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Hill Country Building & Renovation

Kitchen and Bath Remodeling, General Remodeling, Ceramic Tile,

About us

At Hill Country Building & Renovation, we specialize in Kitchen and Bathroom Renovations, Additions, Garages & Outbuildings, Decks and more. When we start your project, we are there every day until completion and you are completely satisfied. Our quoted price is the same at the end of the project as it was in the beginning unless you add or reduce the scope of work. This is why we have so many satisfied customers. What is your next project? Yea, we can help with that.

Business highlights

39 years of trusted experience

Services we offer

Kitchen & bathroom remodeling. General remodeling. Additions, Detached Garages, Outbuildings, Major whole house remodeling.

Amenities

Free Estimates
Yes
Warranties
Yes


Accepted payment methods

Check

Photos of past projects

Reviews

4.847 Reviews
Number of StarsImage of DistributionNumber of Ratings
5
94%
4
0%
3
0%
2
2%
1
4%


Rating CategoryRating out of 5
quality
4.7
value
4.6
professionalism
4.8
responsiveness
4.8
punctuality
4.8
Showing 1-25 of 47 reviews

Jody S.
01/2021
1.0
ceramic tile, drywall, lighting, remodeling, woodworking, home remodeling, doors
  + 5 more
Most disappointing experience of my life. My husband and I chose HCBR because of Mr. Paulsen's promise of quality work. We didn't mind if his bid wasn't the lowest, because we were assured by Mr. Paulsen that the work would be done right. We got everything but quality work and soon learned that the reason Mr. Paulsen's bid was so high was because the workers had to redo tasks multiple times because they were not completed correctly the first time. Nobody (including Mr. Paulsen) took any pride in their work. Painters were definitely not professionals and did a very sloppy job. They got paint on new flooring, windows, hinges, door knobs, switch plates, switches, and applied the wrong type of paint to the wrong surfaces (painted the ceiling with trim paint). Electricians left dead switches, installed plugs boxes that came out of the wall, and installed a plug for a tv in a brick fireplace that did not work. Piles of trash and debris were left laying around our property and on our porch for weeks because Mr. Paulsen had the dumpster removed weeks before the end of the project. Workers were negligent in protecting existing surfaces and damaged a sink that they did not cover. We were informed over and over again that workers or subcontractors were showing up at a specific day and time and they always showed up days or weeks later (or never came at all). We will never positively recommend or hire HCBR again.
Description of Work: Remodeled kitchen, dining room, living rooms (2), laundry room, and office

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


Phyllis T.
06/2017
5.0
ceramic tile, drywall, electrician, glass repair, lighting, plumbing, home remodeling, doors
  + 6 more
Once again, Calvin knocked it out of the park! He had done our kitchen two years ago, which is why we hired him again for this job. He was on time every day, worked quickly, and handled problems that came up (very few, I might add) with no drama. The biggest issues were none of his doing. Things like delayed special order items from our supplier and a VERY slow cabinet maker were beyond his control. We are thrilled with the final results!
Description of Work: We remodeled our master suite which is an ensuite master that, aside from the water closet, is one open room. The new design involved removing part of a wall to create a doorless, walk-in shower.

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
$20,000

Jessica N.
04/2017
5.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
Everything went very well. The dust was kept under control as much as possible and we really appreciate that. Calvin was so easy to work with, we had a few changes and additions but he would just say, no worries and they got done. Some of the changes he didn't charge us a thing for. We would recommend Harbor Renovation to anyone looking for quality and professional work.
Description of Work: We had an old out dated kitchen. Calvin of Harbor Renovation came in and completely tore out the whole kitchen. At first it was a shock to see it all gone. The whole process was very organized and Calvin was there every day until it was done. Not a lot of strangers in and out of our home. It was all finished in 5 weeks and we couldn't be more pleased.

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
$40,000

Arlo J.
04/2017
5.0
home builders
  + -1 more
I have know and worked with Calvin for 7 or 8 years. When we met I was a single father with 3 boys and going to nursing school full time. Calvin would have me help with projects he had that needed extra hands. Calvin was a fair boss and hard worker. He demonstrated an exceptional knowledge of construction techniques and trade. He dealt with me honestly and fairly. The clients I met felt the same. He proved to me that he could manage large projects on multiple work sites at the same time and deliver high quality work. If it is not obvious by now I have not seen Calvin build a house but I have seen him remodel several. I know Calvin to be an honest man and a skilled craftsman. I would trust him to build a house with me and some day, when I'm ready, I may just call on him to do that.
Description of Work: Kitchen and Bath Renovations

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

Mike F.
02/2017
5.0
drywall, home remodeling
  + 0 more
Work was done done in a perfosional manner
Description of Work: Ceiling drywall repairs after upstairs bathroom leak.

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
$350

Rick R.
12/2015
5.0
ceramic tile, doors, drywall, electrician, remodeling, home remodeling, lighting, plumbing, woodworking
  + 7 more
Work went very well even after running into a problem with the ceiling holding a surprise main brace. Which had to be moved. This created further problems, one with the kitchen ceiling and another with fitting of the kitchen cabinets that were already made. Kalvin did a remarkable job in figuring out how to make it work without adding more time or cutting the cabinets. He always made sure we were informed on a progress; and when there were problems, he would contact us and have a solution. He was always very professional and knowledgeable about the construction process. Though we always had the last word on all parts of the job, Kalvin usually discussed with us what would work best. He is very easy to communicate to. He maintained a clean work area throughout the renovation and at the end of each day all tools were neatly stored out of our way. After work was done and we started to put things back in place, we noticed that some cabinets needed additional adjustment. Kalvin came back without any hesitation and made the final adjustments at no additional charge. We are completely satisfied with the work he did, would hire him again, and will recommend him to our friends.
Description of Work: Remove popcorn ceilings in three rooms (living room, dining room, and kitchen); demolish the entire kitchen, pantry, and entry way mirror. Install new kitchen cabinets and make existing pantry more spacious with doors to match the new cabinets. Also in the kitchen, install granite counter-top, sink, facet, stove, recessed lighting and stove hood. Keep existing dishwasher. Put in wall receptacles to match new light switches. Replace exposed concrete with new ceramic tile. Put subway tile above the counter-top, stove hood and stove. Replace doors to laundry, patio, and garage. Replace doors to main house entrance and the hall way closet. Make a small pantry w/door near the door to patio. Paint kitchen, living room, and the entry way. Light texture and paint ceiling in the kitchen, living room, dining room, and entryway.

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

Yes, I recommend this pro
$29,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you for a very nice review. I hope you enjoy your kitchen for many years to come.

Stacey R.
09/2015
5.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
Went very well. Prompt and dependable service, did excellent work and really went the extra mile because this is my only bathroom and I have an adult son with autism. He really made it possible for this to happen and I have a beautiful bathroom. It is gorgeous and we survived the remodel with dealing with autism issues. Wonderful and a great experience, considering everything he had to deal with and how hard it is for my son to deal with change. High kudos for Calvin. Many thanks.
Description of Work: Redid my bathroom. Total redo pretty much.

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
$8,150

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you so much for your review. I was pleasure working with you and I am pleased that things worked out for your son during the process. I look forward to your kitchen project some time next year.

Gloria C.
09/2015
5.0
ceramic tile, remodeling, home remodeling, plumbing
  + 2 more
We thoroughly enjoyed Calvin & his cousin Carl, who worked as a team on our project. We had a Jack & Jill bathroom that he converted into a Master bath.he removed the tub and replaced it with a built in tile shower & tiled the floor as well. He took out all fixtures, but we kept the cabinets & he painted them & replaced the hardware. He opened up the small closet that was there into the hall closet to make a roomier walk-in style, tiled it & added shelves & new hanging rods. He added crown molding to the master & painted it. He completed the painting & tile job in the hallway that was to be completed by the last (nightmare) contractor we had & did not ask back.. We purchased all items before we started as was a requirement of Calvin. That worked out well. Although, I made a mistake in putting all the items in the closet, thinking I would be helping him, so he wouldn't have to go to the garage to get them. I assumed he would do one project at a time....my bad. He started the closet at the same time as the others, so he had to move all the tile & fixtures, etc. anyway. The only work done by a sub contractor was the granite cabinet top. We only had one problem when Calvin used the shower tile to tile the floor in the bathroom as well. However, it turned out better than the original would have been. He says we can blame Carl for the mistake, but he'll take credit for the win with the better looking floor. I was apprehensive at first, worried that it would be another horror story like the last contractor, but Calvin was not like that at all. He told us 6 weeks & completed all parts iin 4 weeks. He was great to work with & was always on time everyday. Answered all phone calls & text messages promptly. He had one other thing going for him, that others may not get to take advantage of like we did. That was Carl, a true bonus to the job. Carl left us just before the job ended to go back to Arkansas for awhile. We missed him & I know that Calvin did as well. He had gotten used to the little things Carl did. Overall as remodeling goes ......this was a great experience for us. He'll come back for the other bathroom when we are ready for it. Good job, Calvin!!??
Description of Work: Remodeled a Master Bathroom, enlarged the closet for the Master Bedroom, added Crown Molding & painted the Master.

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
$18,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you for such an awesome review. You and your daughter were a pleasure to work with even if you put all the tile in my way. Haha I look forward to moving on to the hall bathroom some time next year. In the mean time I hope you enjoy your new master Bathroom.

Rosanne M.
08/2015
5.0
ceramic tile, drywall, electrician, remodeling, home remodeling, lighting, plumbing
  + 5 more
Calvin was very easy to work with. He worked on our living area, installing sheetrock over existing paneling, and added recessed lighting on the ceiling while we waited for the kitchen cabinets to come in. He also removed the cracked tile floor. When the cabinets came in he put them together, installed them, and a very good granite subcontractor installed the countertops. He then installed the tile backsplash, put in the sink and appliances and added more lighting to the kitchen. I have had many compliments from friends on his work, and I am very happy with the way everything turned out. He even returned 3 months later to finish up on a couple of parts of a cabinet that came in late. He did excellent work, and I would definitely call him again and recommend him to friends!
Description of Work: We had the kitchen completely remodeled and the living area had sheetrock installed and painted and tile floor removed.

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
$30,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you [removed member name] for your great review. It was a pleasure to work for you and your Texas Oil Man husband. I really think you selected great features for your kitchen and it really looks great. Take care and I hope you enjoy your new kitchen for years to come.

Rox B.
08/2015
5.0
drywall, remodeling, home remodeling
  + 1 more
Calvin did a major bathroom job for me. Because of that, he agreed to do this little job (my words not his). The previous contractor had done the bath tub so that hot water came out cold and cold water came out hot. My grand daughter on a visit did not know it was broken and took cold showers. I did not want someone in the future to do this or on the other hand to get burned. Calvin came out and it took some major diagnosis to figure out what the cause was. But he cut through the wall, put in a new valve, fixed the sheet rock and textured and painted the repair. Then in true Harbor renovation custom, he called back after the repair and asked how it was. I said that I guessed that it was alright as the location was in a room that I don't use (guest bath) . He insisted that I go right then and check the paint. I did and told him that one small spot on the bottom was not smooth. He came back out and fixed it. He will always follow up with his jobs and I have never ever had anyone do that. Thank god I don't have anymore najor repairs to do but if I did, he would be the only one that I would call. He has a good sense of humor too.
Description of Work: He fixed a mistake that another contractor did but refused to fix.

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
$800

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you so much for your review. I really enjoyed working with you on both the major bathroom remodel for your son and fixing the shower valve at your home. It was a bit of a challenge to determine the problem and cutting out the back of the plumbing wall to access the valve but in the end it all worked out and I am so pleased you are happy with the outcome. Have a great summer.

Neal K.
07/2015
5.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
He came in on Monday and did the demo work and within two weeks it was completed. He basically gutted the bathroom and installed new tub, new cabinet and vanity. Tiled above the tub for the shower. It looks great.
Description of Work: Renovated our Guest Bath.

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
$7,200

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thanks for your review [Removed members name], you guys were just awesome to work with. I will see you in February for the master bath:)

William K.
06/2015
5.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
Calvin is doing outstanding work. He is always is on time. He brings the necessary supplies and tool each day. He is a hard worker and does not waste time. He always uses new material and never reuses material that he replaces. He always works from a print and always asks for permission to deviate. Ne is worth every cent that he charges to do the job. The primary reason for this remodel was to combine an ad-on kitchen to an existing dining room.This necessitated removing a permanent external wall between the two rooms.This resulted if a seamless ceiling between the two rooms.Thus providing an open concept. The next step is finishing the walls and installing new flooring and complete cabinetry with associated electric connections and plumbing. Harbor Renovation has now finished my daughter's major kitchen remodel. it is absolutely stunning down to each little detail. Calvin really knows the remodel process inside and out. He was never stumped when it came to making everything work out and dealing with various issues in this old house. There were a couple of issues that we said we could live with but Calvin said he couldn't, so he somehow came up with solutions that were much more acceptable and resolved the issues very nicely.--Would we recommend Calvin?---Without a doubt, and without any reservation. On a personal note. I was there every day observing the remodel. We lunched together and it became a tradition that I provided cokes, On my birthday Calvin brought a cake complete with candles. He was so much fun and easy to work with.
Description of Work: job completed

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
$28,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thanks for the great review [Removed member name]. You and your daughter were a pleasure to work for. It was a challenging project with the structural elements but it was very enjoyable with your daily company. I look forward to returning some time next year to do the master suite. Until then I know you will enjoy your brand new kitchen.

Linda F.
05/2015
2.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
First, I'd like to point out that Calvin is a very nice person. But, I feel compelled to tell the truth on here. Isn't that what Angie's List is all about????? To help others find a good contractor? I am very confused about his straight A reviews. It is hard for me to believe that he did such an awesome job for all the others and such a shoddy job on mine. Really makes me question whether one can put much stock in Angie's List reviews. Calvin did a very nice job on the ceiling and crown. Just wish he would have taken 5 minutes to loosen the light fixture and fan cones instead of mudding over the edges of them. Something I will have to deal with when I replace them. Beyond that I have to say his work is shoddy. He did come back and redo some things to try to make them better. But the only way to fix the biggest problems would be to tear it all out and start over. The top cabinets from one side of the room to the other are not the same height. Standard distance between countertop and top cabinets is 18". For some reason he installed mine at 18 1/2 on one side and 19 1/4 on the side where the sink is, which is the side I use every day. I am short and that inch+ makes a huge difference to reach the second shelf. But I guess I will have to learn to live with it. The countertops are too narrow and do not cover the lower cabinets so there was no drip edge. Calvin is paying to have the people that installed the laminate come back and install a trim piece on the front to extend the countertop out over the lower cabinets. That is scheduled to be done in aprox. two weeks. My one big splurge was my backsplash tile, which is a brushed metal mosaic - $15.00 a square foot. Some of it looks pretty good but in many places you can see the interlocking seams and the little pieces stick out. Some as much as 1/8 inch and are not straight. He did come back and remove the worst ones and put them back on. For which I had to buy another $15.00 tile. He said he would pay for it but didn't. It is a little better, still shows and will never be a good tile job. Once again something I will have to live with. I am going to have to re-grout the tile due to shrinkage and then seal it. When I ask him about sealing it he said he put sealer in the grout. Everything I read online about that says that it doesn't work. I ask him to seal it properly and he refused to do it. So guess I'll be doing that too. There is a 1/2" unfinished gap between the backsplash tile and the top cabinets. So I bought some trim and primed and painted it to cover up that mess...the trim and paint cost another $20.00 out of my pocket to cover up his mistake. One cabinet door is on backwards. Once again something I will have to live. The island hood is 1 1/2" off center over the cooktop and not properly installed. He cut the sheetrock out and attached the plate to boards in the attic then patched around it. The plate that the hood attaches to should go on top of the rock....per the instructions that came with it. Because he got in a hurry and scheduled the laminate before the oven unit was installed there is a 1/2" gap between the countertop and wall oven cabinet and between the backsplash and wall oven cabinet. His fix for that is a 3/4" x 3/4" board that he cut from a cabinet spacer to cover it. The end is bare wood that I need to do something with. Not sure how I'm going to make that look decent. There are numerous smaller mistakes....way too many to mention and explain on here. I have taken pictures of all of them. A few of them he corrected or at least tried to make better but most cannot be fixed. Like a screw hole thru the face of a cabinet...now filled with putty and looks pretty good but still shows. Another one thru the side of the wall oven unit....same fix. All of the nail holes in the toe kick and cabinet crown show. Guess that's suppose to be my job too. The holes can be filled with the putty but it is something he should have done. I paid him to do the job. I should not have to do his finish work. Two pieces of floor tile needed put in where the old cabinets came out and the new did not cover. He put the tile in but did not grout it. Told me I could do that. I had to wipe down every cabinet and drawer, inside and out, because he put the cabinets in before he textured the ceiling and did not cover them. He told me I needed to clean up that mess because he forgot and painted the ceiling and I was suppose to. He said it would be a trade off because he forgot and did it so now to make things fair I needed to clean up his mess and put the knobs and pulls on the cabinets. So I did. He did not paint the ceiling. He put that cheap Pro-X PVA primer on it that leaves it looking gray. I wanted it bright white so I painted it. There are numerous scuffs and scratches on the new cabinets and one on the new wall oven and places that splintered when he drilled the holes for the knobs and pulls. Several times throughout this remodel I tried to talk to Calvin about some of these things that were not right. Two times he told me I was being too picky. Once he replied with "Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?" And twice he accused me of not trusting him. I am not saying these things because I am picky and anal about things. I have flipped four houses in the past, worked with a lot of contractors from all trades and have done some of this kind of work myself. I had another contractor come and look at this job. He agreed these things are not right and even noticed some mistakes that I had not noticed yet. He sits on an arbitration board for contractors. His suggestion was to sue for the damages. I now have a $30,000.00 kitchen remodel that looks like it was done by an amateur instead of a contractor. Sorry Calvin, you are a very nice person and I really like you but for this kitchen remodel I needed a contractor with experience in kitchen remodels....not just a nice person. Here is my follow up to what has transpired since I wrote the above review. I filed a complaint with Angie?s list and Harbor Renovations refused any kind of settlement. Instead, I got a threatening email from him that said if I did not delete the above review ?He would move forward with his options?. And he did. HE CANCELLED THE ORDER TO PAY FOR THE BULLNOSE FOR THE CONTER TOP TRIM that would fix the countertops that he built to narrow. Looks like I will be paying to have that done because the countertop definitely needs an overhang to keep spills from running down the front of my cabinets and ruining them. So due to my honest review, I lost more on this deal. No wonder people give false reviews on here. Most people that are being threatened will give in and change their reviews. I WILL NOT! I gave an honest review. I have lots of pictures and I will be happy to show anyone the mistakes and shoddy work. I forwarded a copy of the email to Angie's List....that gained me nothing either. Now I?m trying to decide if I should file a complaint with the BBB or take Harbor Renovations to small claims court.
Description of Work: Complete kitchen remodel. Total tear out to bare studs. Repair kitchen, living room and hall ceilings and put up new crown. Install storm door. The $13,115.00 was for Calvin's services and he supplied the crown, wood for countertops, sheetrock mud, screws, electrical supplies, 4 can lights, etc. I bought the cabinets, laminate & installation, backsplash tile, appliances, 1 light fixture, paint, storm door, etc. Total of the job was approximately $30,000.00.

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

$13,115

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
So sorry you feel the way you do. After taking care of all the issues you felt you had before we completed the job, which you actually approved and signed off, I was really hopeful for another delighted customer like so many others. I hope you will enjoy your new kitchen for many years to come. Calvin

Neal K.
05/2015
5.0
remodeling, home remodeling, lighting
  + 1 more
Calvin came in with an estimate that I thought was fair and started right when he said he could. He took down two walls and opened up the kitchen just the way we imagined. We ordered the cabinets we wanted and he installed them beautifully. He was a big help when we got stumped on color coordination. He installed the can lights in the kitchen, dining and family room that really brightened up the spaces. We are going to hire him again to reno our bathrooms. This guy can do it all. I highly recommend Calvin and look forward to working with him again. GREAT JOB CALVIN!!! THANK YOU!!!
Description of Work: Calvin was awesome to work with. We have been wanting an open concept kitchen and he delivered.

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
$28,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you (removed member name) for such an awesome review. You and your family were a pleasure to work for. The longer I work with the general public the more I believe that it is my customer's responsibility to establish the working environment. I have so much more ability to work my Kraft for your benefit with a positive and uplifting working environment. You guys were just awesome and I really look forward to moving on to your hall bathroom renovation project.

Phyllis T.
03/2015
5.0
remodeling, home remodeling
  + 0 more
Calvin. Is. Awesome!! That?s the only way I can describe our experience with his doing our kitchen remodel. We did 99% of the demolition on our own. Calvin came in, at 8:00 am on the promised day, and started working his magic. Less than 4 weeks later, we now have a gourmet kitchen that is stunning. He went to bat for us when we had a problem with the company doing the countertops (big mistake on my part to use that company). He made suggestions when he thought an idea of mine wouldn?t quite work out. Yet, if I had my heart set on something, he would gladly oblige. We ran into a few unforeseen problems, but Calvin never got rattled and always found a reasonable solution. Calvin is honest, hard-working, FAST, and thorough. He pays attention to every last little detail and makes absolutely sure the job is done correctly. He replies to emails almost immediately. If you call and get his voice mail, he returns the call usually within the hour. He even made friends with our younger cat who fell in love with Calvin. We may have to set up a visitation schedule since the cat looks for Calvin if he?s not here by about 8:30 in the morning. I would hire Calvin again in a heart-beat! And, I?ve been singing his praises to all my friends and neighbors! Thank you, thank you, thank you, Calvin, for making the kitchen of my dreams a reality!
Description of Work: Complete kitchen remodel, starting with bare walls.

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
$42,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you for such a wonderful review. I had so much fun working with you on your kitchen project. You did a fantastic job selecting your colors and features. In all it was a joint effort to create such a great kitchen. I know you will enjoy for many years to come. I think I want to negotiate joint custody for Duke the Cat though.

Rox B.
01/2015
5.0
remodeling, home remodeling
  + 0 more
When I first called his first opening was about maybe 4 months away. The time went fast. He has you order all the supplies so that he cannot be blamed if you decide that you don't like something and if something happens. Such was the case for us. We ordered a vanity from home depot and the granite top arrived broken twice so it had to be reordered and shipped each time. So what was suppose to be a two week or so project turned into 2 months through no fault of his. His part in the whole home depot fiasco was understanding, disbelief, and the ability to go with the flow. He also said that because of that, we were very easy to work with. His work was exception and beautiful. I have had very few business people who respond to my texts or phone calls almost immediately. He had very good communication skills.
Description of Work: He remodeled a bathroom for my son.

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
$16,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you for your review of Harbor Renovation. This bathroom was very extensive with a lot of tile and amenities. To clarify, The elements of the project that include color style or preference are the responsibility of my customers to purchase. This way they get exactly what they want and they pay the real price with no mark up. The delivery mishaps were a challenge and did extend the completion time but more times than not it is a much smother experience. In the end this project worked out very well and I am always pleased when my customers are happy with my work. See more information, photos, video etc at www.harborrenovation.biz

John B.
12/2014
5.0
ceramic tile, electrician, garage builders, remodeling, glass repair, home remodeling, plumbing, contractors, woodworking
  + 7 more
His price is reasonable, but the way it works is that he needs the home owner to purchase ALL of the visible parts on the premises prior to his arrival, the tile, the faucets, the counter top, the grout, the paint etc. This is because he works fast. The majority of the master bathroom was done in 2 weeks. (Only the stain on the cabinets did not dry in a timely fashion.) His estimate covers not only his labor, but also the things one does not see, the plumbing pipes, the glues, etc. He does negotiate with the home owner in terms of determining where the messy work with tile and wood are best to take place. He does clean up the work area, but I did have to go over the mirrors and glass to remove some of the fine grout, that is to polish the surfaces. He is good about returning telephone calls or texts because he truly wants to know any dislikes or concerns early on so that corrections can be made. He arrives on time unless he is going to the home improvement store first. He will let the owner know this if needed. He is ethical in his workmanship. When the old shower and tub were pulled out, there was wood rot, old termite damage, and mildew that had to be removed in some of the supporting structure. He coordinated with the representative from our termite company who had to apply a treatment into the ground where the new shower drain pipes would eventually go. We were grateful that the repairs for the rot set us back only an additional $500.00. He took the time and treated the old and new wood in place with treatment to prevent future mildew and added hardiplank and sealant so that water from the shower would never enter the wall again. He could have nickeled and dimed us for every additional component of the job that was specified in the original contract. Instead he believes it is just part of the quality of his work. I learned that he can forget some of the little things. If you want to keep ANY fixtures, outlet covers, window blinds, instructions that come with the new fixtures, or the packaging then it is best to write down and give him a list of the things that you do not want him to discard. Otherwise, it is gone. Finally, when I had questions on which type of paint or tile to use in a particular location, he had good answers based on experience. I gave him "artistic license" to create designs which was a good move. He then could turn a plain design to a very nice design. When the stain had not dried on our bathroom cabinets within 2-3 days he bought over a new dehumidifier that day in order to speed up the drying. It ultimately took an additional week for the stain to dry. Needless to say, he did not use that same stain on the kitchen project. He has also remodeled our kitchen and will remodel our guest bathroom soon.
Description of Work: During the month of October, 2014, Calvin renovated our master bathroom. (This was the first of 3 projects.) The outcome was beautiful.

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
$12,500

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you for your great Harbor Renovation review. You guys were great to work with and I am looking forward to the next hall bathroom project.

Michael Y.
12/2014
5.0
ceramic tile, remodeling, home remodeling, woodworking
  + 2 more
What can I say? Working with Calvin was great. I had wanted work done for quite some time but dreaded the thought of renovating. Calvin took all the worry and stress out of the process. Not only is the work he did stunning he was a real pleasure to work with. He understood my wants and needs in regards to price and schedule and was more than willing to make it work. I have a special needs child and he made sure that what he was doing would not interfere with her daily routines. He was on time each day and finished at nearly the same time each day, each time at a stopping point that wasn't overwhelming. At no point did I feel my house was completely turned upside down. He works quickly and efficiently. He was able to remove the old flooring from my entry way, my downstairs powder room and conjoined entry way as well as the upstairs hall bath. Once removed he put tile in each location. He had a great idea to use tile for the base board trim- the same as on the floor - and I love it! In the hall bath ( aka the kids bath) he suggested tiling up the wall near the tub about half way to help with the water damage little ones can cause. We've had problems with overflowing tubs in the past but now I won't have to worry any more! He also added wainscoting in with a chair rail and bead board in sever locations and it's beautiful. I had worried about the floor transitions from room to room but the thresholds he suggested look great. All in all this guy knows his stuff. I am so happy we did this and even happier we chose Harbor Renovation. I will definitely be calling him again when it's time for the next project.
Description of Work: Tiled entry way, remodeled powder room and upstairs hall bath, wainscoting.

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
$6,500

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thanks [member name removed] for the awesome review. It was a lot of fun working for you and I did have a lot of fun with your kids too. I look forward to the next project

Joy T.
11/2014
5.0
ceramic tile, electrician, remodeling, home remodeling, plumbing
  + 3 more
Calvin tiled the tub surround, installed all new fixtures and hardware. He installed a new window and improved the insulation and electrical in the bathroom. This being my third remodel project with Harbor Renovations, I was prepared when unexpected problems arose due to the age of my home. As before, Calvin was able to remedy the problems quickly and easily with out having to call a plummer or master electrician. Calvin always does quality work, in a timely manor. Even with unexpected problems, I had no unexpected costs. Because of his many years experience, the suggestions and ideas he made, made my project turn out so much better then I imagined. Calvin was at my home every day until the job was done. He does all the work himself. I trusted him completely. I wish I had another remodel job for him to do!
Description of Work: Remodel 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
$2,000

Mark P.
11/2014
5.0
remodeling, home remodeling, plumbing
  + 1 more
Calvin was always punctual, professional and detail-oriented in his bid and his work. His bid was a little higher than others, but due to the details in his bid, I was confident there would be few changes (added costs) during construction. It was refreshing to work with a contractor that strived to deliver quality in a timely manner. Calvin delivers on his word and his work!
Description of Work: Remodeled bathroom (tile, plumbing, new counter)

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
$5,000

Mike H.
11/2014
5.0
ceramic tile, drywall, electrician, remodeling, home remodeling, plumbing, woodworking
  + 5 more
He handled the demo new electrical plumbing drywall cabinets tile and trim. The bath rooms the kitchen turned out beautiful. I'm going to try to get him back in the summer to build an outside kitchen for my wife and I. He does all the work himself no one is in and out you feel like he's got your back when you can't be there. His color matching is awesome. I have use him on three other jobs which i will write a review on soon.
Description of Work: Calvin did an awesome job with my kitchen and bath remodel.

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
$45,000

Raymond J.
11/2014
5.0
ceramic tile, electrician, remodeling, home remodeling, plumbing
  + 3 more
Cal is exceptional in doing what it takes to get the job done right, in a timely manner and at a fair price with an eye for staying within budget. His work is top notch. As a comparison, we had some water damage earlier this year and went through an insurance agency who brought in various other contractors for repairs. Though they were polite and the work was acceptable, it took forever for them to perform the work. There were constant delays or no shows. The house was always a mess and there was always something we would need to clean up that was left behind. This was not the case with Harbor Renovation. Cal was on the job when he said he would be and he always left the area clean at the end of the day or provided measures to keep dust from spreading around the house. My wife is very allergic to mold and dust so that means a lot, especially since we stayed in the house during renovation. They say that the finish product is only as good as the foundation it rest upon. I work as an engineer and deal with many contractors on some very large construction projects that require competitve bids. As a result, some contractors try to get by by meeting minimal requirements and providing marginal results even though what is required is spelled out clearly in the construction documents. It shows a lack of care, pride in thier product and leaves the owner with a decision as to whether the work is acceptable. No such concern resulted with Harbor Renovation. Cal never surprised us with extra costs that seemed spurious or contrived. He was very clear as to what his bid included, was efficient, competent and professional. The workmanship and care taken in preparation of bases to accept finish surfaces and equipment was superb. Plumbing was neatly installed and routed. The same with electrical. Cal was always polite and easy to deal with. Absolutely no pressure tactics. My wife likes the fact that he didn't swear or use bad language and seemed happy to be on the job. Tile work seems to be one of his specialties. In the end, it all turned out beautiful. Best of all my wife is very happy. And when she is happy, I am happy. I understand that Cal has moved his business to Texas. I am sure he will do well there.
Description of Work: Kitchen Remodel

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
$12,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you so much for the great review. It was a pleasure to work with you and your wife. I wish all my customers were as fun to work with. I think the color scheme you wife selected was just awesome!!! She should be an interior decorator. Take care and enjoy your new kitchen.

Barbara M.
10/2014
5.0
ceramic tile, remodeling, home remodeling
  + 1 more
It went great! Top quality work, he's a real craftsman. All was done ahead of schedule, clean as a whistle and beautiful. I could not be happier.
Description of Work: Installed new tile shower

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
$5,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
Thank you [member name removed] for a great review. I am so pleased that you are enjoying your new shower. Sorry I moved to Texas which will prevent me from working on your kitchen. Calvin

Joy T.
09/2014
5.0
home remodeling
  + -1 more
I was apprehensive to move forward on remodeling my upstairs bathroom because our house is old and I feared the unseen problems we might find. I hired Harbor Renovation to remodel my bathroom primarily due to the reviews I read on Angie?s List. After meeting Calvin I was sure he was the one to do our project. Unlike others we considered, I felt confident that he knew what he was doing and had a lot of experience in the field of remodel. We did have some other issues with our house such as the electrical panel and Calvin was able to resolve the issue with minimal expense the same day! Our quote was very clear and easy to understand. It gave us our shopping list for the items we needed to make decisions on. The other bids were hard to figure out what we were getting and even what was not included. My tile supplier made a mistake and we didn?t have enough 12x12 tile to do all the shower walls. I was so stressed and didn?t know what to do. Calvin met me at Home Depot and after looking at our options and not finding something that was going to work he suggested finishing the shower with a 6x6 tile from the mosaic accent to the ceiling. We quickly found a complementary color and we were back in business. In the end the fix to the problem turned out much nicer than I had originally planned. I am thrilled with our new bathroom and even more thrilled with the professional manner that Calvin operated every day. I was kept informed every step of the way and problems and issues were handled and resolved quickly and better than I could have imagined. Last year Calvin also did a complete renovation of my kitchen and even after a year I am still so thrilled I can?t get over it. My husband who was afraid of spending so much money loves it so much he spends extra time in the kitchen. PS ? I noticed a review below that was a huge surprise to see. The person he describes is certainly not Calvin at Harbor Renovation. My experience has been nothing but wonderful and we are looking forward to the next bathroom down stairs.
Description of Work: Up-stairs Bath

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
$6,500

J Tim L.
09/2014
1.0
ceramic tile, doors, drywall, remodeling, glass repair, home remodeling, woodworking
  + 5 more
Would not recommend this contractor for this type of work. This contractor has no intention of trying to come to any kind of agreement on the poor workmanship he left us with which includes among other things open serer line in craw space of home. causing serer gas to ex-cape into the basement of our home. This line should have been the vent for the master bath. This is only one of several problems we had with this contractor. Calvin is a nice guy just did a very poor job for us. Total repairs will cost us over $6,000 to complete. Federal Way, Washington Contractor called and wanted to come 2 months early. We told him we were not ready. He said he would work with us and we would be OK. Long story among a long list of problems. Poor tile work. Floor will have to be removed and replaced at a cost of over $4,000. floor area only. Shortly after contractor did our job he moved to Texas. After writing my first review. Calvin had one of his former friends and employees contact me asking to see job and try and get me to pull review. I agreed to meet with Mr. Dorny (also a review writer) and tell my side of story. We offered to let Mr. Dorny come to the house and see first hand the poor floor tile job in hopes that he would be able to correct the problem. We talked and he seemed to agree that there was a problem yet he never came to the house to see the floor. After Mr. Dorny talked to Calvin regarding our problem he informed me that he could no longer be of assistance to us in with this issue. Calvin has offered not offered any help in solving the poor floor tile job he has left us with. A problem and mistake that can only be fixed by a total removing and replacing the entire. The total floor area is not only poorly laid it is uneven and white mastic shows thru the black grout. My wife's make up chair will not stand on its 4 legs or her glass scale work because of the uneven floor. In short one cannot sit on a chair or stand on a scale with out it rocking backing from side to side or front to back. At one time I offered to settle with Calvin $1,000. towards the repair. He told me because of my poor review i had cost him way more than that. so he has never offered anything. I will not just go away We paid this contractor over $15,000. and have a sorry looking master bath to show for it.
Description of Work: Remodeled the master bath

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

$14,000

Response from Hill Country Building & Renovation
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    • 1(current)
    • 2

Contact information

1885 FM-2673, Canyon Lake, TX 78133

http://hillcountrybuildingandrenovation.com

Service hours

Monday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Licensing

Bonded

Insured

No License Required for Trade

Eco-friendly Accreditations

LEED Accredited Professional
No
Energy Star Partner
No
EPA Lead-Safe Certified
No
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,
Ceramic Tile,
Plumbing,
Drywall,
Finished Carpentry and Woodworking,
Electrical,
Doors,
Lighting,
Glass and Mirrors,
Garage and Shed Building,
Hardwood Flooring Sales and Installation

FAQ

Hill Country Building & Renovation is currently rated 4.8 overall out of 5.

Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Hill Country Building & Renovation accepts the following forms of payment: Check
Yes, Hill Country Building & Renovation offers free project estimates.
Yes, Hill Country Building & Renovation offers eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Hill Country Building & Renovation does not offer a senior discount.
No, Hill Country Building & Renovation does not offer emergency services.
Yes, Hill Country Building & Renovation offers warranties.
Hill Country Building & Renovation offers the following services: Kitchen & bathroom remodeling. General remodeling. Additions, Detached Garages, Outbuildings, Major whole house remodeling.

Contact information

1885 FM-2673, Canyon Lake, TX 78133

http://hillcountrybuildingandrenovation.com

Service hours

Monday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday:
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM