THE ESTIMATE: I obtained 3 quotes to remove ceramic tile (and layers beneath down to sub floor) in my kitchen and install new oak hardwoods to try to match as closely as possible to the existing oak floors throughout the rest of the house. Angel's price was reasonable (not the most nor least expensive of the three). Roxana was very clear about the breakdown of costs, potential areas where costs could run higher depending on what was below the tile, and estimated maximums if the additional work had to be done. One other contractor just assumed that all the worst case scenarios would occur and obviously built in the additional costs and would charge me for them regardless. I really liked that Angel broke these out so I knew what they were and could decide how much additional risk I was willing to take of cost overrun. Moreover, I strongly preferred that they weren't charging me unless those worst case scenarios came to pass. My job was complicated by the fact that I was not removing my cabinets, so they were going to need to cut and install around them without damaging them. They were really good about explaining the impact this would likely have on the kick plates and the possible costs if they had to replace those. They were also the clearest about explaining that the new floors would come close, but not precisely match the old floors. They are a small family business that doesn't use subs and you can tell they get a lot of calls. So, although Roxana is good about responding, it might take a day or two. If you encounter a delay at all, I really encourage you to be patient. It will be worth the extra day or so to hear back. The difference in the level of detail Roxana provided to my questions was notable from others. She was so patient and thorough in answering my questions.
THE WORK: They were as fantastic about the work as they were about estimating and explaining everything. They delivered the wood a week in advance so it could acclimate. They hung plastic to keep the dust and debris contained to the kitchen as much as possible. They placed cardboard all around the cabinets to protect them. They completed the job exactly in the estimated timeframe (even slightly ahead) and kept me informed along the way as I was out of town while they worked. The results were really beautiful. The workmanship is top notch. I am a stickler for perfection and rarely say something is perfect -- this is! The quality is amazing! The floors are perfectly level with the surrounding floors and the stain is a really close match. They had asked if I wanted to be present to approve the stain color, but I trusted Tony's experienced eye to decide when he found a good match. I later learned that Tony tried 4 different stains before settling on the final choice. Seriously, how many contractors would be that meticulous? Also, because the old floors were higher and they had to cut around the cabinets, after installing the new floors it was evident that molding would do a better job than kick plates and quarter round at covering the imperfections around the cabinets. So they installed new baseboard molding to match the existing molding throughout my house. Moreover, they installed it everywhere -- not just where the new floors were (e.g., even on the back side of the peninsula which runs between the dining room and kitchen) -- so that everything would match and there wouldn't be kick plates in some areas and baseboard in others. I could go on and on about their attention to detail -- but I think you get the point. In sum, the crew was really meticulous and the results are beautiful.
MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY: The other thing worth mentioning is that you can tell that Roxana and Tony, in addition to knowing their business really well, are good, honest hardworking people. I asked Tony about how to revive my old floors (which of course now looked dull as compared to the new one). Most contractors would use that as an opportunity to sell you something you don't need. Instead, Tony suggested a product I could buy at the store and use on my own. When I asked him about whether to buff them (which would have been his chance to sell me his buffing services!), he said they didn't need buffing yet and I could wait a few years. He also warned me what products not to use (some products cause a wax buildup and later necessitate a total re-sanding to remove the product). I used the product Tony suggested and he was totally right. The surrounding floors look really nice. You can bet I will call Tony when my floors need buffing eventually.
I also obtained an estimate to refinish the floors on the second floor of my house, which badly need it. I couldn't afford both projects at once, but I fully intend to use Angel when I'm ready. I heard from neighbors that this company was the best and I now know for myself. read more
