We cannot praise FA Design Build and its professional staff enough. They met all of our expectations, requests for changes, and extra requests. They were very responsive to our phone calls and emails so that we felt they were always engaged in our project, leaving nothing to guesswork. This was a major difference from another company we had previously hired to do bathroom remodeling a few years earlier. We highly recommend FA Design Build as a full-service contractor.
Here are reasons supporting our view:
FA Design Build's design team, Jessica Cannon and Denise Smith, worked closely with us to develop a design for the new kitchen and visited our house to assess and take measurements in order to generate 3D drawings. With these we could discuss several modifications prior to starting work.
We visited FA Design Builld's showroom in Fairfax to view different materials and discuss cabinetry, flooring, sinks, lighting and other details with the design staff. Jessica and Denise were prepared to offer us concrete suggestions that saved us time and the worry of dealing with too many choices. We agreed upon what we wanted in the new kitchen. Based upon the preliminary work and design as well as our meetings with them we had established trust in their judgment and work. We agreed upon a written payment schedule and kept it as work progressed.
Only after the design phase was completed and a detailed plan was drawn up did we sign a contract to have the work done. Everything was put in writing in a loose-leaf binder that we and the construction team used to accomplish the work. Nothing was left to guesswork. Ricky Seminario, FA Design Build's project manager, said that we should allow seven weeks for the work to be completed. He and his crew completed all work within this time frame.
In early January work began with demolition. When mold was discovered behind an exterior wall, FA Design Build contacted a remediation company that separately performed remediation and assured us that there was no other mold in the wall. This was a separate but necessary expense and reassured us that the wall was sound.
At the outset, the design team and we had identified high and low spots in the kitchen floor and after the old ceramic tiles and plywood sheeting had been removed FA Design Build called in a special flooring team to take care of leveling the floor prior to putting down new Armstrong tiles. The result is a beautiful, level floor.
Cabinetry had been ordered prior to commencing any work and was delivered to FA Design Build's storage facility. Prior to installing it, all cabinets and doors were checked for any damage. There was none. The carpenters carefully installed all cabinets.
A counter top specialist used a laser instrument to measure that all floor cabinets were level. His company manufactured and delivered Silestone counter tops within seven days and installed them on the floor cabinets. Everything is level and looks beautiful.
FA Design Build's tilers installed new back splashes using ceramic tile we had chosen. They asked us about the pattern of installation before beginning so that we were agreed upon how the tiles should go on the walls. We made one change that enhanced the look of one back splash area. The tilers worked carefully and created a beautiful new look to the kitchen.
Installation of new ceiling lighting and electrical wall outlets was performed by a licensed electrician and all county code requirements were met. This included new, independent circuits for the refrigerator and the microwave oven as required by code. The FA Design Build construction manager attended the county inspector's inspection and noted small errors which were quickly corrected so that everything passed inspection.
We requested that the not-so-old kitchen sink, garbage disposer, cabinetry, and counter top be moved to our basement where the sink was attached to existing plumbing, affording us a work space to wash dishes during and after the construction phase of the new kitchen. The construction crew carefully moved these items to the basement where a plumber hooked up the sink. An electrician later installed new wiring for the garbage disposer and a new GFI wall receptacle.
After completion of all new installations, FA Design Build's design team and project manager inspected with us the final result of their work. We were very pleased with the results and how certain problems - the uneven floor for example - had been resolved. We have a new, expanded and contemporary kitchen-breakfast room with more storage space and useful counter tops.
Even after completion of the remodeling project, FA Design Build performed several additional tasks including replacing a ceiling light fixture above the sink with a fixture that was more practical. The company refunded the money for the original light fixture and did not charge for removal and new installation. read more