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Blackdog Design Build Remodel

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling, General Remodeling, Finished Carpentry and Woodworking,

About us

Dave & Brenda Bryan started Blackdog Builders in 1989. Over the years, we have educated ourselves continuously, learned from our experiences, and still strive to raise the standards of the remodeling industry today. We treat our clients, suppliers, trade contractors, and our community with honesty and respect. We work together with our clients to take a remodeling project from the beginning design phase through final finishing details. We also have home services department to address smaller-scale maintenance and repair projects. Our projects range from basic bath remodels to large whole-house renovations - and everything in between. Additional contact name - Melissa Riley, Additional DBA - Blackdog Builders Inc.

Business highlights

36 years of trusted experience

Services we offer

Design/Build Remodeling - Whole House, Kitchen, Bathroom, Basement Finishing, Additions, Master Suites, Garages, Attics, 3 Season Rooms, Cabinetry, and Countertops.

Amenities

Warranties
Yes


Accepted payment methods

American Express
Check
Discover
Financing Available
MasterCard
Visa

Photos of past projects

Reviews

4.120 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
55%
4
15%
3
10%
2
10%
1
10%


Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.5
value
3.5
professionalism
4.4
responsiveness
4.5
punctuality
4.4
Showing 1-20 of 20 reviews

Mike S.
03/2017
2.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
Please note, this does in no way reflect the quality of the work done by who Black Dog hires...this is strictly based upfront the upfront process. Designer came out to see the space and get a feel of what we wanted and provide a drawing and estimate at a later date. My wife didn't have a give her a budget at the time so she went with it. Upon meeting to see the design plans and get the quote...with basic finishes the total cost of the project was 10% of the value of my home...with basic finishes....again, this is a pantry room... And again the designed went to my house. They would not provide a cost breakout, only breaking out the cost materials versus labor...labor was 2/3 of the project (again 12x12 room). <---Using multiple subcontractors in the chain is what makes this business model more expensive. I'm writing this review not on the quality of the work, but on the business practice of wasting both a home owners time as well as the businesses time. I wish this business had been more upfront with me in the beginning and given a range of estimated cost before bringing us through the process....They know very well (roughly) what a project will cost and when something such as a glorified storage room is as expensive as this, just be honest for everyone's sake.
Description of Work: I needed a current laundry room converted into a pantry/laundry room. Extent of the work to be done = Stacking washer and dryer, adding 2 wall cabinets and a small counter space on one side...on the other was a pantry closet (30 inch wide) with 3 wall cabinets, a set of drawers, a mini fridge, another half cabinet and a mini sink...putting in 3 - 5 Can lights and removing a current door to replace with a pocket door...We were not replacing the flooring (room is about 12x12)

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
value
1.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0


Response from Blackdog Design Build Remodel
We are sorry the client did not have a good experience. To be clear we certainly did not intend on wasting anyone's time, ours included. We did not feel comfortable providing a ballpark for the project on site, at the initial meeting, due to the nature of the work. While it was only a laundry room there was a reasonably significant amount of work including reframing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, cabinetry, a tin ceiling, crown molding, trim work and painting. We provided a CAD drawing showing the as-built plan and then shared a proposed plan. We also developed a design agreement with a budget. We did all of this at no cost to the client. We can certainly understand if someone decides a budget exceeds what they are willing to invest in their home or does not feel the price represents enough value to move forward. However, we feel to provide an F rating after a professional Designer shared ideas and a well thought through budget at no cost to the client seem a bit unfair.

richard D.
06/2016
5.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
unknown
Description of Work: great contractor for large home remodel job
Rating CategoryRating out of 5
Yes, I recommend this pro

Melissa H.
12/2015
4.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
Kitchen remodeling was five years ago. It went fine as I can remember. We used Blackdog Design/Build/Remodel. They are pretty close to me. They were out 5 years ago. They were a little lacking on the follow up. Example: he wanted to take the replacement of the light switches, the light switches were not placed where we had agreed upon but by the time, you know we all figured it out, everything was dry walled and it would have cost more to change it, so things like that happened. All the subcontractors were experienced and professional. I would tell friend or family that they were great to use, I think with our experience we should have got several different design plans but they were very easy to use.
Description of Work: They did a kitchen remodel. Took down a wall, took out two windows, put in a new window, floor, cabinets, counter tops, sinks, appliances, it was a total gut.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

$20,000

Mark M.
07/2014
5.0
ceramic tile, woodworking, doors
  + 1 more
They're very prompt. If there's a problem, they'll let you know that there's a problem. You're not sitting around waiting and wondering where the heck they are. They did exquisite tile work in my bathroom. They had a master carpenter who was great. You didn't have to tell him anything, because he knew.
Description of Work: They did some tile work and carpentry for me. They did a back door for me and tiled a bathroom.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Lauren M.
06/2014
5.0
remodeling, home remodeling
  + 0 more
The overall job went very well. They did superb. Their work is extremely good. Their price was okay because you get what you pay for. They do design and they build which was nice having it all under one company. They hire extremely good people like electrician and painters. I live in a condominium now and I don?t plan to live in a house any more, that is why I will not use them anymore. Their price is also quite expensive but the value is very good.
Description of Work: We used Blackdog Design. They did a major renovation on our house which included a two bathroom and a bedroom.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

$100,000

George and Nicole F.
05/2013
5.0
custom cabinets, contractors, hardwood floor, lighting, plastering, plumbing, remodeling, replacement windows, home builders, woodworking, marble & granite, home remodeling, interior painters
  + 11 more
I contacted the owner in February of 2012 through word of mouth around the neighborhood. Specifically, we talked with someone who had used them twice, which is always a positive sign. The owner was happy to give me a rough estimate range. From there we scheduled time for him to come to the house to further evaluate. He sold me on their internal designer. An architect for our type of project would cost somewhere in the $5,000 range. Using the internal designer was $1,500, and we had a pretty good idea of what we wanted. The internal designer ended up being a terrific value, as he came up with a great design. I was very pleased with how the owner truly listened to our preferences and dislikes and challenged the designer to come up with a winner. We were pretty much sold on the first design, with just some tweaks to the kitchen layout. Once the design and final estimate were complete, we realized that we were spending quite a bit more that we had originally planned, since we had increased the scope a bit. We decided to pursue a competitive design and bid from another very highly regarded local builder. During the process, Blackdog was very professional and extremely responsive, to the point that it became clear that we felt much more comfortable with Blackdog and felt that they would deliver exactly what they promised at the price they promised. You will not find a more responsive and professional owner in this field, and he demands that same level of professionalism from his entire workforce. Weather looked a little iffy for the start week, but they decided to kick off the project since they had a lot of experience dealing with weather. The roof was completely removed on day one. Day two was the removal of the entire roof frame. Then, wouldn't you know, the heavy rains came. The house was completely tarped and sealed up, since the rain was in the forecast. During the storm that night, we noticed water coming into the house in a few spots. We called the emergency number provided, and one of the carpenters was there within 20 minutes to fix the issue (poor guy.... thanks, Rich:) The next day, Blackdog surveyed the areas breached and reassured us that they would remedy any damage. I had the insurance company come just to ensure an independent assessment. All issues related to the water were resolved. As the project progressed, it was clear that we were dealing with a very professional group of workers onsite. They showed up every single day like clockwork, always kept us well informed, and worked hard to keep our house clean. As they progressed their way through the project and room-to-room, we made our way into the finished basement where we were able to live for almost the entire project. When it came time to do the tile work for all the bathrooms and master shower, we realized that we would not be satisfied with the materials in the estimate. A clear lesson learned for us was to spend more time figuring out product and material preferences and to not leave any TBDs in the contract. Turns out marble is much more labor intensive! There was a bit of sticker shock with the tile work, but we were able to get that refunded and bring in another party to do the tile work at a lower cost. That transition was handled very professionally, even when the two parties were required to coordinate with each other. We made several other upgrades along the way (added a porch slider door, upgraded hardware, upgraded to solid core doors, etc.) and had one surprise when we tore away the porch siding and discovered rot. That ended up being the only "unforeseen" expense, which in fixed contract terms means, the homeowner pays instead of the builder eating it. Very lucky for us that this was the only surprise. I think there is a misconception that Blackdog is "expensive". The project ran into a few delays and there were perhaps some productivity ups and downs, even with everyone showing up every day as planned. In the end, this large project finished 6-8 weeks later than planned, but their fixed price bid came in at only 1.2% over. How confident are you that your best estimate can do that? There's an old adage that says....... on time, on spec, on budget...... pick two. Well, for us, we got on spec and on budget. Isn't that what you would prefer? At the end of the day, it's not about making sure nothing goes wrong. That's almost impossible on large projects with subcontractors, weather, product delays, and all the moving parts. It's about how you respond when things go wrong. If you're an Angie's List member, it's probably because you've had bad experiences or heard horror stories. Unfortunately, most people are only motivated to write reviews when they have an axe to grind. These guys deserve the absolute highest praise and I would gladly hire Blackdog again, and knowing that good companies like this do exist, I would feel confident buying a house needing work and bringing them into a renovation!
Description of Work: Converted a one story, 1125 square foot, two bedroom, 1 bath ranch to a two story, 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom colonial, with a walk-up attic (future rec room), upstairs launry, first floor renovation, kitchen remodel, and bath remodel. The first floor remodel included taking down 3 walls, building a staircase for the new upstairs, moving/replacing kitchen windows, and a complete kitchen remodel. Blackdog also did a complete vinyl siding job, chimney extension, roofing job (obviously) and all the interiror painting. Basically, we ripped the roof off of a ranch, went straight up, and remodeled the 1st floor. No change to the existing footprint of the house. BTW, we lived in the house during the construction...... wife, 2 young kids, and a newborn.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$250,000

Anthony L.
11/2012
5.0
remodeling
  + -1 more
They were excellent overall! They always showed up when they said they were, showed up on time, and always made sure all the small details were completed. They also cleaned up after themselves, even sweeping up. They did a great job!
Description of Work: They completed remodeling work while another company was remodeling the kitchen.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Leslie K.
09/2012
2.0
remodeling, home remodeling
  + 0 more
Overall, the design was good and they did come back many times to fix leaking skylights and some other things. I did not appreciate the owner turning it around to look like I was the one at fault and the bad dog connotation was definitely not appreciated. When someone gives you their references, realize that they are only going to give you the positive references.
Description of Work: Black Dog put an addition on my house that included a master bathroom, large screened in porch, update of a smaller bathroom, a bump out with skylights in my kitchen and a deck. This was several years ago and hopefully things have changed but I did not have a good experience and have had to replace or redo many things. Because so many things went wrong, I was put on the BAD DOG LIST! That means, I think, that they never use me as a reference. DO get other estimates. Black Dog had an excellent reputation when I hired them but their prices are very high. Also, check out who will be your lead carpenter and then ask for references from there, should you choose to move forward. DO stay on top of everything. My master bathroom cabinets were put in BEFORE the floor tile was laid. The kick plate on the cabinets I chose was arched. Therefore, under the arch, there is just debris and cement. There still is. Of course in this instance, the tile should have gone down first. I had an angled glass shower put in and it had to be done several times because the water kept leaking out. They ran the mahogany decking on my porch straight through to my deck so that when it rains or snows, it leaks into the porch. and so on. I think they have great ideas and I know many things have changed but I personally would not recommend them.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
3.0
value
2.0
professionalism
3.0
responsiveness
3.0
punctuality
4.0

$100,000

Response from Blackdog Design Build Remodel
We are not sure where to begin with this member’s comments. This client contacted us in 1998 and we performed the work in 1999 and now in 2012 the client is choosing to provide a review, 13 years after completion! The project value was $80,674 not $100,000. We had a few items that required warranty attention which we addressed in a timely and professional manner. When we finished our work the member was very pleased to our knowledge. Moreover we are confused that if the member felt so negatively about Blackdog that they felt we deserved a “D” overall then why did they ask us to come back out to their home in October of 2004? Fully five years after we finished the original project the member asked us back out to the house regarding a zero clearance gas fireplace and built-in cabinetry project in their music room. While we did not go forward with the client on the second project, we can’t imagine why we would even be considered if we were as incompetent as the member suggests. At Blackdog we feel strongly that a 13year time span between work being performed and a review being written has a very high likelihood of including misinformation which it certainly does in this case.

Sheri B.
03/2012
3.0
remodeling
  + -1 more
Blackdog Builders were very professional, they had a great website and I had seen their truck around the neighborhood on a few jobs that they had worked on which looked very well built. My only complaint was that their pricing was at the highest end of the spectrum both before they looked at the job and then after as well. From my perspective it seemed like they could have saved us both some time by being more upfront with their quotation process. (It felt like it was very formulaic, for example we were remodeling 288 square feet and their price was $x/sq. foot regardless of what the job actually entailed) When I first called them, I told them that it was a 12 x 12 screened in porch with a full roof structure that was tied into the house. I also gave them some of the important facts that we talked about with the other contractors. (For example no need for a foundation, roof on the porch was new and part the house, electricity was already on the porch, etc) Either they had their mind made up before they looked at the job or they didn't want the job. All in all after spending almost 2 hours with them and then to have them basically say that they weren't going to bother bidding on the job I was a little put off by their company.
Description of Work: We are looking to enclose a screened in porch which in turn would enlarge our dining room. We called in 5 different companies asking for quotations on the job. Blackdog was one of them. Initially over the phone we told them that the budget for the job was about $35,000 but we were not sure if that was the correct amount (we had minimal design plans created so that we could obtain quotes) The guy on the phone said it sounded more like a $45 to $50,000 dollar job, then asked if that would eliminate him. At this point we did not have any other quotes yet so I told him it would not automatically eliminate him since I was thinking that there were items that might be done less expensively. Therefore maybe they could come in closer to the $45,000 range. Blackdog was the 4th company to give us a price. They came out and we went over the plans and the details of the job. At the very end of the meeting I was asked again about the budget and the type of company that I wanted to do the job. (Which I thought was a little odd) I explained that I was looking for 4 different bids on the job and that price was not the most important factor. (I even told him I currently had bids in the low $40,000 range) Reputation, references and quality of workmanship were my top concerns. After this discussion the person from Blackdog said that he thought the job would come in at the $50,000 range and did I still want him to go forward with generating a more exact quote. I told him that at this point it was not necessary if he thought the $50,000 was the low end price of this job. That was the last that I had heard from them after he told me that even the $50,000 price would be tight.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
value
2.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
4.0
punctuality
4.0

$42,000

Response from Blackdog Design Build Remodel
We apologize to the member for providing a less than satisfactory experience in the initial phase of the project however, we feel compelled to disagree with the ratings provided. We routinely discuss preliminary budgets on the phone. Assuming the project is reasonably straight forward and can be compared to a similar projects we have recently done then it is relatively easy to provide some meaningful budget feedback over the phone. We find this helps clients and Blackdog in terms of setting expectations and being more productive in meetings on site. In this case, despite the initial budge range being higher than the client preferred they still asked us to come out and look at the work which we were happy to do. On site we confirmed the scope and existing conditions of the main project and additional scopes of work in an adjoining room were discussed. We then provided an approximate budget range starting at $50,000 based on our full understanding of the project. We also offered to perform a more detailed estimate and proposal to confirm our numbers but, were confident that our numbers would not approach the clients initial budget of $35,000 or adjusted budget of $42,000. At that time the client did not see the need to have us do a more detailed estimate given that they already had lower numbers. We are confused by the clients decision to provide a "C" rating given that we were completely consistent from the first phone call through the initial site visit. We returned phone calls promptly. We communicated clearly. We were on time for our meeting and we provided timely budget feedback. The fact that another contractor provide a price $8,000 less does not make our price invalid or excessively high. Had we been hired to perform the work and then the client provided a report that gave us a "C" rating overall or a "D" rating on price then we would be accepting of the rating. We feel, however, that it is essentially impossible to provide a fair rating on price if the work was never performed. A bad rating on price implies that there was low value which can't be know without services being delivered. It is like saying a bottle of wine is overpriced without ever tasting the wine. Blackdog provides a level of professionalism, design expertise and service that very few companies in our market can even approach. We offer a 3-year warranty on all our work and have our own full time professional carpenters running our projects. We are committed to doing quality work on time and on a budget that delivers value to our clients. Lastly we survey every client we perform remodeling projects for and this is a link to a report that shows our cumulative results. www.guildquality.com/cr/Blackdog-Design-Build-Remodel/F49242792BQY/ Respectfully, David Bryan, CGR, CAPS President Blackdog

Joe P.
09/2011
4.0
custom cabinets, woodworking, home remodeling
  + 1 more
Their work turned out very well. Joe, one of their carpenters, is a true craftsman. I was really impressed by the quality of his work
Description of Work: They basically remodeled our entire first floor. The project included installing a new kitchen, new bathroom, new cabinets in multiple rooms, and a new mantel.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

Barbara M.
09/2011
5.0
remodeling, home remodeling
  + 0 more
I really appreciated the fact that they handled 90% of the work. The only thing I had to do was pick out and purchase the tiles. The contract they provided was very detailed so I knew exactly what to expect. The whole project was run in a very professional manner, and I feel that I got great value for my money.
Description of Work: They completely remodeled my kitchen and bathroom.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

MARSHA & EARNEST W.
09/2011
5.0
lighting, remodeling, woodworking
  + 1 more
They did a superb job, and were very good at adapting to challenges. The only drawback was that they were expensive.
Description of Work: Blackdog did a lot of specialized carpentry work, including making a bed designed to fit into a bay window. They also installed recessed lighting.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
3.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

CHRISTIAN K.
08/2011
5.0
remodeling, home remodeling
  + 0 more
Black Dog was the low bidder on this project. The client was on a tight schedule to get the work completed so the family could move back in before the start of the school year. The work included new dormers that had some complex structural improvements that Black Dog was able to complete satisfactorily after an initial misstep. They notified us when they ran into trouble, and we were able to bring the engineer on site to review the work and design a fix. The family is happy with the quality of the finished work, and it was completed on time.
Description of Work: I was the architect, hired by a client to design an attic expansion to include multiple dormers, two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a common living area. Black Dog was hired through a competitive bid process.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$210,000

Valerie A.
07/2011
1.0
home builders
  + -1 more
It did not go well and for legal reasons, I can not comment further. I would not recommend for Blackdog to do work and I would certainly not sign a contract with them.
Description of Work: For legal reasons, I had to remove my comments. I would not recommend Blackdog builders to anyone who is doing work in their home.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
2.0
value
1.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
1.0
punctuality
2.0

$100,000

Response from Blackdog Design Build Remodel
This member would not pay the final balance on a project we successfully built. We took them to court and received a full judgment in our favor. Directly after paying us in full, despite signing a release, the client got on Angie’s list and submitted this review. We have been in business since 1989 and during that time we have run into a very small percentage of clients who could not be made happy. We believe this member falls into that percentage.

Melissa H.
05/2011
5.0
remodeling, home remodeling
  + 0 more
I think I could have probably got a better price if we had done all by ourselves but they are all in one company who do design, build and do all the contract work including the electricians and plumbers. They were nice and I think the price was okay for the complete service they did. They were well organized. They gave us a binder for communication and for plans like what was going to happen next with time on it and calendar. They put up a white board with a calendar in the kitchen with the projected dates the work was done and incase we had any notes we could put that up there so that they could do that the next morning. Incase if we had to choose a different tile that was not included in the invoice then they would do a separate invoice for whatever we chose to do extra. There were no confusions about things and we got separate invoices and that was really very nice. The carpenter was so respectful, kind and clean and his work reflects his personality. They were so well organized that I didn’t mind spending extra money. I would rate them high overall. I would use them again in the future.
Description of Work: I used Blackdog Design/ Build/ Remodel for remodeling my kitchen. They just completed the work at our home yesterday.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$60,000

Paul E C.
11/2008
3.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
The responsiveness was okay, but it seemed to be because we had some problems and they knew they had to fix them. I would not use them again and would not recommend them.
Description of Work: They remodeled a bathroom for me.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
3.0
value
2.0
professionalism
4.0
responsiveness
3.0

$22,000

Response from Blackdog Design Build Remodel
Our records indicate that this project was done in 1999!. The actual project value was $ 18,258. According to this member there were some issues on the project which Blackdog addressed. We have no other specific information regarding this 10 year old project but would be happy to address any open concerns this member has. Respectfully, David Bryan, CGR, CAPS President Blackdog design/build/remodel

MARSHA & EARNEST W.
10/2007
5.0
replacement windows
  + -1 more
I have hired them in the past to do other projects. They provide top quality custom work at a reasonable rate. Their clean-up is superb and the work they do is meticulous. Their workmanship is outstanding. The staff and crew is courteous.
Description of Work: They installed a new bay window and removed the old window in my house.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro

MICHAEL F.
09/2007
5.0
custom cabinets, contractors, hardwood floor, lighting, plastering, plumbing, replacement windows, woodworking, marble & granite, home remodeling, interior painters
  + 9 more
Fantastic. Blackdog was not the cheapest bid we received, but they were a dream to work with. They are designed/built, so we teamed with their kitchen designer who helped us plan out every aspect of the new kitchen, tweaking the details until we felt it was right. They then assigned a lead carpenter to the project who supervised the work at every stage. They have their own plumber, but sub out electric and (I believe) paint, but that process was seamless, and they take full accountability for everything. The work quality is excellent, with great attention to detail (they preserved old molding in the dining room so that they could re-install it above the new header, they re-cased the kitchen windows so that they exactly matched the rest of the house, etc.) and most importantly they have excellent planning and communication. From the moment they began, we knew exactly how long everything was going to take, and they hit their dates.
Description of Work: Gutted and completely remodeled a kitchen in a 1920's Dutch Colonial. Removed two walls to expand kitchen space, including removal of butlers pantry. Installed new wood floors, new plaster ceiling with lights, granite counters, cabinetry, and new appliances. Painted dining room and living room.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$70,000

CATHY B.
07/2005
4.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
WE WORKED WITH 4 PROFESSIONALS DURING THE COURSE OF THE PROJECT. THE MAN WHO DID THE UP FRONT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT DID A VERY GOOD JOB PROVIDING AN ACCURATE ESTIMATE. THE MAN WHO DID THE CONSTRUCTION (LEAD CARPENTER) WAS OUTSTANDING. HE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN HIS WORK AND DID AN OUTSTANDING JOB. THE DESIGNER WAS COMPETENT AND PROFESSIONAL BUT, NOT CREATIVELY STRONG. THE CREATIVE ELEMENTS IN THE KITCHEN CAME FROM ME. SHE ALSO DID NOT APPEAR TO KNOW WHERE TO GET SOME OF THE UNIQUE MATERIALS THAT I ASKED FOR (E.G. STAINLESS BACKSPLASH, TEXTURED GLASS PANELS FOR CABINETS). IT'S AS THOUGH SHE WAS NOT ''KEEPING UP'' WITH DESIGN TRENDS. THE PROJECT MANAGER WAS NOT THE BEST. HE DID NOT PROACTIVELY CALL ME WHEN PLANS CHANGED AND INSTEAD, LEFT ME WONDERING WHY AN EXPECTED EVENT DID NOT HAPPEN. I LOVE MY KITCHEN AND WOULD HIRE THEM AGAIN, BUT I WOULD ASK FOR A DIFFERENT PROJECT MANAGER NEXT TIME. EXPENSIVE BUT THEY PROVIDE A 3-YEAR WARRANTY ON LABOR AND MATERIALS - THEY STAND BY THEIR WO
Description of Work: EXTENSIVE KITCHEN REMODEL, INCLUDING TAKING DOWN A NON-LOAD-BEARING WALL. THIS IS THE 3RD JOB I HAVE USED BLACKDOG FOR.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
3.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
4.0

Yes, I recommend this pro
$60,000

CATHERINE C.
10/2003
1.0
home builders
  + -1 more
THEY ARE VERY COURTEOUS AND CALLED BACK EVERY TIME I CALLED THEM, BUT THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION. THEY LEFT SUPPLIES EVERYWHERE, A LARGE DUMPSTER IN MY DRIVE FOR MONTHS, A LOAD OF LOOM ON MY FRONT LAWN FOR WEEKS ON END. I HAD UNEXPECTED MEDICAL ISSUES TO DEAL WITH AND FRANKLY, HOUNDING THEM WAS THE LAST THING ON MY MIND. ....AND THEY REALLY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT FACT. THEY ARE JUST ANOTHER IRRESPONSIBLE BUILDING CONTRACTOR, BUT ONE WITH VERY PROFESSIONAL PACKAGING - FOR WHICH YOU PAY DEARLY BUT DO NOT GET A PROPORTIONATE VALUE IN RETURN.
Description of Work: BLACK DOG WAS HIRED TO BUILD A 3 SEASON ROOM ADDITION, DECK AND CONCRETE PAD TO HOLD A HOT TUB. THE WORK BEGAN IN NOVEMBER 2002 AND THEY ESTIMATED IT WOULD TAKE 3 WEEKS TO COMPLETE, BUT WAS HINDERED BY BAD WEATHER. UNFORTUNATELY, THE GOOD WEATHER DIDN'T HASTEN THE COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT. I COULD NOT USE THE HOT TUB UNTIL JULY, 2003 AND AS OF THIS DATE, 10/12/03 (11 MONTHS LATER)THE PROJECT REMAINS INCOMPLETE AND I AM INTERVIEWING OTHER CONTRACTORS TO REPAIR SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE THEY HAVE DONE TO MY PROPERTY (LAWN, ASPHALT, SHRUB, AND EXISTING SCREENS) AND TO COMPLETE THE WORK,(INSTALL WINDOWS/SCREENS, PAINT THE ADDITION, RESEED LAWN, REMOVE THE CONCRETE FROM SHRUBS, LAWN, AND ON THE HOUSE, RECONNECT SPRINKLER SYSTEM, RECONNECT EXHAUST PIPE TO PELLET STOVE, AND REPAIR THE DRIVEWAY). THEIR PHILOSOPHY WAS IMPRESSIVE AND THEIR PRESENTATION EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL. I BUILT MY HOUSE IN 1991, SO HAD EXPERIENCE DEALING WITH CONTRACTORS. THEY WERE PAID IN CASH EXACTLY AS REQUESTED.

Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.0
value
2.0
professionalism
1.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
1.0

$30,000

Response from Blackdog Design Build Remodel
TO BEGIN, WE(BLACKDOG), UNDER-PERFORMED ON THIS PROJECT. WE HAD A LEAD CARPENTER ASSIGNED THAT WAS NOT EXPERIECNED ENOUGH, AND WE DID NOT MANAGE THE PROJECT OR FOLLOW UP AS WELL AS WE SHOULD HAVE. WE HAVE SUBSQUENTLY MADE CORRECTIONS IN ASSIGNING MANPOWER TO PROJECTS AND HAVE STEPPED UP OUR TRAINING EFFORTS ACROSS THE BOARD. HAVING SAID THAT, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF INACCURATE STATEMENTS MADE IN THE ABOVE COMMENTS. WE CORRECTED ALL DEFECTS, LESS THE DRIVEWAY SEALING AND WOULD HAVE DONE SO, HAD THE CLIENT NOT SOLD THE HOUSE. A NUMBER OF THE ITEMS MENTIONED WERE NOT IN THE SCOPE OF OUR AGREEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CLIENT NEVER PAID THE BALANCE ON THE CONTRACT DESPITE OUR EFFORTS AND WILLINGNESS TO CORRECT PROBLEMS. WE GAVE THE CLIENT GOOD REASONS TO BE DISGRUNTLED, BUT WE WERE ALWAYS WILLING TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE CORRECTIONS UP UNTIL THE CLIENT SOLD THE HOUSE. RESPECTFULLY, DAVID K. BRYAN, CGR PRESIDENT

    Contact information

    7 Red Roof Ln Unit 1, Salem, NH 03079

    www.blackdogbuilders.com/salem-nh-design-center

    Service hours

    Monday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Saturday:
    10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Licensing

    Insured

    Licensed*

    Trade License Number
    106977
    Trade License Locale
    Massachusetts
    Trade License Authority
    Home Improvement Contractor
    Trade License Expiration
    05/09/2017

    Eco-friendly Accreditations

    LEED Accredited Professional
    No
    Energy Star Partner
    No
    EPA Lead-Safe Certified
    Yes
    Use Green Products or Work Practices
    Yes
    State Contractor License Requirements

    All statements concerning insurance, licenses, and bonds are informational only, and are self-reported. Since insurance, licenses and bonds can expire and can be cancelled, homeowners should always check such information for themselves. To find more licensing information for your state, visit our State Contractor License Requirements page.

    *Contact business to see additional licenses.


    Service Categories

    Kitchen and Bath Remodeling,
    General Remodeling,
    Finished Carpentry and Woodworking,
    Homebuilders,
    Windows,
    Lighting,
    Cabinet Making,
    Interior Painting,
    Marble and Granite,
    Plumbing,
    Plaster,
    Hardwood Flooring Sales and Installation

    FAQ

    Blackdog Design Build Remodel is currently rated 4.1 overall out of 5.

    Monday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Wednesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

    Blackdog Design Build Remodel accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,Financing Available,MasterCard,Visa
    No, Blackdog Design Build Remodel does not offer free project estimates.
    Yes, Blackdog Design Build Remodel offers eco-friendly accreditations.
    No, Blackdog Design Build Remodel does not offer a senior discount.
    No, Blackdog Design Build Remodel does not offer emergency services.
    Yes, Blackdog Design Build Remodel offers warranties.
    Blackdog Design Build Remodel offers the following services: Design/Build Remodeling - Whole House, Kitchen, Bathroom, Basement Finishing, Additions, Master Suites, Garages, Attics, 3 Season Rooms, Cabinetry, and Countertops.

    Contact information

    7 Red Roof Ln Unit 1, Salem, NH 03079

    www.blackdogbuilders.com/salem-nh-design-center

    Service hours

    Monday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Tuesday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Wednesday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Thursday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Friday:
    9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    Saturday:
    10:00 AM - 5:00 PM