Gage Construction LLC

Honest and trustworthy. Two of the most important qualities to the success of any business and these can be found here

We recently hired Matt and his company, Gage Construction, to remodel a guest apartment we have at our lake house.  In a nutshell we could not have been happier with Matt and his entire team - they earned the highest rating we could give them.
We contacted Matt by telephone.  He promptly returned out call and even came out to meet us on a Sunday morning.  Our concern was that he would be working on out project while we were home 1,000 miles away.  We need not have been concerned.  Matt was professional in every sense of the word.  He was always punctual, courteous and respectful in all our dealings. He never tried to "up-sell" us on anything and was very conscious of budget and need.  Communication was never a problem - emails and telephone calls were answered immediately.  Matt constantly sent us pictures of the work progress.  The work they did was excellent in every respect.  "Punch-list" items were correctly immediately.  Matt truly seemed to care about the project from every angle.  If during his work he same a potential problem/need with the apartment that hadn't been addressed previously, it was brought to our attention immediately with recommendations and proposed cost (which was always very reasonable and fair).
Matt has EARNED the highest recommendation we could possible give.  Whenever we undertake our next project (adding on to the main house), the ONLY contractor we will contact is Matt and Gage Construction.

Matt and his team are incredible. Responsive, prompt, conscientious, fair, dedicated to satisfying their customers. Highly trustworthy and honest. I would recommend Gage Construction to anyone.

We couldn't be happier with the work or with the experience.  Matt took special care in meeting with us to determine exactly what we wanted, following up as we selected materials, and answering any questions we had at any time.  He was also sensitive to the fact that we wanted to keep costs at a reasonable level while still achieving a quality product.  Project Manager PJ was here every day making sure everything got done to our specifications and in a timely manner.  All crew members and subcontractors arrived on time, worked efficiently, and went out of their way to make sure we were inconvenienced as little as possible.  Daily clean-up was always performed..  Total amount of time to complete all renovations was three weeks.

It went very well. Matt did a very good job of keeping the subcontractors scheduled, arriving on time, and if I had an issue he was very responsive and the problem was fixed. I highly recommend him for all construction/renovation work.

Every subcontractor (roofers, plumbers, tile folks, painters, construction detail, electricians) were on time, very polite, and knowledgeable in their areas of work. They were very patient with us (the homeowners) and took the time to educate us. The contractor always communicated with us on what to expect each work day. Very professional. He was very respectful and calmed our anxieties. He was always accessible (phone, text, email, face to face). He always assessed each days work.

Prior to selecting Gage construction we talked to and got an estimate from a couple of other contractors. We selected Gage because they were the most thorough in the prejob and estimate phase. They started a little ahead of schedule. Work occurred when we were told it would start except when weather caused delays. At the end of each work day the workers made sure the area was left as clean as possible. There were a couple of heavy smokers on the work crew. Throughout the entire duration of the job (almost 2 months) I did not find one cigarette butt left behind by the crews ( very impressive). As with any job there were a few delays, mostly due to material shipment delays or self inflicted ( changes to our original plan). Throughout the process Matt Gilpin, the owner of Gage, was always courteous and accommodating. He was easy to reach for questions and never once failed to return a phone call or email by the end of the day. Gage Construction was not the cheapest estimate we received...but...we feel we received exceptional workmanship and top quality material that added to the value of our home. Gage construction provides some hard to find qualities in a contractor in this day and age, craftsmanship and pride in their work.

We've had a great experience with Gage Construction - and would recommend them for all  jobs, big or small!

I chose Gage Construction because they had previously done excellent work at my home. However, this time my experience was different. Much of the work performed was done very poorly. The quality of workmanship was poor, fit and finish for almost all of the new installation was lacking, most of the materials provided by Gage were the cheapest they could find, and it appeared that there was very little oversight by the job superintendent. Obvious shortcuts were taken on almost every phase of their work. Overall, It is my opinion that the Gage Construction employees were much more concerned with doing as little as possible as quickly as possible and with the cheapest materials available. Gage rectified some of the most glaring errors that I pointed out but unfortunately sometimes once the damage is done there's not a lot of "fixing" that can be done. I am absolutely certain that Matt Gilpin would not allow the quality of work that his company did at my house to be done at his own home.
I WOULD NOT USE GAGE CONSTRUCTION AGAIN AT HALF THE PRICE.

Specifics - partial list
New front door installed with half inch gap below the door
Old facing reused around new door
Rough 2X4 used as facing on door
Interior doors installed with half moon holes visible around the doorknobs
Switch plates and outlet covers not even removed during interior painting
Some windows not painted
Fairly inexpensive light fixtures replaced with even cheaper fixtures
New countertop installed in kitchen - not even attached to the counter below
Scraps used to fill in voids at sides of countertops

Excellent service and follow up

I am writing this review for and about Matt Gilpin, the owner of Gage Construction.  He was excellent.  He kept us informed all the way, but the best part was the fact that he checked on his subcontractors' work every day.  If he was not satisfied (or I wasn't) he made them fix it until it was done correctly.  I was not thrilled with the work of some of his subcontractors (especially the plumber), but Matt made sure everything was taken care of.  I want to make it clear that I do not fault Matt for his subs; that's the way it is in this state.  I think he will probably be looking for a better plumber. The price of this job was low because I already had the pipes run through the walls to the crawlspace when the house was built, plus we provided all the fixtures except for the 5 foot long shower.
Six years ago, I had my house built.  I could go on for hours about the terrible work various contractors/subcontractors did. Matt Gilpin and Gage Construction is now the only contractor I will ever use!  

Matt Gilpin was a marvelous general contractor and person to work with! He was very knowledgable about the best options to meet our needs, and counseled us on the pros and cons of each option so we could make a good decision. He kept on his sub-contractors to stay on schedule, and they were all extremely professional and responsive.
He provided us with a detailed proposal, and was able to easily provide us with a legal contract when asked.  As the initial construction went on we asked him to give us proposals for additional work - the roof, painting and drainage - and he always provided a detailed written proposal. He billed us electronically at regular intervals, and periodically provided a spreadsheet summary of all invoices with their associated constructions items. Whenever we had a question about an invoice item he always replied quickly with the details.
We felt so comfortable with the quality of his work and his professionalism that we added much additional work that needed to be done, but that we had been hesitant to do initially.
"Quality" is Matt's middle name! He was constantly on-site checking on the quality of his sub's work, and when necessary had them fixing things that we had not even noticed, no matter how minor. On one occasion he had a special repair technician come in to repair several minuscule scratches in a vinyl window frame that I doubt anyone would have noticed. However, Matt noticed and took the  extra steps to make the fixes.
We have already been recommending Gage Construction to friends and neighbors, and Matt got a re-roofing job for a neighbor from our recommendation.
Whenever you spend over $50,000 you are stressed out about whether or not you are spending your money wisely. With Matt Gilpin we had no concerns about that at all!

Despite initial simplicity - complexities emerged and were identified and managed professionally.  Final job is attractive and blends well with the house.

The owner, Matt Gilpin, and all of his sub-contractors have been honest, prompt, reliable ,friendly and easy to work with. We have worked on several projects over the last 10 months with them and have always been 100% satisfied with the final product. If there were more contractors like Matt Gilpin, there would be no need for Angie's list!

We weren't living in the state at the time but they kept to the timetable we needed, communicated and sent pictures regularly, and finished on time.

I cannot say enough positive things about Gage Construction.  As soon as I contacted Matt about an estimate, he called the same day and within a very few days I had a written estimate to totally gut and renovate an OLD (approximately 60 years) guest bathroom.  From the beginning, he kept me informed on what would be done and when.  He and Jimmy went out of their way to keep my home as clean and free from the mess of demolition as possible - protecting the floor and other rooms from the dust that inevitably accompanies a total demolition.  In the construction industry, you never know what kind of people you might be dealing with, but both Matt and Jimmy are obviously Christian men, and their principles guide how they do business.   Matt made sure to keep me informed about what was going on and when things would be done.  The project took a good bit longer than I anticipated, but I have to say that it really wasn't something within Matt's control - the countertop I had ordered was put on backorder and took several weeks longer to come in than anticipated.  The wait was worth it, though, because the completed project looks terrific.  Matt is a perfectionist and was sometimes more concerned about things being done right than I was!   He did not want any money up front and only billed me as things were completed.  I was not home most of the time the work was being done, but there were no problems with the various crews (tile guy, electrician, plumber, etc) that had to come into my home.  If you want to deal with someone who is fair and honest and who ensures the job gets done right, I would highly recommend Matt and Jimmy and Gage Construction.  In fact, I plan to use them on another project. 

W e selected Gage Construction after getting four estimates to convert a deck to a screened porch. We were impressed with Matt's professionalism, honesty, and attention to detail. While all bids were close, Matt's bid  was the lowest by a slight margin. His professionalism {and great reviews on Angie's list) won us over.
Matt and his fine crew did not disappoint us! Matt handled all permits and inspections. The deck was demolished and the flooring was enlarged, reinforced with steel beams since the porch is considerably elevated, and a month later we have a lovely screened porch with vaulted ceiling. I love it.  Matt and James gave great advice and suggestions, while listening closely to our desires and vision..Safety and quality were always placed first, and building codes were explained so that we could understand. Matt seems to have high standards and expectations, and we were grateful for that. He did not accept "good enough". For example, the roof shingles originally selected by the roofers for the porch roof did not match as well as expected. He and James did not hesitate to talk to us about it - before we even brought it up. They were removed and replaced with a closer match that we all agreed upon. Great result.
 
Communication was excellent throughout the process. Matt was always responsive and timely, and quick to communicate any schedule changes. We really felt he provided excellent customer service as well as a quality product, and did so within the promised time frame. He was willing to have his crew add in a few extras that were outside the original bid for a  reasonable additional charge- such as some replacement boards and deck lighting for our existing deck.
Overall, we could not be more pleased with our choice of  Matt, James and those who work with/for them. We love our new porch!!! We will definitely consider using Gage Construction for future projects and would highly recommend them to others.

We have an active family and had no idea what a mess it would be to live in the house while the renovation was going on, but Matt Gilpin(Gage Construction) and his crew did everything they could  to accomodate us.  They were always professional, courteous and compassionate to our needs. We got to know each of the crew by name by the time the project was finished.  

His prices were fair and he was always willing to work with us when we had concerns or wanted to make changes. In the beginning I had trouble seeing past all the demolition, dust and noise, but I'm glad I trusted Matt's vision of the final product.  It turned out so much better than we had dreamed.

The job went perfect. Matt and his crew did everything they said they would on time. I could not have asked for a better experience. I would highly recommend Gage Construction.

Gage Construction was responsible for constructing our new home in the Shandon neighborhood of Columbia, SC. Matt Gilpin, the owner of Gage,  met with us frequently and managed every step of the construction  project.  He discussed the costs and benefits of each choice we had to  make during construction.  Each time we had questions, he answered them  quickly and fully.  During the months of construction, when subcontractors were engaged in various aspects of building, we stopped by the site frequently and often had questions about what was going on. Matt would often be there when we stopped, and if he wasn't, he was fully acquainted with what was going on.  He was present when the water was connected, the gas was turned on, the landscaping was being installed, electricity and cable and internet were connected.  He paid attention to the construction as if it were his own house he was building.  In preparation for construction, we met with 10 builders in the Columbia area.  They varied greatly.  Gage did not demand a substantial fee just to meet with us, as one did.  Gage treated us with respect and answered our questions carefully, unlike another.  Gage returned our calls promptly, unlike several.   During construction, I talked with several of the subcontractors working under Gage and I found a uniform high level of respect for Gage.  They would all have been happy to work with Gage in the future, and now that we're a couple of years past the end of construction, I can truthfully say I would be happy to do the same.  In the time after construction ended and our contract was complete, Matt has been in touch with us on several occasions to see if we had any problems.  He's visited several times to look around, and when we've wanted to do  new things around the house, we've called him first to see if he had any suggestions.  Working with Gage Construction was a completely positive experience for my family, and we recommend them without reservation.

Overall, the project was very successful. Everyone is overwhelmed with the change from beginning to start and we are happy with all the work that is not visible to the eye. We needed extensive HVAC and electrical work as well as updating water tanks and gas lines. Visit the Gage Construction website for a small glimpse of some of the work. I'm sure the before and after shots will make it to the website; this project was huge!!!
I would recommend Matt's approach; when you have something that is so entirely overwhelming, stay focused on the most important task first. For me, I couldn't get pass the kitchen and office renovations without looking at the awful living room. Matt's advise was dead on. Once the kitchen was underway, I could relate the changes to the living room and was able to flow the living room update as the final project.
There's still work to be done but we are in a more comfortable position now because of Matt's dedication. We will continue to use Matt and his team for future projects.

We had 5 contractors bid the job. Matt was the only one who needed to come out to the house only once (he brought his framer with him instead of making additional trips). When the quote was ready he came to my house to explain it to me. Before work started he came out to check that our breker box would be able to handle the additional space as well as to check where he would need to tie into the plumbing so that when work started these items would not cause a delay.
Work started on time, and Matt came out almost every day to check on things. We have two children under the age of two and he and the people who work for him were very considerate of the little ones.

He was wonderful. The man that owns it was a fine Christian man. They were wonderful people. He did an outstanding job. He was here when his men were working on the house. He was back at least once a day or sometimes twice a day. If the porch needed sweeping he swept it. He was just really kind. He gave me an estimate and stuck to the estimate completely. Some of the estimates, when he found out he did not have to do quite as much work, he lowered my price.

Excellent work ethic, skill and professionalism.

Matt Gilpin followed up on our request for a quotation on installation of gutters and downspouts on our two story home.  He came out, looked at and measured our home, discussed our needs and came up with a professional proposal for what we wanted and what he thought we needed.  His proposed cost was in line with other qualified proposals received, the concern for our needs was superior to that of the other bidders.

A date and time was scheduled for the work.  The installation crew was here as scheduled.  They did a very nice installation job, cleaned up all debris and left property in excellent condition.  Rain storms following the installation verified that gutters, downspouts and runoffs worked as anticipated.  Total cost was as estimated.

We also had Matt quote on two similar gutter and downspout installations on other property.  The service and installation was every bit as good on these as on the first property.  No call backs were required on any of the jobs on these properties.