Foster Remodeling Solutions, Inc.

They are great! I have nothing but good things to say about them, they are on time, they are with you until the end very responsive and this is the third time we used them.

We spoke to them about our design/build townhome kitchen project and everyone I spoke to was knowledgeable, so my impression is that this is a solid company. Just be aware that they charge premium prices for their services as compared to other design/build firms we've met along the way. After the initial home visit we were invited to their showroom in Lorton, VA so they could give us their ballpark estimate, which they prefer not to share before the showroom visit. The low end of the price estimate range ($125,000) they provided was significantly higher than previous estimates we had received so we stopped the process at that point. Since we were provided very little detail about how the estimate was calculated it hard to know which element(s) pushed their price up.

They honored the purchase anyway and did a great job. My only concern was that they did not immediately respond to the request, but they made up for it with their willingness to work.

Two-sink vanity, toilet, shower stall, soaking tub, light fixture, and ceiling fan were all removed. Single sink vanity, toilet, a larger shower stall, light fixture and ceiling were replaced. Tub was not replaced. Floor was completely replaced. Walls & ceilings painted. All work was completed very professionally. The work space was left neat and clean everyday. The job was completed on time. I was consulted for input on any questions that inevitably arose. And the bathroom looks great. On-time. On-budget. Very pleased.

We'd contacted Fosters to correct/improve upon some work done by a previous contractor. The team from Foster's was awesome - always very professional in approaching our project and gave us great ideas and feedback. Other companies tried to upsell us on their services and products - not so with Foster's. Each day they were on site they went to great measure to clean up so that nothing was left in a mess. I truly wish we'd found them a lot sooner, but we'll be using them again on other projects. The quality of the work was just outstanding and we'll be using them again!

We were extremely pleased with Fosters. This was a major project and from beginning to end, the communication, planning and execution was outstanding. Fosters has done several projects for us, but this was the largest. Working with the team in planning this project, the design was well thought out from the beginning. They provided several options, listened to our questions and suggestions and worked with us to produce the end product we wanted. Key to Foster's success was a great construction crew. They were punctual, pleasant, and professional. Their focus on details, including thinking through how we would use the space was very helpful. They often thought through how we would see/view things before finalizing; informing us why they were doing a certain part of the project a certain way. This attention to detail made a big difference in the final product. They would work on something, take a look, not like it and redo it until it was done in the right way. There are lots of small details that most people would not notice, but if left unattended would not have given the project the complete finished look we have. This included everything from how the deck floor was laid out, the location of lights, angle of the floor boards angle and even caulking. Throughout the project, they left the worksite clean and organized. They communicated with us every day, letting us know their progress, double checking with us on decisions. As with every project there were a couple of things that didn't go as planned, but Foster's was on top of the issues and promptly addressed the problem, keeping us informed along the way. Fosters is more expensive than others we've looked at, but we find the focus on design, the attention to detail and the outstanding quality of the final project sets them apart from others.

We are currently wrapping up a walk thru. We are committed to them over the years. They remodeled our entire basement that included bringing the plumbing and electrical up to date. We took out a wall and put in a breakfast bar. It was a weight barring wall. They were able to support the weight, the wood structure that held the weight was inspected by someone from the county and that was all approved. We will deal with them forever, in three years we are going to redo the kitchen. They are good, and reliable. In the basement they had to move walls, put in a spa bath, and did all kinds of things. They did everything. We were sad to see them go. It all fits together nicely so I can't tell. They are amazing. There are four projects that they have completed. There is a total remodel of the basement. They get the permits. They aren't the least expensive but, they are worth it. They will work with us on our budget. I went in and before showing recommended products, they will say, "Are you looking for low cost or luxury?" based on what you say, they will pick those products. Even though it's more costly, I get what I need and want. They're not cutting corners. It wasn't sub-contractors coming in, it was their people doing the work. They've been vetted and care about their work.

All work was done on time. All workers did a good job and were very pleasant. Like them very much.

We were very impressed with their project management and professionalism. They had solid metrics on performance and finishing on time (and on budget). Their design person was talented and professional. Overall we did not use them because the price was out of our range. We ended up going with someone else who went way over time and over budget which caused us a lot of headaches (and about as much money as we could have paid to Foster's). If you want to do a renovation without headaches, and don't mind paying for the professionalism, go with Fosters.

18 months a new Production Manager joined Foster - since then timeliness of response has gone way down, it takes a long time to get an answer, a schedule, it takes too long to get things moving. Quality has not kept up with what Foster was. I used them on handyman stuff and a $65K project and it went well, but the past 18 months have been too much trouble....I am looking for some one else.

We did not have the work done.

We needed to update the semi-finished basement in our small 1941 Arlington Forest home, which still had tired, knotty pine paneling, a patchy ceiling, and ancient wiring. We got several estimates. Foster was the highest but also the most creative and comprehensive. Design consultant Chris Arnold worked with us to make the most of our limited space. Other companies said that there wasn't enough space for us to have both a bedroom AND a powder room, in addition to a family room and utility room. Chris made it work. He also worked with us to bring down the price by highlighting areas where we could scale back or, in some cases (e.g. painting), do the work ourselves. Following a complete demolition of the area, we brought in a waterproofing service (see separate review) to install below-the-floor drains and a sump pump, as well as an egress window. When that was done, the lead carpenter from Foster, Brian, came and spent much of the next several weeks framing out the basement and overseeing the other work, which involved a significant amount of plumbing -- including breaking through the foundation floor to install a drain for the new powder room -- a complete electrical rewiring, moving some gas pipes and HVAC ducts, framing out the windows, redoing stair stringers, and installation of drywall, ceiling, carpet and tile, as well as a new laundry tub and all fixtures in the powder room. Brian always let us know where he was in the project and what he planned to do next, and made some great suggestions for doing things a little differently in some spots. He had a strong attention to detail and had some work redone when it fell short of his standard. Ultimately, the job took a little longer than expected (don't they always), running from roughly late November through mid-February, with some additional fixes done in April. We ended up spending a little more than we had planned but had the peace of mind of knowing that there was a whole team working on our project, not just one or two overstretched contractors. This was important when we ran into some issues with the Arlington County inspectors. The Foster team patiently worked with the inspectors, in the process saving us several thousand dollars in unnecessary add-ons to the project. And, impressively, the owner of the company, David Foster, came out with Chris at the end of the job to do a walk-through and to ask us how the project went. This was not just a check-the-box walk-through. They really sat down with us, listened to the one remaining issue we had (involving a door), and addressed it. They also gave us some informal advice on other projects that we are considering, and later provided an estimate for a smaller remodeling job we are considering. We would have no hesitation in working with Foster on our next home project.

I had a verbal estimate for $4000-$5000 once the estimator looked at my home, but then the person who did my estimate suddenly left the company. When the written estimate came in after I made to phone calls to ask about it, it was much higher at $12,000 so I decided not to proceed with the job. I would have gone forward for the first price ($4000-$5000). The company was nice about the resignation of the person who did the original quote (they refunded my $75 estimate fee due to the inconvenience), but at this time I hope I can find a lower price for the job with another company.

We spoke on the phone for less than ten minutes before we determined Foster's was not appropriate for me.

We are getting ready to sell our home and relocate. We needed to update the kitchen but did not want to perform a complete remodel. We asked Foster to provide an estimate to replace vinyl flooring with ceramic tile, replace formica butcher block counter-tops with granite and install a tile backsplash above all counters. We wanted to retain the existing cabinetry as it is in very good condition. Foster's designer worked closely with us to coordinate and select the tile and granite materials. The new counters included a new double bowl sink, faucet, and garbage disposer. They originally scheduled the work to be performed the first two weeks of December, but due to an opening in their master schedule, they were able to start the work on November 15th and completed the job one week later on November 22nd. They coordinated the work packages flawlessly, and the lead carpenter/tile installer, Brian, was a delight to have in our home. We highly recommend Foster Remodeling Solutions to any one considering having a full or partial kitchen renovation done.

I called Foster Remodeling on or about 16 May to request an estimate to remodel my kitchen. I specifically asked if they could do it on 27 May (Memorial Day). The person who took my call confirmed 27 May. I even moved the time they gave me because I had another remodeling company coming by around the same time. I wasted a half day waiting for these people and they never showed. Poor professionalism and just plain lack of attention to detail. If anyone does business with them, ask them to read back the date, time, and service back to you. You will want to ensure they get it right or you will waste valuable time.

Foster Remodeling Solutions, Inc were very nice, they came out and the owner himself came out and went through a lot of things that I wouldn't have thought of like looking at the gas meter and determine if it is the right size, he looked at different things like the water heater, the furnace, and the electric panel. Mr. Foster was very thorough, very low key, not high pressure at all and I was really pleased with him. I am still getting estimates for a home generator and although I think the price is high, it is what the others are giving me as well. I was very pleased with him because he seems to be the most professional and the nicest. He spent a lot of time and the estimate was very comprehensive and we are waiting for one more estimate to arrive before we decide, but so far, he has been the most promising. The price was pretty comparable with other prices but that does not mean that I shall not negotiate. He does remodeling so we have will keep him in mind for other projects.

Our initial contact with Foster was at a home show. We later contacted the sales person to get an estimate. After reviewing 4 estimates we chose Foster, mostly based on previous positive reviews. We worked with the salesperson to design the kitchen. We had some struggles getting the design right and the drawings were not great. We finalized the design, signed a contract for the work, and it was scheduled to begin several weeks later. We had some problems contacting the sales person. We later learned that the salesperson was let go without our knowledge. Foster was apologetic about the miscommunication. They scheduled a pre-construction meeting with two staff and the lead carpenter. Final details were worked out, including logistics during the work period. Foster was very thorough in explaining how the work would proceed. There was a slight delay in the start time but we were told well in advance. The work was done very professionally. There was constant communication with the carpenter. There were a few minor changes needed due to previously unknown conditions. The work was done on time and on budget. We paid a little more than we might have with other contractors but we think it was worth it. We are very pleased with the new kitchen. There were a couple of minor problems that were discussed with the company owner when he visited a few weeks after the work was completed. Those problems were recently fixed. We would recommend Foster to others and we would use them again for other remodeling work.

We chose Foster Remodeling to remodel our kitchen based on excellent reviews, outstanding references, recent awards Foster had received, and their attention to detailed project planning and execution. The result? We are simply thrilled with our new kitchen and would highly recommend Foster Remodeling for their outstanding work! We initially worked with Sarah, one of the design consultants, to ensure we got exactly what we wanted in our new kitchen (e.g. new cabinets, countertop, fixtures, lighting, backsplash, sink, etc). Sarah was very thoughtful and attentive in listening to our initial requirements as well as our ideal ?wish list? for our kitchen and provided us with some outstanding ideas vis-à-vis pulling together different kitchen design elements. Her ability to take our ?wish list? and translate that to the kitchen we had always wanted was spot-on. Sarah also provided us with detailed list of tasks, a schedule, and a detailed cost proposal for our kitchen remodel and discussed the pros and cons of different elements of our preliminary design. Prior to the start of the project we met with Greg, our project manger, and Jack, our lead carpenter, to address any potential issues that might arise as well as the overall schedule. Foster estimated six weeks to complete the kitchen remodel. We had worked with a number of contractors in the past, but Foster Remodeling?s attention to detail and outstanding workmanship made the entire process run very smoothly. From the start of kitchen demolition to the finished kitchen took six weeks -- on schedule and as promised! Jack, the lead carpenter who was on site on a daily basis, provided us with a variety of creative ideas and workable solutions when a couple problems were encountered after the old kitchen soffit was torn down. Jack was excellent in keeping us updated on status and what was going to be happening over the next couple of days. While I have had a number of craftsman work for me over the years in several homes I have owned, Jack is simply outstanding in his trade and the finished work shows the master craftsman he is. Shortly after the project was competed, Foster Remodeling?s owner, Dave Foster, came to our home to walk through our finished kitchen and get feedback on the overall project. Few other contractors take the time to do this and it was a pleasure discussing our experience with him. Did I say we are happy with our kitchen? :)

We had a couple of meetings with their representative. Using the plat of survey on our newly purchased home, they estimated the cost for building a simple deck.

This company's design was awesome. We loved their designer who was so easy to work with and had wonderful, creative ideas. They had great references from homeowners in our area. However the price was about twice the price of other estimates. Would have loved to use them but financially it wasn't possible.

Foster staff were very helpful, offered excellent advice on interior design and clearly enjoyed their work. The Foster showroom had a large, varied suite of materials from which to chose the tile, paint, plumbing hardware and wood paneling grains / colors. Legal matters also were handled very professionally. We knew exactly what was going to be done, the precise phasing of the work and had selected all the materials well before project start. The project manager and the lead carpenter conducted a walk-thru with us before project start to explain how each part of the project would be done and to confirm work site conditions. The lead carpenter briefed us each day on progress, consulted with us when he found a condition that had not been visible during the walk-thru and made great suggestions for small changes to the design plans that resulted in improving the final look in the rooms. We reviewed the project blueprints with the project manager before we signed the contract and then reviewed the blueprints and project schedule with the lead carpenter at least weekly. So we knew the precise status of the project from start to finish. All materials were on hand when the project started. Progress payments were built into the contract and were based on satisfactory completion of tasks. At the end of the project we put only three minor things on the punch list. The lead carpenter identified two of them as we had not noticed them. This was a great experience for us. For our next remodeling project we'll go to Foster. No need to look anywhere else.

The consultant showed up on time to measure and ask questions, then I did not hear anything for over two weeks. When I tracked him down he said he had used the wrong email and had meant to call me. He sent the estimate that day, it was missing major items we had discussed and was not itemized, just a lump sum for the cost. That was two weeks ago and no follow-up. Although I could not do a straight comparison to other estimates since it was not laid out by task, the total was more expensive than the others.

I was very happy with them. The guy was very upfront and very through in going over things with me. At this time, my budget didn't allow me to move forward with that. I liked their professionalism and their thoroughness. I'll call them again in the future, but at this point I can't do any remodeling. Primarily, they were very responsive and they were very thorough in terms of telling me about the cost and about exactly what they would do and how they would do the job. I appreciated that. It was good to have them be so upfront. They also had a very organized description of how they would move forward with the job. They were very organized and extremely helpful in terms of laying out the details of how they would move forward. At this point, I just determined that I can't hire anybody to do that job. It's a bit too big for me right now. They were expensive, but I think they would have been more thorough than what a lot of other companies would have been. It's just that somebody else might offer a lower price, but then they would have cost that would come in at the end. They were more expensive, but at the same time, they were really up on the details and the cost. I might use them in the future.

How did it go? I really liked the designer that I was working with and loved the colors and samples that she put together. The quality of cabinets, tiles, etc. that Foster has is really awesome. I met with a total of six kitchen contractors (all of whom were companies and not just a single contractor. Also, all provided designers.) and Foster was the most expensive. I met with other companies who had more creative ideas for my small kitchen. That said, my designer was one time, understood what I wanted, provided great service, and really tried to work with me on cost. I would have loved to work with them because I really believe they provide quality craftmenship and the cabinets, tile, sinks, etc. that they showed me were fantastic. I just couldn't afford it. I gave Foster a "B" on quality because other designers really "wow-ed" me with their creative ideas.