coming again. He might say he would come first thing in the morning and then arrive around lunch time. Or occasionally not at all. As the painting of the dining area was being completed we began discussing replacing the rear entry door out of the dining room. So we discussed options, he presented a bid we and decided to go ahead with it. We were to buy the door, he would pick it up and take it to his residence where he has painting facilities, and then come back and install it. That's a whole different story -- look for that review elsewhere.

We purchased the door on April 26, 2012, and told the store we would be expecting him to pick it up. We had no communication with him for about three weeks and then I ran into him in a gas station. He said he had the door (don't know exactly when he picked it up) and would soon be painting it. And here is where things started to come apart. I think maybe Ken got too much work suddenly, possibly through Angie's List, and he just was not able to keep up. We had occasional contacts over the summer months but with his "busyness" and the hot humid weather, we didn't press the issue. Until fall. We started around the end of August to seriously press as to installation schedule. And he kept putting us off for various reasons. Finally, on October 11 he said he would come the following Sunday. No show and no contact. Following week, same thing...said he would come on Saturday, again no show and no contact. However, a curious thing happened. When I went to retrieve our morning paper from the driveway, there was a lovely painted door leaning against a wall. Following week, promised to come on Saturday but no show again. At this point I told him he was released and that I would hire someone through the store where we purchased the door. He accepted this with no comment, merely delivered (quietly) the hinges and weatherstripping that had come with the door. I have now hired someone else and the door is installed. Bottom line --- much stress and no installation, but nice paint job. So far I've paid Ken nothing but I plan to pay him what he wanted for the paint job -- $220.

The one who came for estimates seems to be friendly and he seems to be coming back here. But then, we weren't able to hear back from him after that. I just don't know what happened to him. They were not able to give me what I need, so I don't think of bothering to call them again in the future.

The deck looked great. The house looked much better. The concrete/ caulk work were well done. Ken paid great attention to detail and pointed out things I was unaware of and will keep an eye on for future.

He has done several projects for us and has great ideas. He is willing to let us do some of the work ourselves and worked with us to organize that. He did a really great job and there have been no complications. I will use him again in the future.

Please see above story.

I called and left emails for company. He would tell me he would come out- never did. I waited all afternoon one Friday for him. He did not follow through with requests. Showed interest in project, offered references, never provided. Not impressed and do not recommend. unreliable.

He was extremely responsive and professional, gave us a very exact estimate for how much the work would cost, and finished the project in a timely manner. Great work!

KC Star was professional and knowledgeable. After meeting Ken, we were confident he would provide a good service and he did. We are very pleased with the quick and excellent work that was done and plan to have Ken bid future jobs for us.