I have to say - both my husband and myself were skeptical about taking on necessary renovations that we needed to our home during COVID 19. Honestly, we didn't really have a choice though...it *had* to be done. Global pandemic or not, I'd hire Paul and his team over and over and over again, they are that good. I loved that he was able to map out the littlest of details - down to which shifts of workers would be on the job site - to facilitate contact tracing if needed, and to limit my family/his workers exposure. Although our renovation was absolutely necessary, I'm glad we made the choice to go with Paul and his team. In uncertain times, they gave us peace of mind AND a top notch reno. Thanks Paul!!! I owe you and your crew my famous coq au vin as a thank you, lol!!! read more

There are many times "cheap is not better." For example, laser eye surgery, breast implants, corporate travel agency. But most importantly, anything done to your precious home. We contracted Paul and Acme Builders for my "Man-Cave" project, to tear down my closet, wire my room for all the fun a man can have: play music (walls are wired with input/output for any electronic instrument) through the PA system, or just headsets (ports on the walls), have a sporting event or even dance parties (disco ball, LCD laser projector, fog machine). These guys were professional, on time and on budget in transforming my room. How do you screen people (strangers) roam around in your house and trust them? Certainly not by signing up with the lowest bidder, although many times the lowest bidder may be Acme builders as they have integrity in pricing it as reasonable as possible. Anything cheaper than that, would mean cutting corners (cheaper material, shoddy construction practices, not-so-good laborers). Acme Builders can handle any project of any size/budget. If you need a reference, I am more than happy to put some senses into you about hiring Acme Builders. read more

Acme Builders Incorporated - ManCave Project Oct09 - General Contractors Near Me - Oakland, California

See all

I'd like to start off by saying that I never met Paul or got to use his services. The reason I'm writing this negative review is that he kept canceling on me when we were supposed to meet to evaluate my home. He completely forgot our first appointment despite sending me a confirmation invite on my iPhone. I had to contact him to see why he wasn't here! The second time tried to meet, he said he would be a half hour late. When I texted him 45 min after our appointment time, he said he would be another half hour at least! I certainly am not qualified to comment on his work, but in my experience he did not seem punctual and my time did not seem very valuable to him. read more

Nice guy, spent time looking into what I wanted to do. Maybe 90 minutes. Said he would get back to me. Never did. Contractors: Simple mattter. Customer Service. You don't have to take a job but you have to respond. Send in a ridiculously high bid. Or say you are not interested. The disappearing act is getting old. read more

We were at a loss after our house caught on fire and needed a total rebuild. Paul and his crew have done the entire job (hiring subcontractors when needed) and we couldn't be happier with the results! I can't believe how lucky we've been because anyone else might have just taken advantage of us. Paul knows every rule and code and has been 100% right, and with us through every city inspection! I would absolutely recommend Paul and his crew for any job big or small. read more

See all

I cannot say enough good things about Acme Builders, particularly working with Paul and his crew of craftsmen.  I had an apartment building that needed an endless list of several problems that needed to be changed and fixed to meet code.  I called and made an appointment with Paul and he showed up exactly when he said he would, took the time to listen to what I needed done, and provided me with a very competitive estimate.  Once construction started Paul made sure I knew what was going on each day and came by to inspect the work as each phase was competed.  He has a very sharp eye for anything that isn't done to his particular satisfaction and made sure that absolutely everything was done professionally and completely down to the smallest paint touch up!  I had one mishap - closing all work in a short time period but He did such a good job, while meeting time frame on time, you'd never be able to tell how horrible all the apartments looked before.  All work completed looks perfect! I have to say that all the crafts people from the demo guys, plumbing, drywall, patch, and paint, carpenters were all top notch, professional, courteous, and polite.  They did not disturb my tenants, they arrived each morning when they said they would, and cleaned up every day.    While the entire process exceeded my expectations if I had to choose just one thing that really stood out, that truly surprised me, was how responsive and attentive Paul was to any of my calls, text messages, or emails.  Even if I sent him a text at 9 pm at night he responded almost immediately.  I know I was not his only client and I certainly wasn't his biggest but I felt like I was.   It goes without saying; I will be calling Acme Builders in future for any and all work, highly recommend! read more

When we bought our house last year, we noted that two of the three decks were in really bad shape. That's when we contacted Paul of Acme builders on the recommendation of our realtor. We met with Paul and he put together an estimate for the entire project. This included demolishing and rebuilding the main deck and the deck along the back of the house. In addition, we decided to shore up the third deck which was sinking into the ground due to poor original construction. During this part of the process we decided to spend the money and go with Redwood decking. The first step was getting the permits and having some drawings done which took some time. Permitting is never a quick process and it took a month or so to get everything in place. During the permitting process we met Mike, the foreman, who really knows the building trade. With permits in place, Mike and his crew showed up and got to work demolishing the main deck. I was amazed at how fast they worked! I could swear that it took them a few hours to completely tear down the deck. This main deck was in very poor condition and had not been built very well. The crew also demolished the deck along the back of the house very quickly. One thing that stood out about the work crew is that these guys really worked! Once demolition had been completed, I met with Mike to discuss rebuilding the decks. He had some excellent suggestions including putting a set of drains under the deck along the back of the house. Yes, this cost a bit extra but it will be well worth it in the long run as water is now drained away from the house instead of pooling next to the house. I also had some conduits added under this deck for landscape lighting, etc. The construction phase of the two decks went very quickly. The new main deck is seriously built and uses huge footings that should support it very well. I can stomp around on the deck, and it doesn't even budge!. During the construction process, Mike always called to ask questions and to see if I had any questions. Paul was also easily reached if anything came up. The deck along the back of the house is gorgeous and really improved the look of the house. The third deck turned out to be a bit tricky since the crew tried to jack it up only to have the jack sink into the ground more! So, Mike and his crew designed and poured a really big footing for this deck and were then able to raise the deck three inches (!). This deck received a new main beam. It is much more sturdy now. Mike is very detail oriented and added lots of little things that should ensure that the decks will last a long time. For example, where wood will bear on wood, material was installed to keep the wood surfaces away from each other. All wood ends that would touch soil were treated with preservative and then wrapped in foil material. Mike also had the crew add a concrete gutter where the deck will meet our rock stairway that we'll add in the future. The quality of construction is top notch. Mike noted that Redwood decks require routine care. We recently prepped and then stained the Redwood decking and it looks fantastic. During the main deck construction, Mike asked if we were happy with the way our large A/C unit was mounted. The original mount was a piece of flimsy plywood on top of some posts and the sheet of ply was then nailed to the house. The whole unit looked like it could fall over at any moment. Mike suggested pouring a concrete pad for the A/C unit and mounting it on that. We agreed to have the AC unit put on a pad. The extra cost was not that much and it was WELL worth it. Our AC unit is much more secure and the installation looks professionally done rather than the half-baked plywood method that was there originally. A nice touch to the concrete pad is the large lip at the back to prevent rocks and dirt from sliding down the slope and into the AC unit. This was a large project that went very well thanks to Paul, Mike and his crew. At no time did we feel pressured to spend more money than we wanted. Everyone was very honest and upfront. A large job such as this is not inexpensive, however, the construction quality is excellent and we can now enjoy our decks! read more

Yelp is a mighty force that can have a profound positive or negative affect on businesses. If I am using it as a platform to express my opinion, normally, I make a point to only review businesses that I have had significant dealings with. Yet, more and more I notice that businesses are frequently left negative reviews simply for not responding to inquiries or bid requests. In this case, I notice that Acme's only negative reviews are concerned not with the quality of their work but with the lack of follow-up. If I took the time to review every business that didn't get back to me or stood me up I would be writing for days. For these reason I want to chime in with my positive experience of Paul from Acme Builders. Not only did he return my call promptly, but he did so despite the fact that his company does not perform the kind of work I needed done. He did know someone who could help me, though, and went out of his way to help me in my search. When I start my next remodeling project, I will definitely be calling them first. read more

I could not be happier with the result of the work that Paul & Acme's crew did on my unit in Oakland. This soon-to-be-rental unit went from drab to FAB, taken from 1970s camp vibe to modern and sleek 2020, with excellent aesthetic, clean finish, top notch engineering in terms of construction. Although he is a VERY busy guy, Paul and his team stayed in direct communication with me every step of the way and did their absolute best to keep us on budget. The final product is a beautiful cottage, with gorgeous new windows, incredible bathroom and kitchen-- and is exactly what I wanted and more. If you need quality work, these are your guys. Thank you Paul & Acme! read more

Paul and his crew did a small job for us in Piedmont, and I knew that whenever and wherever I moved, it would be Acme, and ONLY Acme that I would hire to do any remodeling work. It was evident from the small job that every member of his team was highly qualified, detail-oriented and reliable. When we sold that home and moved to a new house in Alameda which was ripe for a kitchen remodel, I didn't bother to talk to anyone else. Paul had great ideas. He put our project on the schedule, and everything flowed seamlessly. In fact, they finished the project a few days before his estimated finish date. If you've ever had work done on your kitchen, you can appreciate how eager I was to get the job finished. It was done on budget, as well. My kitchen is gorgeous, I can't point to any flaws or any glitches. I actually look forward to my next project with Acme! read more

Highly recommended!! Husband and I purchased a foreclosed property earlier this year, and it had some strange things going on inside. We needed a contractor who could do everything, from electrical wiring to plumbing to flooring to removing popcorn ceilings. Paul was really great at taking the time to explain everything carefully. During the initial walk through, Paul spent more than an hour going through every single detail. He prides himself on doing quality work and while his quote wasn't the cheapest, he did make an effort to try to cut costs as much as he can. He walked us through some PANIC moments (ahem...inspector wanted us to move a WALL...ZOMG) and busted his butt trying to get everything done on time. The house also reeked of cat pee so guess who climbed into the crawl space to spray everything with gallons and gallons of enzyme smell remover cleaner??? We now have beautiful floors, a brand new kitchen, an interior laundry area, and a garage WITHOUT crazy wiring threatening to burst into flames at any moment (What was UP with this house??). Oh, and our house smells like a house now. Not a litter box. We would definitely hire Acme Builders again for future projects. read more

The 5 stars is simply for great customer service, as I haven't gotten a chance to work with Paul- yet. My husband and I recently purchased an old home that (thankfully) doesn't need a ton of work. However, as 1st time home owners any job that requires someone else to do it seems like a huge job. I've called around to different contractors for bids, several of whom told me my job wasn't big enough or worth their time, then called Acme builders based on great reviews from fellow yelpers. Paul also said that our job was too small for them, but would be happy to give us referrals to some great people who he thought could do the work for us. He gave us names, and said that if they didn't work out to give him a call back and he'd be happy to help us find someone. Turns out that Paul's reco is most likely going to be the contractor we go with. Great service. We will be calling Paul when it's time to do that addition! read more

Paul and his crew are experienced, reliable, friendly and reasonably priced. They left my house and yard cleaner and in better repair than when they got here. They found a few additional problems that they fixed in addition to the work that was contracted for the same price. Paul recognized that we couldn't afford to fix everything at once and made reasonable and intelligent decisions on what to fix first and how to keep costs low. He knows his stuff and is particularly good at restoration of older homes and at using quality materials as efficiently as possible. Thanks Paul! read more

I was so excited when Paul's team showed me the amazing work they did to my kitchen and bathroom. It came out more beautiful than imagined, and I had piece of mind during the projects rather than a headache. This company is honest, hard-working, and professional above all things. I felt like I was on one of those HGTV shows after the reveal. They do excellent work, and I highly recommend them. Excellent work! Thank you Acme Builders!! read more

We have been disappointed to find a complete lack of responsiveness from Paul and his staff member Lori, after being asked to draw up plans and forward them to Acme for building of a quote. I was rather surprised as I'd heard good things, but after leaving 3+ voicemails and two rounds of email with the information Paul specifically asked us to put together, I feel like the company is disorganized at best, and more generally disrespectful of other's time and unprofessional in their behavior/attitude. read more

Great attention to details! My partner and I hired Paul to soundproof our condo ceiling, install overhead lights, upgrade the electrical panel and a laundry list of smaller projects. It would have been easy for a contractor to cut corners, or forget parts of the project, but Paul's team was very detail focused- plus did a great job matching the new paint with the old paint. Also- we got 0 complaints from neighbors in the building about Paul's team and they treated the common areas with respect and kept them clean. That was a big deal for me. Plus- we'd text him way after work hours and he was super responsive- and when their was an issue that needed solving, it got fixed within a day. Would definitely hire them again! read more

Paul offers a fabulous blend of technical competence, parsimony (he'll call it cheapness), intolerance of shoddy chaftmanship, and psychological insight about the perspective of a home owner, leavened with a great sense of humor. These qualities make him a great partner on designing and implementing a construction project that stays within budget and keeps your blood pressure within desirable ranges. He is respectful of projects whether they are big or small, or at least it seemed that way to me as the proud owner if a list of honey-do items that Paul whipped into a smoothly polished home. I can't wait to have enough cash saved up to do the next phase of my home project! read more

My new neighbor( a gentrifier) in North Oakland/Emeryville/Berkeley border is currently having her house remodeled by ACME , by the way my family has owned this house for over 50 years, So I spoke to Paul to set up an appt for an estimate, he started out saying how he didn't have time to give everyone an estimate so he would give a balk park estimate, (I need a pretty extensive remodel adding apt and in law unit).Paul was so NASTY!! I could tell he thought that I could NOT Afford to do this project, Crazy thing, when I was explaining to him what I wanted , he went on to tell me he could lose his license, I did not ask for him to do anything illegal??? Finally I had to end the condiscending conversation by telling him that I can afford to do this remodel( not to brag), but my house is paid for I have another house in the area( also zero mortgage, I have enough income and a credit score over 800! I will take my business somewhere else, since Paul assumed I was BROKE and that I wanted him to do something illegal???? So I assume he only wants to work for the "NEW", people in the hood! read more

We wouldn't have been able to finish our extensive house projects without Paul and his team. Paul has been able to provide us with suggestions, connect us to various vendors as we needed and he has a great trustworthy team of carpenters, electricians, plumbers and anything else you could need. Paul and his team are punctual, trustworthy and very good at what they do - we cant ask for much more! read more

Great basement remodel job done @ my SF home (1890s construction! presented some challenges that Paul sorted out in a jiffy), timely, prompt, on schedule, on budget, detail oriented, not shifty. Solid workmanship, the guy's an engineer so he knows his stuff structurally. read more

Paul Peczon and Acme Builders are in a class by themselves. Not only is he truly reliable and dependable, two qualities sorely missing in this industry, he is a true craftsman and creates beautiful work that is his stamp on the job. He also treats his clients with respect and courtesy and extends that to his employees by how he values them and their work. I have been to Paul's job sites and witnessed his work first hand. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend him for his great work. read more

I have only met for an initial consult with Paul, but that is how impressed I am already. I don't know if his schedule will fit mine, but his clear, organized system for explaining how he works, budgets, shares information and communicates with all of his tradespeople - WOW. His attention to detail and full-disclosure indicates a personality type that implies excellence. I will review again if I get a chance to work with Paul. read more

I could not praise Acme Builders enough. I highly recommend hiring them for any remodel and/or repairs you may need. We own several properties and they are my number one contractor. Michael Colombo came highly recommended from a co-worker and I'm so pleased with everything Michael has done for our properties. Our tenants were extrememly pleased which is a major plus for us! Again, call Acme Builders if you want the job done professionally and correctly! Thank you Michael for EVERYTHING. read more

I have seen first hand the results of Paul's excellent work. He gutted and remodeled a bathroom and the finishes and workmanship were top notch. His clients are thrilled and very proud to show it off. In my line of work, color consulting, I see alot of interiors. When it is time for the major remodel of my master bath - Paul and his team are hired! After seeing his work, I will not be working with any other contractor. read more

We needed our doorbell fixed since the transformer blew out. Paul was helpful over the phone and had Patrick come out and fix it in a jiff. Patrick was super nice and had our doorbell working within 30 minutes. The cost was way cheaper than we thought it was going to be. Thanks you two for your help yesterday. If more problems arise we will be seeing you again. Also recommending Acme Builders to others in our complex. read more

We looked for a good contractor far and wide and couldn't be happier we found Acme. Paul's crew always showed up on time and went the extra mile. Paul kept me really well informed along the way to with access to a spreadsheet with a lot of detail. He was right on about the costs of things and even provided me a few freebees. On the day of his first meeting he even got his engineer over *while* we were talking to look at our problem. I liked all the subs he suggested and he saved us a ton of money and time. I know remodeling can be expensive and stressful, but consider Acme and you may find it a lot less painful a process! read more

I'm always nervous using a new general contractor having had some bad experiences in the past - but I absolutely love acme. These guys made a bunch of suggestions that cut the cost of my new darkroom, got the job done on time and were always great to deal with. I'll be using them again. read more

Paul and his crew rebuilt my exterior stairs last year. Not only did they dramatically improve the sturdiness and longevity of the stairs, they also left the job immaculately clean every single day. I have NEVER had that experience with a contractor before. If you want the job done RIGHT in every way imaginable, you should definitely hire Acme Builders. read more

Paul's crews are top-notch, skilled craftsmen. They built a deck for us, replaced siding around a chimney. and installed a chandelier where previously there was no power. Everyone was highly competent and really pleasant - rather funny as well. Paul is honest as the day is long, knows his stuff and will steer you right. Oh yeah, they repaired a nasty leak in our shower too. Highly recommended. read more

Did some carpentry and electrical. Paul suggested creative solutions to our not well defined goals. Paul knows what he is doing and cares about doing it well! read more

I had an incredible challenging project a TI in pretty bad shape, 3 1/2 weeks from concept/remodel design to move in date. Paul and his forward thinking team (about 75% have master degrees) helped my space planning and interior design by thinking thru the potential problems that such a tight timeline and budget would have been derailed had they not thoguth thru all the implications of each decision along the way. Also Paul Peczon has the highest integrity and honesty of any contractor i've worked with, (and i'm a former commercial contractor myself). When phases or materials would come in over guestimate he was forthright and offerred alternatives that we're good. When a clerical error was discovered he was "johnny on the spot" to note it, correct it. the space turned out beautiful too. the workmanship was top notch, this team is skilled, tasteful and have a lot of integrity. Acme Builders is a paradigm away from generic. They're outstanding. read more

Paul Peczon, the owner of this business, is on my "special human beings" list! I called him for an appointment to look at one of our ceilings, which was showing signs of leakage and mold. To my amazement, he came out that very night to look at it (a Sunday!), because he knew the perils of such symptoms. He determined very quickly that it was not black mold (my fear), and that it came from a very obscure source; condensation from my dryer! I spoke to other contractors before Paul, and none of them could de- termine the cause of the leaks. Paul took down a couple the tiles and knew immediately what it was. He also advised me to get a fan which would remove any future condensation. Someone else could have given me a cock and bull story, and would have charged me goodness knows what. My knowledge of these kinds of things is minimal, so I would have swallowed it. I know that I saved about $2,000, going with Paul, and I am delighted with the result. I also found him smart, innovative, professional and ethical. I hope I don't have any more major repairs, but you know that If I do, Paul will be the one to whom I turn. Adele Katzen read more

These guys were in my small apartment for over a week taking replacing my windows. I work nights and sleep in the morning and they suggested working around my sleep schedule. Very professional and personable. I am just renting but they talked to me as if it was me that had hired them. They explained everything they were doing and what was going to be happening next. At the end of the week it just felt like my friends were here doing the work. read more

These guys are good at what they do! Honest and personable people. They are willing to work with you and they keep their word, which is very important in this kind of business. read more

I have known Paul for 10+ years and he has helped me with several projects. I first met him when I was doing a deck in Berkeley, very complicated, several stories with a landing. The previous contractor could not work well with the Berkeley inspectors and I had to fire him. Paul came in, completed the deck on time and under budget, amazed the inspector, passed every inspection! I have since used him on several other large projects. He is my go to contractor! This is no small compliment as I fired 4 other contractors on my project before finding Paul. Having been a union carpenter in the past and completing several projects as owner/builder I know how hard it is to find someone who can do work to a certain standard of excellence that exceeds industry standard. Paul always excels. I pride myself on keeping up with the new technology in building, read the Journal of Light Construction for fun,and always talk to Simpson engineers before I start a project. I have found that most contractors still build using 20 year old techniques and technology. When I ask most builders about new ideas they scoff. Not Paul! He is the only person I have worked with that is more cutting edge than me! This is especially important in the Bay Area with our always guaranteed earthquakes. In short, I would and have used Paul without reservation. Before you decide, make sure you meet this guy! Charles - owner / builder read more

Came over and wasted 2 hours of both our times looking at our project and then never calling with a bid. If he wasn't interested in doing the project he should have said so at the begining of the meeting. The two stars are because he is a really nice guy and seemed to know what he was talking about. read more

Well, I just called and spoke to someone. The phone connection was pretty poor but I don't hold that against him. In any case, he started by presuming that I was only interested in lowest cost. I tried to assure him that price was not my starting point. I then got a bunch of additional conversation and then cut off. When I called back (immediately) I got his answering machine. read more

Paul has given me good advice for a small job. I would not hesitate to call or refer him in the future.

As a real estate agent I never hesitate to recommend Paul and Acme Builders to my clients. Paul is responsive and punctual and his prices are fair. He is intelligent and experienced in every aspect of construction. My new home buyers have used Acme Builders for all levels of repairs, from foundation work to cosmetic touch-ups, and have always been pleased with the results. read more

Acme Builders is AMAZING! They are easy to work with and get the job done. I can't say enough about Paul and his team, they communicate very well, are efficient with their time and do excellent and thorough work. Thank you! read more